Any of these books by Ron Edwards have got to a hell of a lot more useful than a kangaroos knacker sack.
BUSHCRAFT 1
Australian Traditional Bush Crafts Now almost a standard reference book, this is known to bushies Australia-wide and is found on even the most remote station properties. Its popularity may be gauged from the fact that it has been in print for over 20 years and has gone into over a dozen editions. It gives simple instructions for all the basic bush crafts from fencing, building, leatherwork, knots, fishnets, whips and much more. 145 pages, 400 drawings.
BUSHCRAFT 2 -Skills of the Australian Bushman
Following the success of the first book, people contacted the author from all over Australia to add their knowledge, resulting in a whole new book. It is full of bush gadgets and explains how to cool and preserve food, how to improvise bush lights, bush ovens, making a cord girth and many other ideas used by the pioneers to make life comfortable. It even includes instructions for a simple rowing boat. 166 pages, 300 drawings.
BUSHCRAFT 3
- Making Do in the Bush This book continues the theme of improvisation, how to live comfortably by making use of low cost or even free materials that are readily available. To Australian bushies nothing was impossible, and this book is crammed with clever ideas for toys, furniture, horse gear, bush cooking and general bush craft. It also explains how to make a permanent low cost water tank, home tanning and how to map your own property. 164 pages, 400 drawings.
BUSHCRAFT 4
- Using What is Available Written 20 years after the first volume, this book is packed with new material and will be welcomed by everyone who has ever dreamed of starting a new life in the bush. It explains how to save thousands of dollars using traditional pioneer methods of preparing timber. Basic techniques are shown in hundreds of clear drawings to enable you to master the skills. There are also sections on other aspects of bush crafts such as medicine, cooking, and even the various horse bits found in Australia and the best ones to use. 160 pages, 400 drawings.
BUSHCRAFT 5
- Developing Your Skills This volume includes lots of leather projects, full instructions for building a mud brick home and also home building with rammed earth. The book has full instructions for 8 strand to 24 strand crocodile ridge belts. Horse gear hints (including a popular rope bridle) and blacksmithing projects. Plus drawings of bush furniture. 160 pages and 700 drawings.
BUSHCRAFT 6
- Old Ideas for Use Today More on gates and fences, stabilised soil for cheap floors, making your own windows, toy making, bush tucker, unusual tools and what they are used for, more projects for the home blacksmith, decorative rope work and fancy knotting, and much more. Plus a section on crafts at Jondaryan Woolshed and the Stockman's Hall of Fame. 160 pages, 450 drawings.
BUSHCRAFT 7
- Preserving Old Secrets When I began this series, I didn't realise the variety of old crafts still in practice. This book explains how to make a horse collar and a pack saddle as well as many small projects. Many people continue to send in ideas and information and these have also been included. Also features a section on the seafaring tradition. 160 pages, 500 drawings.
BUSHCRAFT 8
- Bush Leatherwork Seven small leatherwork books together in the one volume. These books are Beginning Leatherwork, The Secret Plait, Leather Lacing Manual, Stockmen's Plaited Belts, Braided Belts, Plaits Round & Flat, Bushmen's Belt Pouches. All the basic information needed to begin leatherwork plus a number of projects. 160 pages, 1,100 drawings.
BUSHCRAFT 9
- How to Make Whips This book is the same size and price as the rest of the series and is devoted to the making of whips. The first section gives instructions for a basic 8 strand whip, the second deals with the making of kangaroo hide whips. Other chapters explain the making of bullwhips, snake whips and whips made from pre-cut lace. Also instructions on how to plait names in whips and plaiting designs for whip handles. It contains the full contents of four smaller books, fully revised and enlarged, plus much additional material. 160 pages, 740 drawings.
BUSHCRAFT 10
- Living in the Bush (AVAILABLE SHORTLY) This is the last in the series and contains a mixed bag of information on all sorts of subjects. How to make your own stockman's coat and a fisherman's sou-wester, as well as a plaited hat for the hot weather. How to repair saddles, and how to make an attractive plaited bridle. There are even directions for making your own cow bells and Condamine bells, as well as many bush tips for doing all sorts of jobs around the place from fencing to bush furniture. And as this is the final volume there is also a full index for the whole ten books. 160 pages, 574 drawings.
