For the bushcrafters...

D

dingobubba

Joined
Feb 27, 2006
Messages
770
Just wonder what you all have made. I was making walking sticks and canes(I know, not too difficult) a few years back before my son was born, but since then nothing. I remember back in the day when I was a scout we were challenged to make function peace pipes(Yea...I know...kids and smoking:eek:) the way the Native Americans did. Anybody try this yet?
 
i made a bucksaw a while ago to replace the poorly made first attempt...

cut down a small maple, split it up into a couple of blocks, shaped with a hatchet, drilled and sawed with a brace and auger bits and a handsaw. bought the blade for a couple of bucks. i like myhuge pruning saw more, its easy to handle etc...but it was a fun little project.

i also have the startings of a coracle in the backyard now...still trying to figure out if i want to try to finish it or not.

i also have a corner in the basement full of drying staves for walking sticks and things.
 
Well, I've never made a pipe in the bush....

But I've made and slept in a debris hut. I've made fires primitively. I know my lashings and have made towers and bridges and various camp impliments witht he scouts.

What I've not made, and need to get out and practice is traps.
 
I do alot of carving, making decorative stuff but as far as functionsl things ive made a few spoons, a wooden mallet, a cup, and several traps, shelters and a nessmuk cooking range.
 
Many times in high school. All you need is a corncob and a reed - and a lot of time.
 
Batons (first), fuzzies, kindling, campfire standards, tarp stakes, spoons, spears, bows (rudimentary at best), digging sticks,........ in fact, just last night I used my Muskrat Man Bushcrafter to fashion a digging stick to clean out the stinking, rotting "vegetation" :barf: from under the lawnmower.:D Funny how those skills come to save you even in the not so desperate moments.
 
Made a Hawk handle that worked OK (not my hawk), Fuzz sticks, kindling, bataned and split firewood with a knife, whittled digging stick, throwing stick, 4 pointed throwing stick/star. For shelters I've made framed dome huts and debris, as well as using natural cover enhanced for comfort and protection from wind/rain. Also have whittled tent/tarp stakes, walking sticks and made a bow from 3 graduated lengths of river cane and duct tape, that worked OK. Tried my hand at fire hardening the pointed tools and have tried knapping on several occassions without much luck. Made a fish trap that didn't work as well as I thought it would and built a cage type of trap that nearly caught food. The squirrel jumped straight up when I tripped the trap, knocking it sideways off of the downed tree trunk, escaping. Needed more weight.

Never got into carving spoons or other useful items.
 
siguy said:
i also have the startings of a coracle in the backyard now...still trying to figure out if i want to try to finish it or not.
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Do it! That would be a blast. It's on my list. What were you planning on using for a cover - a tarp?

Doc
 
doc, i am trying to find a wood in my area that will split long and thin to make the basket that makes up the bottom. right now i just have the circle outline made from alot of small maple branches tied together.

i tried splitting up a maple log into strips or even just long thin rods to make up the bottom but the splits keep running out making them uneven thicknesses and too short.

i am planning on using a basic polytarp to cover it.
 
siguy said:
doc, i am trying to find a wood in my area that will split long and thin to make the basket that makes up the bottom. right now i just have the circle outline made from alot of small maple branches tied together.

i tried splitting up a maple log into strips or even just long thin rods to make up the bottom but the splits keep running out making them uneven thicknesses and too short.

i am planning on using a basic polytarp to cover it.
Click to expand...

You've probably already thought of this, but I'd be looking for Willow (Salix spp.) and using it unsplit. Apparently Hazel (Corylus spp.) works well too.

I'm assuming also that you know the method to stop splits from running out on one side, if not, let me know. Maybe I can help.

Doc
 
i have read of the tricks to stop runing out splits, but have a hard time figuring out how to actually do it. i also wish i had a froe instead of batoning a knife, i have a feeling that it would be a little easier to control. another project to get on one of these days...

my woods are mostly maple and coniferous trees, but i am looking for willow and hazel.
 
You will find willow along rivers. At least, that's where I find it in our area. Lots of it here and I use it for the domed hut that I build on occassion. After gathering the willow, you will want to keep it from drying out, so placing them into a large garbage can of water will keep them green and easy to bend/weave. Debark it prior to the actual construction phase and save the bark. It makes decent cordage, or if it's the Red willow, which we have here, you can scrape the inner bark and dry it. Was the original flora smoked by the Indian peoples. Can be a bit harsh, but not bad for an occassional smoke.
 
Kevcooking.jpg


Cooking pole

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Snow shelter

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Aggie made this little basket out of willow bark

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Temporary knife sheath for my SWC woodlore

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Various cooking utensils

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Table and chair

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Close up of the notching and root lashings

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Testing my table and chair's weight holding capacity

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Backrest for use near the fire

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Bow Saw

I'll take some more bushcrafty photos this week. I'll be up in the Adirondacks for a few days and will have plenty of dirt time.
 
kev, neat idea on the double mid-rail on that saw to keep the two sides parallel...

what did you use to cut the slots for the blade? or is it just split?
 
It was just split very carefully. I used a Fox River only to make this and I could have had an easier time if I had a SAK or Leatherman saw in conjunction with it.
 
nice. i once tried cutting the slots with the blade itself, but i had a tough time of it...crosscut blades don't do well as ripsaws...

so the hole were drilled with the tip of the knife too...tricky to make them deep enough without too much of a cone affect...
 
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