Inspired by Freddie as usual 
http://www.youtube.com/user/hobbexp#p/u/39/kwCHCHLx984 I finally got round to having a go at one of these. My scruffy file knife that lives on the bench is the knife in need of a covering.
I used the inner bark of Wych Elm that was harvested as part of a coppicing job I did, and the rest of the bark is going to make some woven seats for rustic chairs. This bark is a little thicker, easier to remove from the tree and more pliable, out of the barks available in my wood. I'd love to get really good Birch bark.
All the parts ready. The black stuff on the ash wood liner is pine pitch I made, to hold the parts together for locating the knife and wrapping. Just melted it with a candle and stuck together, blending it in afterwards.
Liner ready. As said this is Ash and was made from splitting a section of wood with the knife using a baton, and the inside carved out to suit.
20mins later, after trying a couple of wrapping types...
Fits like a glove at the mo, but it's still drying as I soaked the bark for a few minutes before working with it, so I'll see how it adjusts over time/use, and if my way of wrapping has worked.
The only advise I can give is to watch the video before starting, wrap bark tightly keeping tension all the time and I tied it off at the top using friction in the loop near the top at the front of the initial underneath layers, and a hitch at the back. This last stage also strengthens the top.
Give it a go its a fun project, and cheers Freddie!
Addo.
http://www.youtube.com/user/hobbexp#p/u/39/kwCHCHLx984 I finally got round to having a go at one of these. My scruffy file knife that lives on the bench is the knife in need of a covering.I used the inner bark of Wych Elm that was harvested as part of a coppicing job I did, and the rest of the bark is going to make some woven seats for rustic chairs. This bark is a little thicker, easier to remove from the tree and more pliable, out of the barks available in my wood. I'd love to get really good Birch bark.
All the parts ready. The black stuff on the ash wood liner is pine pitch I made, to hold the parts together for locating the knife and wrapping. Just melted it with a candle and stuck together, blending it in afterwards.
Liner ready. As said this is Ash and was made from splitting a section of wood with the knife using a baton, and the inside carved out to suit.
20mins later, after trying a couple of wrapping types...
Fits like a glove at the mo, but it's still drying as I soaked the bark for a few minutes before working with it, so I'll see how it adjusts over time/use, and if my way of wrapping has worked.
The only advise I can give is to watch the video before starting, wrap bark tightly keeping tension all the time and I tied it off at the top using friction in the loop near the top at the front of the initial underneath layers, and a hitch at the back. This last stage also strengthens the top.
Give it a go its a fun project, and cheers Freddie!
Addo.
