Do I need Conversion Therapy?

[addyb]

Jimbo was kind enough to send me down some Lee Valley buffing compound for my Clipper, and it arrived just the other day. Up until this point I'd been using 350 grit wet/dry on a mousepad, and finishing up with a leather belt. I had thought I had the edge fairly well set up and although I don't have a lens that I could view the blade on, it still held up amazingly well, considering the work I'd put the knife through. It was also able to slice paper as easily as a razor. (Or so I thought)

Anyway, yesterday I figured I'd have to a go with the buffing compound, so I put some on a belt and stropped for a while. I've never quite seen anything like it, and I found myself quite astonished with the results. I suppose it proves that I did NOT have the edge as well set up as I thought I did. I think in the future, should the blade start to dull a bit, a quick steeling or strop should return it to where it is now.

Gosh, I should write a book called "Musings of a former Mountaineer converted to Bushcraft."

Cheers,

Adam

 

[OldJimbo]

It's pretty easy to get converted to liking really sharp knives where you are! A quick trip to the west side of the island after weeks of rain there, and shaving fuzzy sticks that work are a whole new art and science!

 

[addyb]

I agree wholeheartedly!

 

[British Red]

It's pretty easy to get converted to liking really sharp knives where you are! A quick trip to the west side of the island after weeks of rain there, and shaving fuzzy sticks that work are a whole new art and science!

Jimbo,

You and I are going to have to have a "how sharp is sharp" contest one day Although I suspect that trip may not be so quick from here . I do hope you shave those fuzzies with a well choked axe.....shame to use a knife on such a rough task

Red

 

[OldJimbo]

More than three decades later, I still remember setting off for a month on the West Coast Trail. I thought I knew all about rain because I had lived in Wales and worked in Ireland. That was a mistake!
The worst I've ever seen was on the west coast of the Queen Charlottes. I can still remember standing on a flat grassy area and it was raining so hard that water was rising where I was standing - to a depth of a couple of inches. It was raining harder than the water could run off!
Even here, It's nothing like that.

 

[addyb]

Yeah, it does rain a lot here. Heck, I don't even go to campus for classes unless I have my Lifa polypro shirt rolled up inside of my bookbag. I've been soaked and chilled on more than one occasion, and that's probably why it's called the "Wet Coast."

If it starts to rain here, it's the kind of rain that makes your Ventile wet out and become stiff in less than ten minutes.

But you know what? I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. I love it here.

Adam

 

[OldJimbo]

There's a lot to said for Western Canada! I had killer whales so close to the beach that I got wet from the spray. There's always something new going on.

Red: an axe that been really sharpened will do an incredible job on fuzzies due to the continuous curve of edge - as will a Nessmuk blade or one of the other skinning knives.

 

[British Red]

There's a lot to said for Western Canada! I had killer whales so close to the beach that I got wet from the spray. There's always something new going on.

Red: an axe that been really sharpened will do an incredible job on fuzzies due to the continuous curve of edge - as will a Nessmuk blade or one of the other skinning knives.

OldJimbo,

It always surprises people when I shave sticks with my axe, but as you say it works! I dont understand why people spend ages getting their knife shaving sharp and neglect their axe ?! My broad bladed skinner is great too (which has a similar curve to a Nessmuk), but I hate using it for anything but skinning (hence using the axe).

I envy you the killer whales, now thats something I would truly love to experience - you are both lucky men

Red

 

[addyb]

Yes, the whales are beautiful. If one were to take a bit of a drive from my city (Nanaimo) up Vancouver Island a bit, he would find a large beach called "Long Beach" and it is near another city called Tofino. Long Beach is a favourite destination for whale watching and one can always take a trip on a boat to do some tours!

The best piece of advice I can give someone coming to Vancouver Island is this: Don't forget your Gore-Tex as it can turn from rain to shine in mere minutes. Just like it is outside of my window right now!

Cheers,

Adam