Corkscrew for the sliver birch sap?

[Boosh]

Could anyone point me in the right direction for the corkscrew bit thingymajig that Ray Mears used on his bushcraft series to drill the sap out of the silver birch tree?

It was kind of like a long drill bit/corkscrew with a metal loop in the end so a stick could be inserted as a handle to turn it. He made that sap sound so tasty i thought i'd give it go.

Thanks,

Boosh.

 

[mojofilter]

Try searching for auger bit.

You don't actually need to mutilate the tree to get sap btw, you can get a fair bit in the spring just by piercing the bark quite deeply with the point of your knife.

 

[scanker]

From your description, it sounds like a brace and bit, I can't remember what he used.

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q32/pictkr22/Garage%20Sale/e4b1031b.jpg

(Image is a bit big.)

 

[leon-b]

what do you guys use as i would like to give it a go in the spring ?
leon

 

[led]

I use a 1" 'scotch eyed auger'.

 

[Buckshot]

He used a brace and bit,but as mentioned above a knife works well too.
Drive the tip in so it goes all the way through the bark, give it a little wiggle so the bark doesn't close up and seal itself again Put a pot to collect the sap under neath.
Come back some time later...

If you do a search on birch sap you'll find several threads on it .

Mark

 

[Boosh]

Great, thanks for the suggestions, much appreciated.

Boosh.

 

[dwardo]

When is the best time to give this a go ? Dont want to cause any damage s when evers safe

 

[Boosh]

When is the best time to give this a go ? Dont want to cause any damage s when evers safe

From what i've read, spring is the best time. Here is a article i just found on the subject.

Tapping birch sap

Boosh.

 

[dommyracer]

When is the best time to give this a go ? Dont want to cause any damage s when evers safe

Early Spring - "When the hazel leaf buds are about the size of a squirrel's toe" is Ray's suggestion.

 

[fred gordon]

Early Spring - "When the hazel leaf buds are about the size of a squirrel's toe" is Ray's suggestion.

First catch your squirrel?

 

[Boosh]

Well that was a good result, i checked the prices of a 1"scotch eyed auger and they were'nt cheap, some around £30 or more. I typed it into ebay and there was one result, and i just got a brand new one for £2.50!

Can't grumble at that!

Thanks again,

Boosh.

 

[JonnyP]

don't forget to plug the hole you have made, when your finished....Just whittle down a stick, till it fits the hole you made, tightly, bang it in, then saw off flush....

 

[Boosh]

don't forget to plug the hole you have made, when your finished....Just whittle down a stick, till it fits the hole you made, tightly, bang it in, then saw off flush....

Yep, remember seeing RM do that on the telly. Cheers.

Boosh.

 

[JonnyP]

Yep, remember seeing RM do that on the telly. Cheers.

Boosh.

Don't expect it to be really tasty, its just like water liqure, but with no alcohol in. Like a partially flavoured and heavier water....Hope that is a good description....
You can make wine from it though....I have a recipe somewhere, if you want it....

 

[jon r]

i collected some before. It was not very taisty but very refreshing, like substancial water but with something extra. It was very cold at the time, maybe the cold stopped me from taisting it as much. Next time i might leave it in my house to warm a little or i might boil it down to a syrup.

 

[stephendedwards]

From your description, it sounds like a brace and bit, I can't remember what he used.

Always tickles me the way he will be talking about survival, in the artic for example, and then pull out a bloody big auger for cutting through a metre of ice. Personally I always carry one of those in my pocket...just in case. From memory it was a pretty standard hand drill with a wood auger attached

 

[fergus77]

Hey all,

Just to add to the thread, i bought an auger from a local secondhand tool store. I think the diameter is 1/4 inch but cant be sure. You need to look for the ones BT used. Hope this helps..Sometimes they came up on ebay

 

[gregorach]

Here's a question for those who don't use an auger, just a knife: how are you putting a tap in, and how are you sealing the hole afterwards?

 

[dommyracer]

You could use a piece of folded bark to make a channel - could do the same to plug the hole I guess - you're only talking about a small slit.