Off to Collect Wood for Bow Drill Sets

[Brian Jones]

Howdy,

Myself, Brett Fournier (Bears Breath here on the forums), and another friend, Joel, are off to collect cedar and poplar with which to make fireboards for the upcoming CT Wilderness Gathering. We're bringing knives, and I promise to post knife porn when we get back. Lots of great standing dead wood already cured and ready for FIRE! We'll also be bringing Joel's Silky Zubat, and I'm planning on taking some short video clips of it in action. This one needs a blade replacement, with a small crack and a couple teeth missing (the saw, not Joel's teeth, Joel uses it daily for his work as an arborist), but wait'll you see it -- even then -- glide through wood like it's butter.

We'll have the chainsaw to take down some of the bigger trees. I'll try to get vid of them crashing down -- although my camera has no sound, so you won't hear it.

 

[Rupestris]

I'll try to get vid of them crashing down -- although my camera has no sound, so you won't hear it.

Please, don't start that whole "If a tree falls..." argument."

Sounds like fun. Can't wait to see the pics.:thumbup:

Chris

 

[bdws1975]

sweet. Can't wait to see those pics Brian!

Brett

 

[Fiddleback]

Cool Post em!! Can't wait to see some pics.

 

[texastonydobbs]

post the pictures ASAP,but remember to be safe !

 

[Brian Jones]

Okay, saving the best for first. Knives, and the Bladeforums W&S patch:

This is the distinctive pecking pattern of the Yellow-bellied sapsucker, a relative of the woodpecker. This is an Austrian Pine, which was introduced to the North American continent from Austria, and has fared quite well here:

Sawing vines to free them from choking the trees, using my SAK Rucksack saw:

Some hanging vine needing to be cleared:

Joel chopping vine with his Cold Steel Bushman:

And then putting it back in the sheath:

A crappy shot of the SAK saw in front of branch I'd just pruned:

A poplar tree (cottonwood):

More patch porn, albeit blurry:

Brett's Cold Steel Recon Tanto at work:

 

[Brian Jones]

The trusty Silky saw (Zubat):

Brett shows his TOPS Wolf Pup and CS Recon Tanto:

My TOPS CQT Magnum 747 folder in the horizontal belt sheath:

Brett (Bears Breath) holding the pole saw, and showing his TOPS Baghdad Bullet in the belt sheath:

These next shots are Bittersweet, an excellent vine for cordage. It can be crushed into strands similar to sinew, or woven as rope as it is:

Knife porn:

More to come, including some video of knives and saws in action!

 

[texastonydobbs]

Great pics bro......

 

[Brian Jones]

Video of Joel pulling on vines, and using the Silky saw to cut in one stroke:

 

[texastonydobbs]

Dang ,that is a sharp saw or a twig he cut ,one of the two

 

[Brian Jones]

TOPS knives:

Closer and blurrier shot of the patch and knives:

Joel testing his CS Bushman for batoning, on red cedar (not for fireboards - only white cedar works):

More batoning:

Joel pruning a branch with his CS Bushman:

A red cedar, standing deadwood, which is a type of Juniper. The bark flakes off and can be roughed into excellent tinder material:

Me scraping the red cedar bark for tinder with my TOPS CQT Magnum folder:

Still more to come!

 

[Brian Jones]

Tony, it's very strong vine, not twigs - but VERY sharp saw!

Next pics will be of us in the process of splitting white cedar and poplar into proper lengths, widths, and depths for fireboards, and making spindles/drills. I'll show it step-by-step!

 

[texastonydobbs]

The Saw looks pretty sharp ! nice assortment of cutting utensils Bro !

 

[texastonydobbs]

I sure do like the Second TOPS blade in the pic with the Blue/black scales...Satin finish on blade.....

 

[Brian Jones]

I sure do like the Second TOPS blade in the pic with the Blue/black scales...Satin finish on blade.....

That's the Baghdad Bullet - an awesome little blade that is an excellent slicer (nice thin edge, not thick), yet it is stout enough to pull sideways out of wood. Tell the folks at TOPS I sent ya if you decide to get one!

 

[tknife]

Great pics. Cuttin wood with a variety of tools is a fun day for sure That bittersweet vine looks like some tough stuff. I like trying out different plants for cordage.

 

[Brian Jones]

Thanks, Guys. Shane, the bittersweet is very versatile. If you need cordage for shelter, etc., you cna put it to quick use as is. It's often found around red cedar in cedar swamps, usually climbing the cedars and choking them out. Also, many of the other vines were quite thorny. We all have a few little bloodspots on our hands and legs from them....

 

[texastonydobbs]

That's the Baghdad Bullet - an awesome little blade that is an excellent slicer (nice thin edge, not thick), yet it is stout enough to pull sideways out of wood. Tell the folks at TOPS I sent ya if you decide to get one!

:thumbup: Will do.... I really like that blade.. I'll check the specs tomorrow ! thanks for the pictures !

 

[Brian Jones]

Tony,

Here's a direct link to the knife. You can order right from TOPS. It's a popular model, so there may be a wait, since the knives are handcrafted rather than production.

http://www.topsknives.com/product_info.php?products_id=23

 

[texastonydobbs]

Thanks Brian....you shorten my search...Excellent ,but work is almost over so I check it out tomorrow.....LOL !