What bushcraft tools and know-how do you use in your daily life?

[ex member coconino]

What do you use in your everyday "real" life—work or domestic—which you've got or learned from bushcraft? I mean tools, knowledge and techniques, etc. that you wouldn't have without your interest in bushcraft.

I'll start this off with a simple one: I've been using a firesteel to light my domestic gas cooker since the built-in ignition died a couple of years ago. Works a treat!

 

[nunzionuk]

I use knots and paracord as cable ties in our comms rack at work, stronger than the zip ties that I get supplied, and nicer looking.

 

[John Fenna]

Leatherwork and knifemaking- I make and sell the odd bit as part of my income
Basketry - I store some stuff at home in home made baskets
Woodcarving - making props for our theatre
I have started writing a Survival and Bushcraft column for a motercycle mag

TBH - Most of my life revolves around bushcraft skills!

 

[Everything Mac]

I forge things when I'm not at uni. mostly just knives these days, but they don't sell well so I might move back to the more traditional stuff. - pokers and firesteels etc.

Andy

 

[Shewie]

I use a hand carved teaspoon for my brews in the office everyday

 

[shortyman]

Id of plants and animals is very useful. Safe use of knives.

Also tied my own laces this morning! :0)

 

[Siberianfury]

i travel around alot back and forth from mates places ect, i spend alot of time in tarps and caravans so the usual would be breaking my back carrying a 5 galon drum of water everyso often, splitting wood for the burner ect.

at my parents house (home i guess)

i make knives for some extra sludge, i also make leatherwork.
ofen split logs for my dad with a felling axe.
when theres no nice meat, i go to the feilds and shoot rabbits and pigeons, more fun than tescos.
repair my kit
i just like to make things when i get bored, like catapult rifles and other fun contraptions ect.

oh and forums, theres not much more bushcrafty than forums

 

[Retired Member southey]

I use a hand carved teaspoon for my brews in the office everyday

:You_Rock_

 

[zarkwon]

I use a hand carved teaspoon for my brews in the office everyday

Was it meant to be a teaspoon when you started out or a canoe paddle?

 

[TomBartlett]

I use spoons I carved in the kitchen, have also used a firesteel to light the stove a couple of times!

 

[boisdevie]

I use my SAK most days - best piece of kit I've ever had as a present

 

[Biker]

I'm a carpenter by trade and when I get that sort of work amongst my tools is a drawknife and a carpenter's axe. The drawknife gets a lot of use too, if only to rough out the wood before final planing with a conventional smoothing plane. Saves a lot of effort too and so much nicer than using a powerplane. Obviously the powerplane has its use too. You can't beat it for the rustic repair projects I sometimes get asked to do

The carpenter's axe has been used sometimes, but not half as much. I use that mostly for splitting kindling for the woodburner. I figure the more practice I get using it the less strange it'll be when I have to use it properly.

My Leatherman Super-tool lives in a pocket on my toolpouch belt and gets used often, if only to sharpen a pencil or strip wiring when fitting a plug for a client. I've even adapted one of the tools into a bradawl

If my job requires it, and his has recently, I take along my folding camp bed, sleeping bag and some other kit for some home from home luxuries. Saves having to drive home and set off again the next day back to the job if it's a long way away. I kip over in their barn and pretend I'm a journeyman. It's a nice life.

 

[Home Guard]

I use my leatherman when at work aswell as the use of proper knots, etc. Tree and plant I.D comes into play aswell.

The best skill so far would be tracking, this comes in handy when I get the 12 bore out at weekends.

 

[Osprey]

For me it has been the other way around ! I use tools and skills in my bushcraft that I learned in daily life and whilst growing up. I just didn't realise it was called bushcraft until I discovered this forum several years ago !!
For example my father taught me how to sharpen a pen knife, planes, chisels etc when I was a child and these skills have luckily stayed with me. My interest in nature and wildlife was stimulated by my father who knew most flowers and birds around our area, and by an elderly neighbour who was an expert botanist and fired my enthusiasm and encouraged me to study . Camping, fishing and firelighting skills were learnt by playing in the woods, rivers and fields with my local gang, luckily we never caused major arson !
Interesting thread, thanks for starting.

 

[ex member coconino]

Great replies, guys, keep 'em coming!

 

[jackcbr]

I keep a Mora stuck in my desk at work next to my biscuits and mouse. No-one ever pinches my biscuits or uses my computer.

I'll get my coat

 

[jackcbr]

Having said that, there are several wooden teaspoons at work carved for people who bring me biscuits.

Can I come back in now, it's cold outside

 

[Hazmat]

Sharpening knives, trapping rabbit, and the pigeon eating my seedlings!

 

[maddave]

I'm a park ranger so I use woodcutting skills, firemaking, tracking and many others daily. I generally carry my Svord peasant knife as an EDC but occasionally opt for a victorinox forrester. Although not legal carry (forrester locking blade Svord just over 3" blade ) I have "just cause" to be using them

 

[forestwalker]

Feathersticks; everytime I light the woodstove
Knots
Use hand carved spoons, eat breakfast out of a hand carved bowl, etc