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- Jan 7, 2003
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Imbira is a fantastic resource for shelter building. The saplings grow very straight and the bark can be used as is for lashing or made into very high quality cordage.
South American Indians use Imbira to make huge structures. Stripping the poles creates all the lashings you would need to make just about anything.
Technically I should have scraped off the grey outer bark first for making cordage, but I was initially only wanting to show how to use the bark as it comes off the tree.
If you make a single cut all the way down the length of the pole you can start at one end and strip off the entire piece of bark in one long piece. As soon as the sap makes contact with the air it starts to turn bright orange and it will stain your hands.
The lighter cord piece in this photo is about 5 feet long. If you just strip off the bark and leave the "casca" (outer grey stuff) on you can use the bark for lashing in whatever width you need. It will bind stuff but it is pretty stiff and when it dries it is very hard. The larger "rope" was made by twisting a single strip of bark, it was strong enough to hold my body weight (194lbs). Towards the end I split the thicker side into two strips and finished it by braiding it with the rest of the thin side. This kind of simple lash would be strong and long enough to lash a high stress shelter point such as a bed frame. If you find a grove of Imbira saplings you're home.
This shot from a Brazilian website (not my photo!) shows the type of shelter/house made from Imbira poles and bark They only last about 10 years, but the mortgage payments are real easy.
Now that's bushcraft!
If you scrape off the grey outer bark you produce a much suppler strap that is easier to work with once it is dry. This is the form you see most often being used as it is quick to make and still remains strong. When its dry its still pretty stiff but with rain and sun it weathers a bit and starts to look like flat rope.
Between the fibers of the inner bark there is pithy "filler" that contains the orange sap. Once its soaked in water you can scrape this out. With that material gone you can produce plaited cordage.
For making cordage there are easier, more uniform materials such as palm fiber. Palm fibers are round in profile and they roll against the leg easily. Most hammocks and such are made from palm. Imbira isn't often used for plaited cordage but when it is, it is exceptionally strong so its used for things like bowstrings.
If you are just building a shelter then the scraped bark is good enough and happens right now so that is the most gain for the least effort with Imbira.
My main goal in this project was to practice joining smaller pieces while plaiting the cord to keep it going and make cord longer than the fibers I start with. I'm finding my challenge is to keep the cord uniform in thickness as the bark strippings tend to have a thick and thin end.
Scraping the bark clean resulted is a large handful of short fibers that just scream "Friction Fire, dry me out and put a coal in me!" So Imbria can make a bowdrill cord and the tinder nest as a byproduct of the cordmaking process. It does light up with a ferro rod.
My son and I sat in the back yard and "made string". I'm getting the hang of making it as long as I want to, adding material as needed. This piece is about 15 feet long in the photo. My cord is now twice that length. In the center is the washed and dried scrapings from removing the outer bark, it looks like really good tinder. It does light with a ferro rod.
Mac
South American Indians use Imbira to make huge structures. Stripping the poles creates all the lashings you would need to make just about anything.
Technically I should have scraped off the grey outer bark first for making cordage, but I was initially only wanting to show how to use the bark as it comes off the tree.
If you make a single cut all the way down the length of the pole you can start at one end and strip off the entire piece of bark in one long piece. As soon as the sap makes contact with the air it starts to turn bright orange and it will stain your hands.
The lighter cord piece in this photo is about 5 feet long. If you just strip off the bark and leave the "casca" (outer grey stuff) on you can use the bark for lashing in whatever width you need. It will bind stuff but it is pretty stiff and when it dries it is very hard. The larger "rope" was made by twisting a single strip of bark, it was strong enough to hold my body weight (194lbs). Towards the end I split the thicker side into two strips and finished it by braiding it with the rest of the thin side. This kind of simple lash would be strong and long enough to lash a high stress shelter point such as a bed frame. If you find a grove of Imbira saplings you're home.
This shot from a Brazilian website (not my photo!) shows the type of shelter/house made from Imbira poles and bark They only last about 10 years, but the mortgage payments are real easy.
Now that's bushcraft!
If you scrape off the grey outer bark you produce a much suppler strap that is easier to work with once it is dry. This is the form you see most often being used as it is quick to make and still remains strong. When its dry its still pretty stiff but with rain and sun it weathers a bit and starts to look like flat rope.
Between the fibers of the inner bark there is pithy "filler" that contains the orange sap. Once its soaked in water you can scrape this out. With that material gone you can produce plaited cordage.
For making cordage there are easier, more uniform materials such as palm fiber. Palm fibers are round in profile and they roll against the leg easily. Most hammocks and such are made from palm. Imbira isn't often used for plaited cordage but when it is, it is exceptionally strong so its used for things like bowstrings.
If you are just building a shelter then the scraped bark is good enough and happens right now so that is the most gain for the least effort with Imbira.
My main goal in this project was to practice joining smaller pieces while plaiting the cord to keep it going and make cord longer than the fibers I start with. I'm finding my challenge is to keep the cord uniform in thickness as the bark strippings tend to have a thick and thin end.
Scraping the bark clean resulted is a large handful of short fibers that just scream "Friction Fire, dry me out and put a coal in me!" So Imbria can make a bowdrill cord and the tinder nest as a byproduct of the cordmaking process. It does light up with a ferro rod.
My son and I sat in the back yard and "made string". I'm getting the hang of making it as long as I want to, adding material as needed. This piece is about 15 feet long in the photo. My cord is now twice that length. In the center is the washed and dried scrapings from removing the outer bark, it looks like really good tinder. It does light with a ferro rod.
Mac