BUSHCRAFT 1
Australian Traditional Bush Crafts Now almost a standard reference book, this is known to bushies Australia-wide and is found on even the most remote station properties. Its popularity may be gauged from the fact that it has been in print for over 20 years and has gone into over a dozen editions. It gives simple instructions for all the basic bush crafts from fencing, building, leatherwork, knots, fishnets, whips and much more. 145 pages, 400 drawings.
BUSHCRAFT 2 -Skills of the Australian Bushman
Following the success of the first book, people contacted the author from all over Australia to add their knowledge, resulting in a whole new book. It is full of bush gadgets and explains how to cool and preserve food, how to improvise bush lights, bush ovens, making a cord girth and many other ideas used by the pioneers to make life comfortable. It even includes instructions for a simple rowing boat. 166 pages, 300 drawings.
BUSHCRAFT 3
- Making Do in the Bush This book continues the theme of improvisation, how to live comfortably by making use of low cost or even free materials that are readily available. To Australian bushies nothing was impossible, and this book is crammed with clever ideas for toys, furniture, horse gear, bush cooking and general bush craft. It also explains how to make a permanent low cost water tank, home tanning and how to map your own property. 164 pages, 400 drawings.
BUSHCRAFT 4
- Using What is Available Written 20 years after the first volume, this book is packed with new material and will be welcomed by everyone who has ever dreamed of starting a new life in the bush. It explains how to save thousands of dollars using traditional pioneer methods of preparing timber. Basic techniques are shown in hundreds of clear drawings to enable you to master the skills. There are also sections on other aspects of bush crafts such as medicine, cooking, and even the various horse bits found in Australia and the best ones to use. 160 pages, 400 drawings.
BUSHCRAFT 5
- Developing Your Skills This volume includes lots of leather projects, full instructions for building a mud brick home and also home building with rammed earth. The book has full instructions for 8 strand to 24 strand crocodile ridge belts. Horse gear hints (including a popular rope bridle) and blacksmithing projects. Plus drawings of bush furniture. 160 pages and 700 drawings.
BUSHCRAFT 6
- Old Ideas for Use Today More on gates and fences, stabilised soil for cheap floors, making your own windows, toy making, bush tucker, unusual tools and what they are used for, more projects for the home blacksmith, decorative rope work and fancy knotting, and much more. Plus a section on crafts at Jondaryan Woolshed and the Stockman's Hall of Fame. 160 pages, 450 drawings.
BUSHCRAFT 7
- Preserving Old Secrets When I began this series, I didn't realise the variety of old crafts still in practice. This book explains how to make a horse collar and a pack saddle as well as many small projects. Many people continue to send in ideas and information and these have also been included. Also features a section on the seafaring tradition. 160 pages, 500 drawings.
BUSHCRAFT 8
- Bush Leatherwork Seven small leatherwork books together in the one volume. These books are Beginning Leatherwork, The Secret Plait, Leather Lacing Manual, Stockmen's Plaited Belts, Braided Belts, Plaits Round & Flat, Bushmen's Belt Pouches. All the basic information needed to begin leatherwork plus a number of projects. 160 pages, 1,100 drawings.
BUSHCRAFT 9
- How to Make Whips This book is the same size and price as the rest of the series and is devoted to the making of whips. The first section gives instructions for a basic 8 strand whip, the second deals with the making of kangaroo hide whips. Other chapters explain the making of bullwhips, snake whips and whips made from pre-cut lace. Also instructions on how to plait names in whips and plaiting designs for whip handles. It contains the full contents of four smaller books, fully revised and enlarged, plus much additional material. 160 pages, 740 drawings.
BUSHCRAFT 10
- Living in the Bush (AVAILABLE SHORTLY) This is the last in the series and contains a mixed bag of information on all sorts of subjects. How to make your own stockman's coat and a fisherman's sou-wester, as well as a plaited hat for the hot weather. How to repair saddles, and how to make an attractive plaited bridle. There are even directions for making your own cow bells and Condamine bells, as well as many bush tips for doing all sorts of jobs around the place from fencing to bush furniture. And as this is the final volume there is also a full index for the whole ten books. 160 pages, 574 drawings.
I'm moving out there this year, Brisbane bound. My wife's Aussie (she really hates real ale John... lol) and we're moving there as soon as the visa comes through. I'm looking forward to visiting a friend of hers who lives out bush - they put up a tent for the dunny and a seat over the hole for when she went there last time, was real swank, y'know?
