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  1. VaughnT

    Flax, without sound..........

    That's a fantastic channel in general. Most folks don't realize just how fast and economic a scythe is, having long since relegated the wonderful tool to history.
  2. VaughnT

    Matthew Walker Knot gear hanger

    Very nice! Never thought of that.
  3. VaughnT

    Bow from only bamboo?

    Don't forget, your hardware stores will have lots of good bow staves in the form of handles for post-hole diggers, shovels, etc. You might have to join two staves at the handle, but that's relatively easy to do with a sheetmetal socket you can make yourself.
  4. VaughnT

    Bushcraft wood glue

    Hide glue is very easy to make, but also softens with moisture. I'd go with the straight up Stockholm Tar, aka Pine Tar, as a binder. While it's not technically a "glue", I think the performance would be sufficiently glue-like to get the job done. And it's what Advoko does for his gear...
  5. VaughnT

    Good ideas for stuff to make with children :)

    As a "simple" knot project, these are great fun for kids. I highly recommend you stay away from them, though, as I've found playing with the things to be extremely addictive no matter your age or how stalwart you think your constitution to be. Great for building dexterity, causing giggling...
  6. VaughnT

    It's an ill wind...

    That crotch in the front would be a dandy of a chopping block for small work. It even has a built in brake that's just the right size for so many things! Add a third leg and it would be topple-free no matter its orientation!
  7. VaughnT

    Good ideas for stuff to make with children :)

    Can you tie the Moana Knot? Can your kids? Take the challenge. You got one second to get the knot tied and thrown to someone drowning in the choppy seas! :O
  8. VaughnT

    Woodland Custodianship

    Thank you. It doesn't take much to make a big difference. Here we can see one very short BDA has managed to spread out the flow of water tremendously. This is super-beneficial to the fish in the water, helping to control the temperature, but also creates habitat for spawning, feeding, or...
  9. VaughnT

    Woodland Custodianship

    The main thing, I think, is to remember that the fish evolved right alongside the beavers. In the US or UK, the story is the same. Some BDA's will be really solid and wide because that's what the people who installed them decided was needed for that particular spot and the goals they were...
  10. VaughnT

    Woodland Custodianship

    Oooh, don't get me started talking about BDA's!! To the fish question - they actually don't hamper migration. As weird as that sounds to say, as contrary as you'd think that is, they actually don't bother the fish at all. In the Western US, there's a saying that beavers taught the salmon how...
  11. VaughnT

    Antlers and Needles.....

    When you have small bits of antler left over, finding something to do with them can be a chore. I'm swimming in antlers, but they're tiny things from tiny deer, unfit for knife handles and the like. So as they collect dust, I will occasionally pull one out of the collection and begin...
  12. VaughnT

    Wool Blanket Bush Smock

    Looks great. Did you start with one of those military surplus blankets? I keep thinking about giving that a go, but as big as I am.... it'd likely take three blankets to give me enough cover! :D
  13. VaughnT

    Waxed fabrics - cotton alternatives

    Might I recommend Stockholm Tar as an alternative to linseed oil? It's been use for a thousand years to proof tarps and leather. Mikko Snellman on Youtube, shows how to make it if you don't want to buy a can of "hoof dressing" at the local hardware store. I would also point to his "Russian...
  14. VaughnT

    A Pricker to Aid in Marlinspike Seamanship.

    Watching Mikko Snellman's channel on YT, I caught glimpse his little spearpoint pricker and liked the idea well enough that I had to try making one for myself. I saved an old Millers Falls screwdriver that'd been abused all its life, giving her a new home and much love. So far, she's been a...
  15. VaughnT

    Stockholm Tar w/ Mikko Snellman

    Yea, but because something is trusted doesn't mean it's accurate or without bias. It wouldn't be the first time a company was able to lobby for this or that simply because it gave them an edge on the competition. Corruption or CYA stuff is as old as time. Even reading the label on the pine...
  16. VaughnT

    Stockholm Tar w/ Mikko Snellman

    Makes me chuckle to think it's famous around the world as Stockholm Tar, but folks that live in and around Stockholm have never heard of it! :woot: Still, call it what we will, it's a great product and more folks in the bushcraft world need to learn about all the good it can do them.
  17. VaughnT

    Stockholm Tar w/ Mikko Snellman

    That's a lot of tar! Figure just one of those barrels looked like it'd hold at least 5 gallons. 35 of those is beaucoup bunches! I bet it smelled great, too!
  18. VaughnT

    Stockholm Tar w/ Mikko Snellman

    Yea, I wouldn't trust the data sheets and that kinda jive. It's like how everything on this side of the pond comes with a warning "Might contain ingredients California believes cause cancer" Stockholm Tar works wonders and is pretty economical, but some company wanted to boost their own...
  19. VaughnT

    Stockholm Tar w/ Mikko Snellman

    I wonder why there's such a disconnect between the old nautical skills and the other groups that tend to like older things or DIY stuff? I see this all the time in the blacksmithing community. Just wrote about for my Subscribe Star folks. It's the weirdest thing how we can be into a...
  20. VaughnT

    Stockholm Tar w/ Mikko Snellman

    Here's a little bit of what I've done lately. Turned a beat-up screwdriver into a pricker to help with fancy work on small line. No Stockholm Tar on it, but that's okay because it'll be dark with grime soon enough. French Whipping capped off on both ends with a Turks Head. All cotton line...