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I'm coming late to the party. Sorry. I enjoy posting on BCUK. But I don't start discussions very often because of the restrictive posting policy. I often write articles for other publications and websites. I sometimes try to start a discussion of a skills-related topic and link to an...

I always admired Robinson Crusoe. He was the only man to ever get all his work done by Friday. :p - Woodsorrel

I think @Nice65 is concerned about the phrasing of the response. As he points out, I can return any of the two axes. And I did let the retailer know that I was returning the replacement axe so they would not be surprised that the head was on tight. I do want to mention that in the United...

Thanks @Pattree and @Kadushu for the advice. I will give it a try. - Woodsorrel

I ordered a small carving axe with an 18-inch handle and a two-pound head. When it arrived, the head moved imperceptibly when I shook the handle and I could hear the head shake. I spoke with the supplier and they shipped a new one to me. The original sat on my counter-top for the eight days...

I've been using tool rolls but am having a problem with them. They don't prevent sharp blades (especially gouges) from piercing the material. I think the solution is to make covers for the gouges and blades and then insert them into the tool roll. But I don't know what material to use for it...

Tom Brown Jr. is an interesting character who sometimes made claims that people suspect were exaggerated. But he was undoubtedly one of the foremost contributors to animal tracking and nature connection in the United States. Most of my tracking education comes from former students of his who...

When you say, "less noticed," do you mean less noticed by people or by wildlife? I agree with those who advocate for earth-tone colors. Solid beige (called "khaki " in the US), olive green, coyote brown, and federal tan are colors I wear when I'm outdoors. If you are still and silent, both...

Thanks, @Chris! The California Buckeye is a tree endemic to my area of California. Its wood can be used for hand drills and its beautiful "horse chestnuts" can be used as an emergency food -- after a lot of work to leach the saponins and other terrible chemicals. I worked with the knife...

Here is a list of the knives I use regularly along with pictures so you can see them. I wrote an article for NatureOutside, "12 Bushcraft Knives You Should Own", and used my own knives for the pictures. Here's the link. 12 Bushcraft Knives You Should Own - Woodsorrel

This weekend I led an overnight backpack trip for California State Parks to see the Perseids in the Santa Cruz Mountains. We hiked to the Pacific Ocean side of the top of the mountains to escape the light pollution of Silicon Valley. It was not the peak of the shower, but I thought it was a...

After experimenting for many years, I find that keeping my legs and feet warm is key to a good night's sleep. I tend to sleep in temperatures as low as 40F (4C) in summer because I camp above 6,000 feet (1,828 meters) elevation. I use a 20F (-6C) bag, which is not particularly warm or bulky...

I have carried a TickKey in my first aid kit for many years. I prefer the TickKey because it requires less dexterity than tweezers. You can find them on Amazon, but here is a link to the company's website: https://tickkey.com/ - Woodsorrel

I went on a 6.3-mile hike to stalk Columbian Black-Tailed Deer (the local deer species) in order to observe them. I found and observed several groups. But the most exciting part of the hike was finding fresh Bobcat tracks in thick mud. At first, I thought they might be Mountain Lion. But as...

@Stew , I have only used it a few times. My summer was cancelled by COVID and wildfires. In my limited experience, it worked well, especially on green wood. I have had to clean up the peg-end with my knife sometimes. But that may be due to my unfamiliarity with the tool. My friend has used...

TeeDee, I use a settlers wrench I purchased from here. He makes limited batches and they sell out quickly. https://www.shawnwiththewild.com/product-page/settlers-wrench-with-sheath-1 The link I supplied is to the "perfect" ones. He also has a separate page on his site where he sells seconds...

I also paint my firesteels with clear nail polish. It seems to work well. When you use the firesteel, you need to re-paint the areas you scraped away when you return home from your trip. - Woodsorrel

I think the hidden question is: If you own an expensive knife, would you use it in the field or keep it in a drawer to admire? I have purchased several expensive custom knives. After each purchase, I spend the next week hyperventilating over what I paid. But the reason I buy an expensive...

@Short_edc, don't feel too bad about not remembering where the first aid kit was while under stress. An emergency situation does effect our thinking. Which is why many professionals train using "life like" scenarios. The idea is to replicate the emotions of the situation, and to make it...

@gra_farmer, did you hand-sew it or use a machine? Was it difficult to sew the nylon webbing? - Woodsorrel