I've received alot of "WTF" kind of comments about making trap parts using folders, specifically a sebenza, implying that I am abusing my tools. I decided to do this little tutorial to show how simple and easy it is to make basic notches for traps, pot hangers, etc with a folding and fixed blade knife.
I normally use greener wood for this sort of thing, I chose to use seasoned wood because it's harder to accomplish the task and if I can do it with seasoned, green wouldn't be a problem at all.
First of all make sure your knife is very sharp, I wouldn't even bother trying this without at least shaving sharp blade.
Here is the piece of wood and my folding knife for the task, Large Sebenza 21. It's got a fairly thin hollow grind. I'm not sure which species this wood is.
Grasp the knife firmly in your hand while grasping the piece of wood with your off hand. Press down into the wood somewhat forcefully with your knife and rock the piece your carving back and forth. Do this until you are 1/3-1/2 through the piece of wood.
Carve in the direction of your cut. Continue carving until your notch is satisfactory. It doesn't have to be perfect. You will have to fine tune parts when you decide to setup your trap, cooking implement, etc.
Voila, you've made a notch, I have no idea what this is actually called, all I know it as is the L in and L7 snare.
Next up is a square notch. These can be useful for something I'm sure, lol
I don't ever really use em, just do em for the fun of it.
Use that rolling technique to put two more cuts into your wood, the size you would like your notch to be.
Put an X inside the two notches to make carving the notch out easier.
Now carve the smaller pieces out and add depth to your notch if you like.
Now onto the fixed blades. This process is alot simpler but basically the same. You don't have to be near as gentle with your knife and you can baton it.
First baton a cut into the wood. Then carve torwards the cut to form your notch. Simple.
Now to the square notch. Baton two cuts into the wood spaced as you want them.
Then twist the blade a little and torque out the notch.
Here is the notch dressed up and finished. Added a little depth and squared the edges. As I said before you will have to fine tune almost all notches once you setup your apparatus.
I hope the newer guys here learned a little something from this and maybe gave new ideas to the seasoned woodsman on the board. If you have any questions, critiques or comments, don't be shy.
I normally use greener wood for this sort of thing, I chose to use seasoned wood because it's harder to accomplish the task and if I can do it with seasoned, green wouldn't be a problem at all.
First of all make sure your knife is very sharp, I wouldn't even bother trying this without at least shaving sharp blade.
Here is the piece of wood and my folding knife for the task, Large Sebenza 21. It's got a fairly thin hollow grind. I'm not sure which species this wood is.
Grasp the knife firmly in your hand while grasping the piece of wood with your off hand. Press down into the wood somewhat forcefully with your knife and rock the piece your carving back and forth. Do this until you are 1/3-1/2 through the piece of wood.
Carve in the direction of your cut. Continue carving until your notch is satisfactory. It doesn't have to be perfect. You will have to fine tune parts when you decide to setup your trap, cooking implement, etc.
Voila, you've made a notch, I have no idea what this is actually called, all I know it as is the L in and L7 snare.
Next up is a square notch. These can be useful for something I'm sure, lol
I don't ever really use em, just do em for the fun of it.Use that rolling technique to put two more cuts into your wood, the size you would like your notch to be.
Put an X inside the two notches to make carving the notch out easier.
Now carve the smaller pieces out and add depth to your notch if you like.
Now onto the fixed blades. This process is alot simpler but basically the same. You don't have to be near as gentle with your knife and you can baton it.
First baton a cut into the wood. Then carve torwards the cut to form your notch. Simple.
Now to the square notch. Baton two cuts into the wood spaced as you want them.
Then twist the blade a little and torque out the notch.
Here is the notch dressed up and finished. Added a little depth and squared the edges. As I said before you will have to fine tune almost all notches once you setup your apparatus.
I hope the newer guys here learned a little something from this and maybe gave new ideas to the seasoned woodsman on the board. If you have any questions, critiques or comments, don't be shy.
