Hello chaps, had ago at making a birch bark container, and have to say it is fiendishly simple to do. so, here goes.
First get your self some bark at least 1mm thick.
then cut some arrows down one side ( you will feel the best way to bend it so it doesn't break) either with your knife or scissors.
then cut slits in the opposite edge with about 4cm of over lap( so as to close the tube and not leave gaps, then feed the arrows into the slits.
then roll another length the same width as the first but with the clean inner bark facing in so you have a clean inner tube(You will see what I mean when you have the bark in your hands). this not only means you container is cleaner on the inside it also strengthens the whole thing.
so you now have a tube and a lot of tinder as a bonus. go have a cuppa.
Then carve a base.
And a cap.
I have sealed mine using pine resin, i collected this by just snapping it off some trees in Plym valley country park ,when we lived in Plmstock. They were Scots pines, so have a look around. i have added saw dust to mine to put a little structure in(weather that helps or hinders is yet to be seen) kept in a small tobacco tin which doubles as the means to melt it to by holding it over the gas hob for a second or two, then applying with a stick and finally smoothing with a wet finger.
And here we have the finished result.
I hope you like it, and go have a go, you don't even have to use bark, card would be a good stand in, or even leather for a soft tub?
Dave.
First get your self some bark at least 1mm thick.
then cut some arrows down one side ( you will feel the best way to bend it so it doesn't break) either with your knife or scissors.
then cut slits in the opposite edge with about 4cm of over lap( so as to close the tube and not leave gaps, then feed the arrows into the slits.
then roll another length the same width as the first but with the clean inner bark facing in so you have a clean inner tube(You will see what I mean when you have the bark in your hands). this not only means you container is cleaner on the inside it also strengthens the whole thing.
so you now have a tube and a lot of tinder as a bonus. go have a cuppa.
Then carve a base.
And a cap.
I have sealed mine using pine resin, i collected this by just snapping it off some trees in Plym valley country park ,when we lived in Plmstock. They were Scots pines, so have a look around. i have added saw dust to mine to put a little structure in(weather that helps or hinders is yet to be seen) kept in a small tobacco tin which doubles as the means to melt it to by holding it over the gas hob for a second or two, then applying with a stick and finally smoothing with a wet finger.
And here we have the finished result.
I hope you like it, and go have a go, you don't even have to use bark, card would be a good stand in, or even leather for a soft tub?
Dave.
