Feather sticks.

[0000]

Has anyone else noticed the sheer amount of bushcrafters who are giving advice on the subject, that are just terrible at making feather sticks? I've seen it many times on YouTube when the "expert" in question is maybe a knife reviewer, but more recently I've been seeing it on bushcraft dedicated videos. I understand that every attempt doesn't need to be a work of art, and that if it works it works, but some of these folk are just digging into wood at a 45 degree angle and calling it done! I've even seen a few do this and then claiming that a particular knife or steel feathersticks perfectly! Anyway, sorry for the rant. It just makes me chuckle.

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[Brynglas]

I agree. Similarly, whilst I think that it's generally a good thing that there are lots of resources out there dedicated to bushcraft skills, it's apparent that the experience of many of those who are creating the content is limited, (And that's me being polite).

With the volume of content that's available nowadays it's increasingly incumbent on the viewer to decide for themselves as to the quality of the information and weed out those chancers who publish rubbish.

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[0000]

I agree. Similarly, whilst I think that it's generally a good thing that there are lots of resources out there dedicated to bushcraft skills, it's apparent that the experience of many of those who are creating the content is limited, (And that's me being polite).

With the volume of content that's available nowadays it's increasingly incumbent on the viewer to decide for themselves as to the quality of the information and weed out those chancers who publish rubbish.

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Yes! It just irritates me somewhat. Another thing that I don't understand is the obsession with Ferro rods. I carry and use them, and they're great reliable things to have, but I guess it's not really my idea of bushcraft. I like knowing that if I survived a plane crash in the woods or ended up a survivor in some sort of ridiculous apocalyptic scenario, I could have a good bash at staying not just alive, but comfortable. I don't see myself happening on a Ferro rod in these cases. It just seems odd to me that it's become the go to firelighting method for something that I consider to be more knowledge based than gear based. Just use a lighter at that point. On the other hand I wouldn't happen upon a 400 quid knife or a gransfors axe either so maybe I should just shut up

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[5teep]

That would be a video worth watching. Making utensils and tools out of whatever is around you (bits of crashed aircraft e.g.) and using them to do the needful.

 

[Ruud]

One YT-channel in particular creates beautiful video's with top notch camera's and editing, but the show of skills performed in said video's are just poor. Lighting birchbark with a ferro-rod (ferro-rod of their own make that they sell) took ages, setting up a new tarp (donated by a big firm) took ages, and, to stay on-topic, making feathersticks with all kinds of different grinds, failing at all of them. After the actual video he showed some photo's of feathersticks that were decent. Once said something about a 'mistake' he made, never doing that again... (he explained the adjustable guy line-knot and kept pulling the peg out of the ground to adjust tension)

Point is, his words are taken very seriously by thousands of subscribers which is kind of sad. Some down to earth guys who will never be featured in a video do all those things quick and nice and tidy.

 

[0000]

One YT-channel in particular creates beautiful video's with top notch camera's and editing, but the show of skills performed in said video's are just poor. Lighting birchbark with a ferro-rod (ferro-rod of their own make that they sell) took ages, setting up a new tarp (donated by a big firm) took ages, and, to stay on-topic, making feathersticks with all kinds of different grinds, failing at all of them. After the actual video he showed some photo's of feathersticks that were decent. Once said something about a 'mistake' he made, never doing that again... (he explained the adjustable guy line-knot and kept pulling the peg out of the ground to adjust tension)

Point is, his words are taken very seriously by thousands of subscribers which is kind of sad. Some down to earth guys who will never be featured in a video do all those things quick and nice and tidy.

I'm glad I'm not the only one. I feel like sometimes folk might think I'm just being negative for the sake of it!


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[Joe tahkahikew]

Feather sticks - now theres a thing.

We had a guy on a trip a few years back and he showed us how to do a feather stick and proceeded to tell us that it was an 'injun' trick. Well now there's a thing. Been an 'injun' all my life and almost all of it in the bush I never seen any 'injun' up here least ways use a feather stick. All we generally need to do is pull of a bitty bit of birch and it'll light good even in the rain and snow.

 

[Lacijag1]

One YT-channel in particular creates beautiful video's with top notch camera's and editing, but the show of skills performed in said video's are just poor. Lighting birchbark with a ferro-rod (ferro-rod of their own make that they sell) took ages, setting up a new tarp (donated by a big firm) took ages, and, to stay on-topic, making feathersticks with all kinds of different grinds, failing at all of them. After the actual video he showed some photo's of feathersticks that were decent. Once said something about a 'mistake' he made, never doing that again... (he explained the adjustable guy line-knot and kept pulling the peg out of the ground to adjust tension)

Point is, his words are taken very seriously by thousands of subscribers which is kind of sad. Some down to earth guys who will never be featured in a video do all those things quick and nice and tidy.

is it prepared mind 101?

the feather sticks that i see often on yt videos are usually not thin enough to catch a spark from a fire steel, they need hep with a birch bark or a cotton ball.

 

[crosslandkelly]

Just to be fair, there are a lot of very good YT videos out there as well. It does mean sorting through the chaff, but they are there.

How many of us have also failed to do something simple, when trying to show someone how simple it is. Murphy's law comes to mind.

 

[mowerman]

That would be a video worth watching. Making utensils and tools out of whatever is around you (bits of crashed aircraft e.g.) and using them to do the needful.

That would be brilliant. We all have to make do without bits and pieces and improvise from time to time and to see how others do it would be absolutely brilliant. What a great idea 👍

 

[petrochemicals]

Feather sticks - now theres a thing.

We had a guy on a trip a few years back and he showed us how to do a feather stick and proceeded to tell us that it was an 'injun' trick. Well now there's a thing. Been an 'injun' all my life and almost all of it in the bush I never seen any 'injun' up here least ways use a feather stick. All we generally need to do is pull of a bitty bit of birch and it'll light good even in the rain and snow.

Suppose that's the difference between knowing how to deal with wood and make a fire, and knowing a certain process. I always favour evergreens that have sap content, birch is ok but the layer is very thin, pine needles bark and wood is superb. Fire sticks are ok but they are work.

 

[petrochemicals]

is it prepared mind 101?

the feather sticks that i see often on yt videos are usually not thin enough to catch a spark from a fire steel, they need hep with a birch bark or a cotton ball.

I don't mind but a cotton ball or a bit of birch bark is no replacement for prepared tinder, weather is a great variance upon how easy your fire is too light. Rain and wind have a terrible ipedance upon fire.

 

[Lacijag1]

I don't mind but a cotton ball or a bit of birch bark is no replacement for prepared tinder, weather is a great variance upon how easy your fire is too light. Rain and wind have a terrible ipedance upon fire.

I don't mind them either, i use birch bark all the time.
What i meant was some of those feather stick experts couldn't start a fire with their feather sticks without a help of other kindling material.

 

[Ruud]

is it prepared mind 101?

No, but quite funny you seem to recognize the things I've said.
Won't name the channel as not to slander them but the host adresses the viewers with 'Turtles'.

 

[0000]

No, but quite funny you seem to recognize the things I've said.
Won't name the channel as not to slander them but the host adresses the viewers with 'Turtles'.

Haha "What's up Turtles?" Yeah not the best. I actually thought you were talking about MCQ at first!

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[Norm De Plume]

I misread it and thought it said 'sounds like turtles' and then thought it was Paul Kirtley you were referring to!

 

[Ruud]

Haha "What's up Turtles?" Yeah not the best. I actually thought you were talking about MCQ at first!

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You got,the right one Ruaridh 😉

I find the knowledge MCQ spreads quite good, really a kind guy.