Easy to make bushcraft equipment.

[Home Guard]

Hi,
I've been wanting to have a go at crafting for a while and would like to make something usuful that I could use whilst out bushcrafting. Im new to this but im not to bad working with my hands either, I would like to make something with the minimal basic tools posible.

I've always wanted to make a spoon, but can this be achieved without the appropriate spoon knife?

Any suggestions or advice on what or how to make something would be greately appreciated, thankyou.

Feel free to show off your works.

 

[Man of Tanith]

of course the spoon can be achieved without a spoon knife.
just place an ember from your fire onto the area you want to hollow out in the spoon shape then chip out the charred wood with a normal knife.
please note i have only read of this technique but in principle it should work
(i'm not big on spoon carving but getting into it)

 

[unorthadox]

whistle,
prehaps a flute if you are up to the task
bowl, cup plate etc
axe or knife handle
bow

 

[JohnC]

John Fenna (on this forum) has done a book on making kit, its worth pm'ing him...

 

[shaggystu]

you don't need a spoon knife to carve the bowl of a spoon, you can use the tip of your knife to roughly carve out the inside of the bowl and then just finish with sandpaper. you can also use a gouge. i'd carved a few spoons before i ever got a spoon knife and it's not always my first choice now

good luck with the spoon carving, it's pretty addictive.

cheers

stuart

 

[Home Guard]

whistle,
prehaps a flute if you are up to the task
bowl, cup plate etc
axe or knife handle
bow

Whistle? Im intreged.

 

[unorthadox]

Whistle? Im intreged.

there are fair few types if u use a search engine for it, with a bit of skill you can make some to mimic animal calls, im sure the basic 'football' style whistle wont be too hard with a little glue or something

 

[Barn Owl]

Here's a vid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPXK2S_ljWw

 

[unorthadox]

Here's a vid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPXK2S_ljWw

looks pretty good, might try one myself sumtime

 

[Spikey DaPikey]

Tent pegs, pot hangers, chopsticks..... all fun to make

 

[stinger]

John Fenna (on this forum) has done a book on making kit, its worth pm'ing him...

i can second this, johns book is excellent.

hobo stove my suggestion, made mine for a grand total of £2.50

 

[Ogri the trog]

Don't get precious about picking up a needle & thread,
you can make, modify or repair all sorts of clothing, create stuff sacks from old trousers and add tie-out loops to tarps for instance.

Practice your knife skills so that feather-sticks and trap triggers become second nature.

Lastly, practise a few knots so that they get ingrained into your mind - and from someone elses point of view, look effortless.

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[Home Guard]

Here's a vid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPXK2S_ljWw

Simpler than I thought, thanks guys!

 

[MSkiba]

of course the spoon can be achieved without a spoon knife.
just place an ember from your fire onto the area you want to hollow out in the spoon shape then chip out the charred wood with a normal knife.
please note i have only read of this technique but in principle it should work
(i'm not big on spoon carving but getting into it)

I tried this and it dosnt work. The wood splits from the heat.

If you got plenty of time on your hands you could just sandpapre the spoon or get a old kitchen knife and bend it.

other than that, there are plenty stuff you can make. Get old jeans, make some pot sacks out of them, get needle and thread, make chopsticks, tent pegs, walkin stick, cup coasters, chopping board, leather strops, carve handles (for anything, knives, doors, firesteels etc..)

The more you make, the more you research, the more ideas you get.

 

[John Fenna]

I tried this and it dosnt work. The wood splits from the heat.

If you got plenty of time on your hands you could just sandpapre the spoon or get a old kitchen knife and bend it.

other than that, there are plenty stuff you can make. Get old jeans, make some pot sacks out of them, get needle and thread, make chopsticks, tent pegs, walkin stick, cup coasters, chopping board, leather strops, carve handles (for anything, knives, doors, firesteels etc..)

The more you make, the more you research, the more ideas you get.

I have to disagree here - ember burning a spoonbowl does work!
I have made several in this manner and have seen many more made by others.
Using seasoned wood can help avoid splitting - that is pick good quality dead standing wood not something that is still full of sap.
The best I carved/burned was on a canoe exped down the Orange river on the South African/Namibian border after a member lost their KFS set in the sand....I have no idea what the wood was but the spoon was a beauty - and quickly made!

 

[MSkiba]

I stand corrected!

 

[Whittler Kev]

Whistle? Im intreged.

This way works virtually everytime

[video=youtube;0-rJ_J7VohY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-rJ_J7VohY[/video]

 

[Home Guard]

I know what i'll be doing this weekend.

 

[John Fenna]

If you use Elder twigs they are already hollow (well - except for soft pith that is easy to remove!)

 

[Spikey DaPikey]

*runs away from this thread wimpering......*


Damn whistles !!