HELP! (feather sticks)

lmcq784

lmcq784

Joined
Feb 5, 2010
Messages
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Hello my fellow ESEEers!

I've tried many times making feather sticks... and I just don't think I'm doing it right... I may get a few going, and either start cutting into the wood too much or break them off if I try too hard :(

How do you guys get such nice feathers?!?!?!

Can someone give me some tips or a tutorial, and maybe a list of things NOT to do or avoid doing?

Everytime I see someone's pic of a beautiful feather stick, my keyboard gets covered in drool, and I wish I could make mine better!

HELP!!
 
1) Don't try so hard
2) Make sure your knife is sharp
3) Practice

The curls are just like the curls from a wood plane - you want a low angle of cut and slow, steady motion - the cut is NOT made with your wrist... this is an easy mistake at first (especially if you've only seen an example of the end product and try to "figure out the technique" on your own)

This is a cool video because he shows some common mistakes, too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NLpbD0cjBY

Have fun with it!
 
Perhaps you should refocus a bit. The goal is not necessarily a "beautiful" feather stick but one that will catch fire easily. Just keep doing it and you will get where you want to be.

The only real tip after having a sharp knife is to use your offhand thumb on the spine of the blade for more controlled and precise pressure.

A lot of us have been doing stuff for a long, long time and continue to do so at work on breaktime if we are outside... Or, for the more fortunate, those who spend A LOT of time in the woods. I know around a campfire, it's just the thing to do, sit and whittle. I mean, making feather sticks is just whittling not realized, isn't it? :D
 
Yep, a functional feather stick is not necesarilly a pretty one.

I've only done it a few times, and can admit mine look like crap, bit if you get a mixture of small, medium and large curls in dense bundles, those will catch the flame/sparks of your tinder and ignite with ease.

Practise makes perfect :thumbup:
 
This thread prompted me to do up my FIRST You Tube video.
I saw a feather stick technique once upon a time and can't find the video I learned it from so I figured I would make my own video.
[youtube]q95l0nsO5OQ[/youtube]
 
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Yes, I do know that a functional feather stick doesn't have to be pretty... but I'm not even getting that far! :(
Once I start to get a curl, it'll break off... I can't get many curls (or more like peels) to stay on the stick! - at which point, yes, it does look like I'm just whittling... with would-be curls laying on the ground as short strips and flakes :'(
 
Good first vid :thumbup: That's just how I do 'em.

I find the best way is to lock your elbow, use a sharp knife ( I like the either the 3,4, or 6 ,but can use anything) Get your angle right , go slow at first ,and stop before slicing it off. Twisting your wrist in or out to get the angle right helps. Some wood just makes better fuzzies than others. It gets more difficult with harder wood. Just practice lots. Hope that helps.
 
stjones said:
This thread prompted me to do up my FIRST You Tube video.
I saw a feather stick technique once upon a time and can't find the video I learned it from so I figured I would make my own video.
Click to expand...

Good work on your first video. Never thought of your first technique, will have to give it a try.
 
lmcq784 said:
Hello my fellow ESEEers!

I've tried many times making feather sticks... and I just don't think I'm doing it right... I may get a few going, and either start cutting into the wood too much or break them off if I try too hard :(

How do you guys get such nice feathers?!?!?!

Can someone give me some tips or a tutorial, and maybe a list of things NOT to do or avoid doing?

Everytime I see someone's pic of a beautiful feather stick, my keyboard gets covered in drool, and I wish I could make mine better!

HELP!!
Click to expand...

I do that a lot. One thing I realised is to take it slower and that when making fuzzies to get a fire started, though it looks cool if they are all part of the stick, not necessary.

Get a nice leaf, bandanna, or a handkerchief to catch those pesky little ones you cut off. They still aid in getting a fire going.

But it is still cool to get a large amount of fuzzies on one stick and good advice has been given for that.
 
stjones said:
This thread prompted me to do up my FIRST You Tube video.
I saw a feather stick technique once upon a time and can't find the video I learned it from so I figured I would make my own video.
[youtube]q95l0nsO5OQ[/youtube]
Click to expand...

I love the first meathod you show and I`m jealous and embarassed I never thought of it.
 
stjones said:
This thread prompted me to do up my FIRST You Tube video.
I saw a feather stick technique once upon a time and can't find the video I learned it from so I figured I would make my own video.
[youtube]q95l0nsO5OQ[/youtube]
Click to expand...

Wow.. you make it look so easy!!! :thumbup:

I will definitely practice more and try harder (or not as hard)...

That other video was helpful as well... Thanks, David43515!

I guess I haven't tried with softer wood.... I've always done it with the firewood that we can get at camp sites or ones from our friend, and they're always hardwood like oak and cherry...

I'll keep trying!:D
 
Extremely helpful vid there stjones. I had always just used the 2nd method... will try the first one for sure :thumbup:

Thanks!
 
Here is one the better instructional video's on the subject that I have seen.

The Video is by Knifemaker and fellow BF member Brian Andrews

[youtube]326RtScPADM[/youtube]


A really good fuzzstick should take a spark from a ferro rod IMO
 
i'm glad to see i'm not the only person who didn't think of the 1st method in the 1st vid. i appreciate you demonstrating that, it'll be remembered :)
 
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