Recent content by Matt

  • Hey Guest, Early bird pricing on the Summer Moot (29th July - 10th August) available until April 6th, we'd love you to come. PLEASE CLICK HERE to early bird price and get more information.
  1. M

    colour of golite tipi

    Forest green is quite unobstrusive, apart from the reflective tabs on each of the corners.
  2. M

    Disgusting but does it work ?

    On the subject of the medecines of indiginous peoples not always being the best move... I spent some time with a tribe in the South Pacific last year. We were introduced to a woman (i forget her name) who was a relative of the family i was staying with. She had been suffering from an eye...
  3. M

    How does Joe Public perceive bushcrafters?

    The last time I was airgun hunting, a couple of weeks ago, a couple of young teenagers weandered into our camp attracted by the smell of frying pigeon. They were obviously a little surprised to find two twenty year olds in a mix of swannies and combats sitting round a fire carving spoons. They...
  4. M

    Spoons

    Just a thought, but are we still at risk from yew even after the oil has oxidized? Don't they use rhododendron wood for spoons in scandinavia - they must lock away its toxicity somehow. I would have thought that once the linseed oil in your polish turns to linoxin it should be ok to use...
  5. M

    Modern army sleeping bags

    I've been using one of the new british bags for a couple of years now. It certainly is a bulky bit of kit, and weighs a fair amount, but if you are willing to carry the extra weight/bulk to ensure a good night's sleep, then that shouldn't bother you. Ben McNutt has recommended this bag on both...
  6. M

    Microwaveable Wood

    Microwaving wood is also a good way of getting rid of woodworm. Normally you'd have to heat it to 60 degrees centigrade throughout, but since microwaves work by heating water, fats and sugars, you get the little buggers straight away. Proofing with woodworm treatment will only kill the beetles...
  7. M

    BCUK TV Guide - Brat Camp

    Hmm...as one of the younger members of the community I feel I ought to stick up for the younger generations! Some of you have written some really glowering indictments of 'kids today', etc, and I'm not sure they are entirely fair. Just because kids on this particular program are disrespectful...
  8. M

    martial arts

    Well put ... having a knowledge of fighting is one thing, but I also do long distance running!!! :-D
  9. M

    martial arts

    I'm currently doing a combination of Sombo, Brazilian Ju-jistu and Kickboxing, although I've done Aikido in the past. I have to agree with Degrorobogo, I find free fighting much more enjoyable (and realistic) than any single martial art. Then again it depends on what you are after. Some...
  10. M

    Bushcraft vs. staying alive

    I think one of the interesting things I've noticed about people interested in Bushcraft, is that they are frequently interested in martial arts also. I certainly think of martial arts, but more importantly the skills you learn like conflict resolution and just general awareness as an...
  11. M

    Badges

    Sounds like a nice idea! Count me in! :-D
  12. M

    Treatment for spoons

    A very good range of environmentally sound and biologically safe organic oils are the 'Organoil range' they do a variety of oils for a variety of finishes, and all are safe to use on utensils. Its based on tung oil, and smells great! You can get most of the range from Axminster, the hard...
  13. M

    Fire; blowing on it...

    Although it is fairly rare, there have been cases of poisoning from elder especially using the shoots as blow guns - it's not life threatening, something akin to the irritation some people get to the berries. Something to be aware of at least :-) I'll dig up the reference later if i can...
  14. M

    Squirrles

    For the sake of humanity I'd much rather go for headshots. Personally I wouldn't kill it if I didn't intend to eat it and a headshot saves the trouble of discarding some of the meat/digging around for a pellet.
  15. M

    Billy Can

    If you are up for a home made alternative, you can buy stainless steel coffee/tea/sugar pots at TK-MAX for abour £3, then its just a matter of fitting them out with hangers and a handle for the lid. :-D