November winter meeting

I met up with a few lads in a lovely peice of woodland in Co Down.

The craic was good as usual.

A start on a net!

So I carved the netting needle and now to make a net.

I used instructions from the us airforce survival manual.

I used shop bought string to learn the technique and my own netting needle.

I tied a top line between two uprights and then attached a series of loops with prussik knots to it to create the first line of holes.

Then I loaded the needle, which I realised was to small and began weaving right to left using a ruler as a spacer. The know used is easy to learn and I soon built. Some speed. Then I worked form left to right with a knot that is a mirror image of the first knot.

I am not going to describe the knots because they are explained better on the web.

Sorry the pics are a bit crap.

Three rows done in ten minutes and I was getting faster.

Key is to use a spacer, I tried a few by eye and it dos nt work so well.

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Watching Badgers

I found myself standing in the woods last night with snow falling around me. Then a badger arrived! Love it.
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My first attempt at a basket

Hi,

I was out and about today and saw lots of flint. I didnt want to put it in my pocket because it was stinking so i thought why not have a go at making a basket. Took about 40 minutes with some pruning snips and a swiss army knife. No the best obviously but I am pleased and know that what I learned this time will mean I can make a better one next time. good fun actually.

Netting needle

Now to make a net!
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Bushcraft meeting 5th December 2010.

Hi all,

If you are interested in meeting a bunch of keen bushcrafters in the Belfast area on the above date please contact belfastbushcraft@gmail.com info. There are limited spaces.

Cheers

3000 visitors

My blog has had 3000 visitors so far so thanks to everyone who has had a look and thanks for your comments.

Andy
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What size Kindling bundle!

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Port muck Flint beach

I visited Port Muck on a tip off from a friend and found a beach covered in flint nodules ready for the harvesting. A lot of the flint has had the cortex removed through wave action which means it has been bashed about a bit but I was able to make a usable knife in a few seconds. The beach is perfect for material for small blades arrow heads etc.
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My kuksa continued

The bowl was burnt out

shape i wanted marked in pen

I held the saw still and moved the wood, a useful technique for small peices like this.

split the bits off easily

a bit more saw work then a bit of thinning with the axe and knife

after alot of work with a knife. and some sand paper.

Still more work to do. Making handle holes. Increasing bowl size and oiling to make it more water proof.