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Coming soon from the BushLab

B

Bushman5

Joined
Oct 31, 2007
Messages
9,833
Coming soon from BUSH LAB DESIGNS

a survival/hiking staff made from a solid 1" thick x 6' long rod of 7000 series aircraft aluminum, with machined hardened steel mountaineering tip, (swappable with a hard rubber tip, changed out by undoing 2 x 1/4" SS allen bolts) , lathe grooved "O" ring recesses spaced 1/2" apart for 8" for a sure grip, chamfered butt end up top, a 1/2" chamfered hole 1" down from the top, for attaching paracord or rope thru for shelter (tarp) center pole or other uses, 2 x 1/8" threaded holes with nylock nut on other side for attaching BushLab accessories (retrieval hooks, machined flashlight clamp, camera mount plate or compass stud), a 2' long , 1/8" lathe machined recess for wrapping paracord (orange), in the middle of the staff, white SOLAS tape near top of staff. I may chamfer grooves running up part of the shaft.....depends on what the machinist charges me.

the staff will NOT be hollow and filled with crap, as i want it to be SOLID STATE, so to speak, for use as a defensive/impact tool, or as an emergency rope anchor (wedged between two rocks etc).

and i can already hear the weight weenies freaking about the weight of such a staff. Its really not an issue (for me) , i hiked with a chunck of this aluminum and its unnoticeable. The heft is quite nice when traversing steep crappy trails.


stay tuned, should be ready mid march or so, depending on money.
 
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Can you sketch out the design for us? I'm having trouble envisioning how it will look. Sounds cool though. It would be a pain to machine, but I like elliptical staves, they're sturdier in experience. I don't think it would be nearly as necessary with solid aluminum though.
 
think of the handle portion as being like the SOG fusion tomahawk, with o ring grips. The tip of the staff is also similar to the mounting style of the Fusion hawk head. The point of the staff is a steel insert that is (very well secured by 2 bolts.)

i'd rather not post pics right now, last time i did my design got scooped.
 
Then again, Magnesium would be cool, too: worlds largest and longest magnesium fire block. Might be a little expensive, though.

Just being silly. Sounds like a good project.
 
Bushman ; sounds like an awesome unit. Gots me thinking of doing the same thing.

My big maple dowel rods keep on cracking or breaking.

I would also drill two holes, maybe 4-6" apart near one end , for lashing on a blade.
 
wait until you see the retrieval hooks that double as "ski pole baskets" near the mountaineering tip.
 
Bushman5 said:
think of the handle portion as being like the SOG fusion tomahawk, with o ring grips. The tip of the staff is also similar to the mounting style of the Fusion hawk head. The point of the staff is a steel insert that is (very well secured by 2 bolts.)

i'd rather not post pics right now, last time i did my design got scooped.
Click to expand...

Can you show us the last design, then?

Not sure why you would be scared of getting your design scooped... unless you plan on making a patent... unfortunately, at that point, they only need to change the number of O-rings to bypass it.


Rick
 
I started another blog in September and named it the Survival Blog. Have you checked to see if "Bush Lab" has been taken? I think you would have an excellent blog if you started one.
 
^ already got a blog going. Wilderness Skills Group Canada on Blogger :)

Bush Lab is a cheeky reference to the number of meth labs in the the woods out here.... :)
 
I'm sorry, I worked last night and when I posted that, I was half asleep I think. Hell if I know! I named my blog Survival LAB, that's why I thought what you said would sound cool as a blog. :D

Gives me a links to yur blog, yo. :)
 
what the finished handle will look like before "O" ring installation......

101509odSOG31w.jpg


what the tip of the shaft will look like, with a steel insert added (the actual walking tip). One will be able to swap out hiking tips or city tips (rubber), or add on a ski pole style basket (a very unique design i have) using a 5mm allen tool.
DSC01811.jpg


the actual tip, hardened jackhammer tool bit, machined round and tapered for sticking into ice
H-1255.jpg


accessory mounting holes above the grooved O ring handle portion of hiking staff (1/4" allen bolts for fasteners) for retrieval hook, or camera plate mount
drvshaft.jpg
 
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^ right now those are stock photos of machined aluminum bits. But at least it gives you an idea of what my warped mind and idle hands is toying with
 
Looks sweet. It'll be interesting how it acts in the summer and winter with the different temps.
 
Bushman this looks like a great idea.

Do you have a machinist background? We seem to like to tinker and design things.
 
Check out the staff that Pat Crawford has been making for many years. Also, look into the staffs that are designed to be used in conjunction with the Randall #18. You are going to find that there are a number of products that already incorporate most of your ideas. Not trying to rain on your parade.
 
yea, i looked at the Crawford and others. The crawford, sorry, under my use criteria, would fold like a twig. I'm going for something a LOT more beefy, and more suited to wailing the crap out of something if need be. I;m also going for a very industrial look and design with the staff. I'm also just not very interested in fish gigs, spears, etc on my staff.

outside of the crawford and others box, so to speak.
 
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