Solo Camping "Revised". Lots of pics!

Tarmix Very cool, Your getting my psyched up for my upcoming solo trip.. Looks like you had a blast...
 
Mikel_24 said:
Great pictures, thanks for sharing!

I just noticed that tool you are using to carve the concave scoop of the spoon... I just don't know how do you call it. Anyway... I once read about the burn&scrape method to carve concave spots on wood. You just pick up a red hot coal from your fire and place it on the spot you want to carve out. You blow on it and the wood arround the coal starts burning. Once you have a nice spot all burnt out you just scrape it with a knife or whatever and then do it again. I found it much faster and easier than trying to do it with the knife tip. Less chances to cut yourself as well.
Am I the only one using this way of carving?Mikel
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No. I've used the "burn and scratch" method before. The spruce I was carving was pretty green and easy to carve, and I find it works better on seasoned dry wood.
 
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Nice pics, looks like good times! :thumbup:

That Enzo is sweet... I recently bought one of those blades myself, and made the handle scales out of a piece of oak. Now I just need to do a sheath, and I get to try it out decently :)
 
Mikel_24 said:
Great pictures, thanks for sharing!

I just noticed that tool you are using to carve the concave scoop of the spoon... I just don't know how do you call it. Anyway... I once read about the burn&scrape method to carve concave spots on wood. You just pick up a red hot coal from your fire and place it on the spot you want to carve out. You blow on it and the wood arround the coal starts burning. Once you have a nice spot all burnt out you just scrape it with a knife or whatever and then do it again. I found it much faster and easier than trying to do it with the knife tip. Less chances to cut yourself as well.
Am I the only one using this way of carving?
Mikel
Click to expand...

I've used that method a couple of times, works pretty well if you can get a good coal out. Here's the beginning of a small bowl I was making. Not a great pic as you can only see the 'left over' burned parts.
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tarmix101 said:
No. I've used the "burn and scratch" method before. The spruce I was carving was pretty green and easy to carve, and I find it works better on seasoned dry wood.
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Green wood helps out a lot, that's for sure. Do you guys fire harden the stuff you carve so it lasts longer or just use it as it is?

SpookyPistolero said:
Here's the beginning of a small bowl I was making.
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I am sure this method works great for carving out pots and bowls... it is hard to carve the bottom of them by other means. Did you finish it up?

Mikel
 
I actually did finish it up the next morning, but I neglected to take a picture! I wasn't all that pleased with it anyway, it was my first attempt at a bowl.
 
Mikel_24 said:
Green wood helps out a lot, that's for sure. Do you guys fire harden the stuff you carve so it lasts longer or just use it as it is?Mikel
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No I let it cure for at least four to eight weeks depending on the wood. Sand to finish, and treat with food grade mineral oil.

Most of my carvings are done with kiln dried butternut, tupelo, and basswood. That way I can complete a project in a few hours. However green wood is a pleasure to carve, and is more satisfying IMO.
 
DOC-CANADA said:
If you use a hollow plant stem for blowing, you can actually direct the burning action.

Doc
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There is one of those "DUH" pieces of info I like so much. I've never tried a hollow tube or branch to direct the burning where I wanted it.

Too simple I guess.;)

Thanks DOC.:thumbup:
 
Good on ya, tarmix!

I headed out Saturday afternoon for a quick solo overnight, only to find the road to the area I planned on camping was under several feet of snow! I don't mind camping in the snow, but I couldn't even get within seeveral miles of where I was planning on going. I didn't have a backup and ended up driving all the way home. $30 in gas down the tubes, but at least I got to take my wife to Iron Man Saturday night!

Note: I'd never gone to this particular area this early before, but usually by the first week of june there is no snow on the road at all, and only a little rotten stuff in the shade. This road looks like it hasn't been open since November and probably won't be for quite some time! The snomobile crowd was happy, though.

-- FLIX
 
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