Birchbark shims

[redcollective]

Hello all,

I'm about to start another knife in what I hope will look a more typical scandi style using only masur birch, birch bark and antler.

I intend to use the birch bark as shims between antler pieces, and between antler and wood.

Any tips on handling birchbark? Should I just use compression to get the bark flat between the antler and wood? Or should I treat it somehow to flatten it?

Cheers!

 

[tomtom]

im not sure this is exactly what your looking for but have a look ar Reids tutorial on OMF..
http://forums.outdoors-magazine.com/viewtopic.php?t=2398&highlight=grohmann

 

[redcollective]

Thanks tomtom - looks like compression and glue seems to be the right choice.

 

[OldJimbo]

Reid's article should suffice. Birch bark gives lots of extra grip to a handle, which can be great in knives used for lots of work with fish. It also feels warmer when used in the cold. A fast cheap and easy way of seeing if such is going to suit a person, is to use some cork rings used in making fishing rod handles. Those go on fast and can be shaped in minutes.

 

[pierre girard]

Hello all,

I'm about to start another knife in what I hope will look a more typical scandi style using only masur birch, birch bark and antler.

I intend to use the birch bark as shims between antler pieces, and between antler and wood.

Any tips on handling birchbark? Should I just use compression to get the bark flat between the antler and wood? Or should I treat it somehow to flatten it?

Cheers!

I don't know anything about making a handle from birch bark washers, but I did have a very nice pukko (circa 1900) where the handle was made from birchbark washers alone. I looked for it to take a photo when Wing reminded me I'd given it to a Finn friend of ours (neither of us our Finn). At any rate, it made a beautiful knife handle.

PG

 

[OldJimbo]

Birchbark really is pretty - unlike this one which is the fast cork job. Sometimes though, pretty is secondary to function and using something like birch bark or even cork really proves out when it's below -20.

 

[miniac]

Wow! Theres a nice Idea that dosnt sound to hard. May be having a go at that..

 

[ggfh666]

I think you'll have to remove the white top layer, as this may come loose from the rest of the bark.