Beech Bark Container TUTORIAL!

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jon r

Native
Apr 7, 2006
1,197
9
34
England, midlands
www.jonsbushcraft.com
Heres what i make through out the course of the tutorial:


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I have never worked with Beech bark until now, and im sure most of you havnt either. Have i made a new discovery!? I was walking through the woods a few days ago and saw a falen branch from a Beech Tree. It had been there some time and had dried out. The bark had come away from the wood in curved sheets:

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The bark is strong like board

A few things about Beech bark....

You can cut across it easily with a saw

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But to cut down it length ways i recomend scoaring it all the way through because it is a reletively fragile material

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You may wish to cut a test peice of bark to test techniques on like i did. I also found that it was really easy to drill neat wholes just with the tip of your knife.

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Ok, to start off, slect a peice of bark with a good curve in it (like a gutter) Then cut this into a length from which you can make the sides of the container. You can shave off the outer dark bark with your knife to reveal an orangy blown bark beneith.

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Heres the peice of bark i used as material for the sides:

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Cut two side peices from this of an equal length. Then glue them together with strong wood glue like so:

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I used masking tape to hold the sides tightly together.

Once the glue is fully dry you can make the base and lid.

Start by carving a plank of wood (i used Ash wood)

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Draw round the Base of the container onto the plank of wood and then carve the base out and sand the edges to the perfect size.

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Now do the same for the top part of the lid.

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To make the part of the lid which inserts into the container you will need to do the same again but draw around the inside of the container. This part needs to be a snug fit (not too loose and not so big that it will split the container)

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Glue the two parts of the lid together

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Stick the base on now and leave the whole thing to dry.

Now oil the bark and wood. I just used veg oil. It brings out the colour wonderfully!

And there you have it!

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Hope you like it

Jon
 

g4ghb

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 21, 2005
4,321
246
54
Wiltshire
that looks great Jon! :You_Rock_ Might just have to have a go at that myself :rolleyes:
 

jon r

Native
Apr 7, 2006
1,197
9
34
England, midlands
www.jonsbushcraft.com
The Beech bark is reletively strong but i have found that it is prone to splitting whilst cutting etc. It is hard like board but i can imagine that it may be a bit fragile, so i wouldnt go punching it or throwing it on the floor, not that we are going to do that :rolleyes: . If you think about it, all materials have advantages and disadvantages, its just a case of getting to know the material and dealing with the problems that arise.

Jon
 

bushwacker bob

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 22, 2003
3,824
17
STRANGEUS PLACEUS
jon r said:
It wont be water tight and the lid has shrunk a little since i made it, the wood was seasoned so i dont get why.

Glad you all like it!

Jon
The lid was probably kiln dried timber which can absorb atmospheric humidity.
 

jon r

Native
Apr 7, 2006
1,197
9
34
England, midlands
www.jonsbushcraft.com
It wasnt kiln dried because i cut it down, seasoned it and then carved it. Maybe it wasnt seasoned for long enough. Oh well, it doesnt matter, its still a nice container, it still tooks the same.

I might keep cordage in it and i think it would be big enough to hold first aid supplies.
 

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