My Covid-19 and later projects
- Thread starter John Fenna
- Start date
-
BushMoot: Come along to the amazing Summer Moot 31st July - 5th August (extended Moot : 27th July - 8th August), a festival of bushcrafting and camping in a beautiful woodland PLEASE CLICK HERE for more information.
Looking at your photos I can see you're very talented John. I'm well impressed!
Project 172
Various Pot Hanging devices
Inspired by George at the Moot - and to give me some woodworking practice - I decided to make some pot hanging devices...
The first was the good old "adjustable pot hanger" a long arm held by a forked stick and a "Dead Man's Finger" and with a shaped and "dimpled" end onto which the multi-hooked vertical piece locates for simple adjustment of pot height. With a simple "Ring Hook" this vertical piece also works hung on a simple cross bar fire rig. My hook ring is an old knitting needle, the hook and arm are both in Rowan while the fork and finger are Hazel
The second device is George's "Dovetail Fire Crane". For this the horizontal element has a triangular hole to take the triangular upright - it cannot fall or get knocked apart - and multiple notched to take multiple pots or to give horizontal movement of your pot across a fire. The horizontal member moves up and down the triangular upright easily when unloaded but under load it locks in place well and gives you vertical adjustment and the upright can turn in the ground to swing everything out of the heat.
The cord binding on the pieces is to make sure no-one thinks they are firewood...
I made two of these devices to practice using a draw-knife and shave-horse and will be gifting one set - and the home-made billy cans - to the owner of the woods I play in.
Various Pot Hanging devices
Inspired by George at the Moot - and to give me some woodworking practice - I decided to make some pot hanging devices...
The first was the good old "adjustable pot hanger" a long arm held by a forked stick and a "Dead Man's Finger" and with a shaped and "dimpled" end onto which the multi-hooked vertical piece locates for simple adjustment of pot height. With a simple "Ring Hook" this vertical piece also works hung on a simple cross bar fire rig. My hook ring is an old knitting needle, the hook and arm are both in Rowan while the fork and finger are Hazel
The second device is George's "Dovetail Fire Crane". For this the horizontal element has a triangular hole to take the triangular upright - it cannot fall or get knocked apart - and multiple notched to take multiple pots or to give horizontal movement of your pot across a fire. The horizontal member moves up and down the triangular upright easily when unloaded but under load it locks in place well and gives you vertical adjustment and the upright can turn in the ground to swing everything out of the heat.
The cord binding on the pieces is to make sure no-one thinks they are firewood...
I made two of these devices to practice using a draw-knife and shave-horse and will be gifting one set - and the home-made billy cans - to the owner of the woods I play in.
Nice work John tho I do think you missed an opportunity to carve one of your tiki heads on the first pot hanger so he can keep an eye on your pot for you 
Project 173
Cutting board come plate and a Spoontula
Bad weather boredom was defeated by finding a couple of pieces of wood to play with ...
A scrap of Pine made the serving tool cross between a spoon and a spatula - which I tried to decorate with a bit of Kolrosing but made a poor job of it! - while a bit of Oak became a small plate (for square meals?) on one side and a kitchen chopping board on the other
This was not the ideal choices of woods for the jobs .. the pine is a bit soft for serving tools while the Oak was originally from a Victorian chest of draws and as hard as iron - a swine to work!
I did not go for a high finish on either piece but they should work OK - at least a short while in the case of the spoontula!
The Peltonen knife is for scale.
Cutting board come plate and a Spoontula
Bad weather boredom was defeated by finding a couple of pieces of wood to play with ...
A scrap of Pine made the serving tool cross between a spoon and a spatula - which I tried to decorate with a bit of Kolrosing but made a poor job of it! - while a bit of Oak became a small plate (for square meals?) on one side and a kitchen chopping board on the other
This was not the ideal choices of woods for the jobs .. the pine is a bit soft for serving tools while the Oak was originally from a Victorian chest of draws and as hard as iron - a swine to work!I did not go for a high finish on either piece but they should work OK - at least a short while in the case of the spoontula!
The Peltonen knife is for scale.
Yes, Oak, while a lovely wood, is not fun to work.
but, look at that beautiful grain!
but, look at that beautiful grain!
Project 174
First steps in wood turning
With borrowed tools I have started out learning the art of wood turning ... and these are my first efforts - two half finished bowls and a finished bowl and a finished "Rounders Bat/Priest/carving baton... the bowls were turned on a powered lathe and the baton on the pole lathe. All the wood is Ash and was initially turned green and the finished bowl "finessed" when dry. The remaining bowls will also be finished when dry - if I get around to it, these pieces being more about learning the tools and techniques than producing truly finished pieces...
First steps in wood turning
With borrowed tools I have started out learning the art of wood turning ... and these are my first efforts - two half finished bowls and a finished bowl and a finished "Rounders Bat/Priest/carving baton... the bowls were turned on a powered lathe and the baton on the pole lathe. All the wood is Ash and was initially turned green and the finished bowl "finessed" when dry. The remaining bowls will also be finished when dry - if I get around to it, these pieces being more about learning the tools and techniques than producing truly finished pieces...
