Hello all,
Just thought you might be interested in this new gallery on our website showing a step by step pictorial of an experimental long term shelter build.
I wanted to see how far we could go with a minimal set of hand tools (all kit that could be packed and carried easily - axe, knife, folding buck saw, pocket saw, crook knife, hand brace and bit), a knowledge of working with wood and natural resources and no time limit. The door was a particular triumph for me on this project as it was based on an antique french plank door I reclaimed and built into my workshop a few years back. No metal screws, nails or hinges were used in it's construction, just wooden pegs wedged at each end to secure the planks in position and a strong hinge post into which the bracing bars were housed. Actually, the top bracing bar was integral to the hinge post - took me ages to find the right piece of fallen, but not dead or rotten hazel with a sturdy sun shoot growing from it giving an almost 90 degree angle. As you'll see the hinging post protrudes from the door top and bottom and these protrusions are housed into correponding sockets on the door frame allowing the door to swing open and shut. I loved the original design so much that making up a faithful copy in the woods became an itch I had to scratch. The original had also been made only using hand tools (adze, side axe, pit sawn planks) giving me the confidence to take it on. The addition of a hand brace and bit is something that I wouldn't normally carry but actually turned out to be extremely useful for making strong base camp furniture without having to fall back on lashing sticks together. I'm now on the look out for a folding, ratchet version. The Robin Woods amongst you will also probably notice that a small adze crept into the tool kit for flatting the split planks. This was more for asthetics then anything else..
Another first for me was the mud daub on the walls. Of course, I knew about it as a building material but digging over an area of ground right next to the shelter, pouring on water and mixing in bracken stems to make this primitive render became a bit of an eureka moment. Anyway, have a look and see what you think.. http://www.wilderness-survival.co.uk/gallery/index/index/cPath/243/#
Despite not having a permanent occupant (the structure would benefit hugely from having a small fire constantly chugging away inside) the shelter has made it through heavy snow, high winds and what feels like constant wet weather with only a bit of TLC needed to improve the thatch in places and prop up the ridge pole (too thin for the span plus the weight of the wet thatch). The door has developed a bit more of a haunted house in the woods style creeeaaaak...but I quite like that.
Cheers
Joe
www.wilderness-survival.co.uk
Just thought you might be interested in this new gallery on our website showing a step by step pictorial of an experimental long term shelter build.
I wanted to see how far we could go with a minimal set of hand tools (all kit that could be packed and carried easily - axe, knife, folding buck saw, pocket saw, crook knife, hand brace and bit), a knowledge of working with wood and natural resources and no time limit. The door was a particular triumph for me on this project as it was based on an antique french plank door I reclaimed and built into my workshop a few years back. No metal screws, nails or hinges were used in it's construction, just wooden pegs wedged at each end to secure the planks in position and a strong hinge post into which the bracing bars were housed. Actually, the top bracing bar was integral to the hinge post - took me ages to find the right piece of fallen, but not dead or rotten hazel with a sturdy sun shoot growing from it giving an almost 90 degree angle. As you'll see the hinging post protrudes from the door top and bottom and these protrusions are housed into correponding sockets on the door frame allowing the door to swing open and shut. I loved the original design so much that making up a faithful copy in the woods became an itch I had to scratch. The original had also been made only using hand tools (adze, side axe, pit sawn planks) giving me the confidence to take it on. The addition of a hand brace and bit is something that I wouldn't normally carry but actually turned out to be extremely useful for making strong base camp furniture without having to fall back on lashing sticks together. I'm now on the look out for a folding, ratchet version. The Robin Woods amongst you will also probably notice that a small adze crept into the tool kit for flatting the split planks. This was more for asthetics then anything else..
Another first for me was the mud daub on the walls. Of course, I knew about it as a building material but digging over an area of ground right next to the shelter, pouring on water and mixing in bracken stems to make this primitive render became a bit of an eureka moment. Anyway, have a look and see what you think.. http://www.wilderness-survival.co.uk/gallery/index/index/cPath/243/#
Despite not having a permanent occupant (the structure would benefit hugely from having a small fire constantly chugging away inside) the shelter has made it through heavy snow, high winds and what feels like constant wet weather with only a bit of TLC needed to improve the thatch in places and prop up the ridge pole (too thin for the span plus the weight of the wet thatch). The door has developed a bit more of a haunted house in the woods style creeeaaaak...but I quite like that.
Cheers
Joe
www.wilderness-survival.co.uk