Project 174
Lathe tool grab bag
I realized that I needed more carrying capacity - the lathe tools I have been loaned take up a lot of space! - so I made another gear bag based on the one in project 171.
Basically the same size and design but with handles made from re-twisted sash cord, knotted with a "Double Fisherman's Knot"
Lathe tool grab bag
I realized that I needed more carrying capacity - the lathe tools I have been loaned take up a lot of space! - so I made another gear bag based on the one in project 171.
Basically the same size and design but with handles made from re-twisted sash cord, knotted with a "Double Fisherman's Knot"
Project 175
A "flat Pack" Camping Table
On long turn static camps I like to "travel heavy" and haul in furniture and tarps to make life as comfortable as possible ... but I also like the "home-made/Bushcrafty" ethos ...
This table was built to replace a similar size one that I lashed together from Hazel rods - and which had become old and shaky ... a bit like me!
The legs are made from Rowan from the woods I play in, worked green (using all hand tools) at the place I am learning green woodworking skills and which has the tools and equipment for me to learn on. The cross members and hanging rods are Hazel and Rowan rods from my store of wood, while the top is ... an old table top cut to size, resurfaced and rebraced and the drain holes all done with power tools that I am also learning to use!
All the wood is oiled with three coats of my blend of Boiled Linseed and teak oils and then given a (home made) beeswax finish.
The cordage for the hanging rods and for securing the top (so it will not flip off if I lean on it too hard) I twisted up from Jute garden twine and whipped the ends with the plain Jute twine ... the leather cords are just reference markers so that I put it all together the right way round!
The holes and asymmetric construction of the table are to allow me to have a solid working area for cooking etc and a draining board area for when I get around to doing the washing up! .. it also saves a bit of weight!
Heavy and stable the table is leveled on the uneven woodland floor by burying the feet - sharpened for this purpose - up to 4" deep.
Hopefully I will give the table a good test in the near future!
The stuff on the table (except for the folding frying pan) is all made by me from the forged metal "S" hooks, through the converted food container billycans, carved spoons, ladles, mugs etc to the turned bowl (the first almost useful bowl I have ever turned!), which is the most recent of all of the kitchen bit I have made ...
A "flat Pack" Camping Table
On long turn static camps I like to "travel heavy" and haul in furniture and tarps to make life as comfortable as possible ... but I also like the "home-made/Bushcrafty" ethos ...
This table was built to replace a similar size one that I lashed together from Hazel rods - and which had become old and shaky ... a bit like me!
The legs are made from Rowan from the woods I play in, worked green (using all hand tools) at the place I am learning green woodworking skills and which has the tools and equipment for me to learn on. The cross members and hanging rods are Hazel and Rowan rods from my store of wood, while the top is ... an old table top cut to size, resurfaced and rebraced and the drain holes all done with power tools that I am also learning to use!
All the wood is oiled with three coats of my blend of Boiled Linseed and teak oils and then given a (home made) beeswax finish.
The cordage for the hanging rods and for securing the top (so it will not flip off if I lean on it too hard) I twisted up from Jute garden twine and whipped the ends with the plain Jute twine ... the leather cords are just reference markers so that I put it all together the right way round!
The holes and asymmetric construction of the table are to allow me to have a solid working area for cooking etc and a draining board area for when I get around to doing the washing up! .. it also saves a bit of weight!
Heavy and stable the table is leveled on the uneven woodland floor by burying the feet - sharpened for this purpose - up to 4" deep.
Hopefully I will give the table a good test in the near future!
The stuff on the table (except for the folding frying pan) is all made by me from the forged metal "S" hooks, through the converted food container billycans, carved spoons, ladles, mugs etc to the turned bowl (the first almost useful bowl I have ever turned!), which is the most recent of all of the kitchen bit I have made ...
Project 175 - part 2!
I just had an idea for a towel rail/wind break support from Hazel with Ash and Willow rods (all just push fit) and a slate alcohol stove stand - to save scorching the wood with the hot stove...
I get lots of ideas - all I need now are the skills and tools to do a good job!
I just had an idea for a towel rail/wind break support from Hazel with Ash and Willow rods (all just push fit) and a slate alcohol stove stand - to save scorching the wood with the hot stove...
I get lots of ideas - all I need now are the skills and tools to do a good job!
Project 176
My first successful turned bowl!
The first one completed without cracks or splits... yet!
Destined to be my camping dinner bowl - if it does not split...
My first successful turned bowl!
The first one completed without cracks or splits... yet!
Destined to be my camping dinner bowl - if it does not split...
The bowl is made from a random round of Ash ... basically re-purposed firewood - I still have the other, larger, "half" to play with for my next turning project This wood turning thing seems a bit addictive!
This wood turning thing seems a bit addictive!And you are going to tell us its your first? wait, you have already done so.
its very good.
its very good.
Similar threads
