Where to purchase Oilskin Tarps in Australia. I have included Tentsmiths US but that would require importation. I have talked with Swagman Outfitters and Matt is good to talk to but I haven’t gotten around to ordering his Haversack as yet. Way and Farer I only found last last and they seem to import the Spanish made Tarps. I do own a Remote Projects Tarp and that is good quality. I haven’t tested it enough for a review.
(Usual disclaimer I am not responsible for dumb arses that place steel at velocity into flesh after thinking they are qualified from watching youtube clips in their mothers basement).
Apart from no one doing a knots only course or a knife course in this country there are also no axe courses due to liability issues with insurance. So the closest anyone will get in Australia to an axe course is watching youtube videos. Ive put together the basics from the best of the instructors I could find for a do it your self tutorial. As Aussies do if there are no courses we teach ourselves.
I dont think I missed anything other than to say check out the Grey Bearded Green Beret paid courses. I cant remember which one it is but its the only place I have seen anyone show batoning with a hatchet. It blew my mind. From the safety aspect to beginning with larger sections and moving down to smaller pieces to transitioning to a blade. Worth checking out.
“The axe is the most important of all the basic bush tools. Outside of fire, little else can contribute more to living comfortably in the wilderness than knowing how to properly use a well chosen axe.” – Mors Kochanski.
Learn to safely fell a tree, limb it, section it and split it, maintain and repair your axe – from honing the blade to a razor finish to repairing a broken handle.
Brief history of the Axe Axe size, design and anatomy
Axes hatchets and mauls – how to use them
Using an axe safely and powerfully
Timber properties
Re-handling a new axe
Axe care & sharpening
Tree felling
Limbing & sectioning
Splitting techniques
Understand the different types of axes
Choose and appropriate axe for their needs
Maintain a sharp edge
Understand the four major axe uses: Felling, Limbing, Sectioning, Splitting
Understand the implications of being in remote locations on the four majors uses
Know the specific safety parameters of each of the four majors
Understand the role efficiency plays in axe use
Carrying and transporting axes safely
Firewood splitting – fundamental techniques
Optimal use of a chopping block
Splitting firewood when you have no block
Splitting firewood when you are on soft surfaces such as snow
Efficient pole cutting
Felling larger trees with axe and saw
Efficient limbing of felled trees
Sectioning of trees with axe and saw
Splitting larger diameter logs
Splitting long logs
Proper use of splitting wedges
Making gluts
One-handed axe use
Two-handed axe technique
Ambidextrous axe use with smooth transitions
I sent this post off to several mates to see if I missed anything and Al Ainsworth came back with several great suggestions that Ive included here in case anyone should ever start an Aussie axe course these are great suggestions.. The only thing I knew about here was tomahawks and if i asked any of my koorie mates about using stone hand axes they would firstly say they use chainsaws then chase me out of the house with it saying Im a dumbarse. So Id have to contact Jake Cassar about stone hand axes and see if he had time to add anything to this post on indigenous history.
Als Suggestions
History and use of the axe in Australia including indigenous uses.
Looking at Hytest and Keensteel vintage Australian brands.
Also development of a Tasmanian pattern axe and uniquely Australian poison axe worth a looking at.
Different timber you can use for handle’s ash,spotted gum..
Cover the tomahawk advantages and disadvantages.
The role of the axe/hatchet in Australia bushcraft more a crafting and harvesting tool than a wood processor..
Unique properties of ,Australian timbers which links into the Tasmanian axe.
You can do a lot with “cheaper” brand like Ochsenkopf ,Hello or HB. Geting away from the GB culture or hype.
Value of the vintage axes and hatchet. Example the Jarrah Jack made in the 1970s & 1980s by HB
I heard Back from Shaun Iverson at Northern Outdoors UK about Lavvu modifications. Sounds really good to deal with, gets back to you within a day. I have asked a few questions before making up the final choice of what I want done. Namely difference between the skirts and recommendations on ground sheet size when using an indoor stove.
RE Lavvu Mods
“Hello I saw your lavvu mods on Hidden Valley Bushcraft however Im in Australia. I was wondering how much to have the same mods done as Nick, shipping to Australia and is it possible to source a size 3 large lavvu from you as well. cheers”
“Hi %$%&, thanks for messaging I appreciate it, but yeah I can source lavvus not a problem at all, I will attach a list below with all mods and prices for you to take a look at, any questions just message anytime thanks
All prices include materials, postage payment is asked when the lavvu is complete if outside of UK then prices will differ and that’s up to the customer to pay once completed (I will find a the cheapest courier and let you know prices) thanks”
Size 3 lavvu (military mart repo)
Size 2 lavvu
Size1 lavuu
Skirt
Snow skirt
Zips
Tension straps
Lantern hanger
Suspension hanger
Full groundsheet
3/4 groundsheet
Half groundsheet
Stove jack
Make internal flaps to pockets
Guyline tabs
Carry straps
Carry bag
Removel of grommets and replace with Marine grade eyelets
Zip in groundsheet (zip and sew it in only groundsheet extra)
Pockets cut out
Also with the zips I can do either x2, zips front and back, or 1 zip on the front and fully sewn up on the back,the price for either stays the same, any more questions just message Thanks
Just waiting on my caravan to sell in order to purchase.
Taking a lot of gear out. Theres no water on the property so its being loaded in . No need for my Grayl. Also insurance doesn’t cover axes. Weather has also started dropping so Im taking extra warm layers.
staffy rugged up it was cold dis-morning
Finally decided on blades. I like larger knives and been thinking of selling the Spyderco. So Im taking the LT Wright Shemenese and the ESSE RB3. The only time Ill use a scandi grind is for carving fire boards, the rest of the time Id prefer the Shemenese for food preparing and fire lighting.Ive taken out my Leatherman. Ill use a multi tool maybe every second day in an urban environment but in the bush Ill use the saw for fire boards and thats it. So Ive swapped it out for my Opinel number 12 saw.
blade change the umpteenth time
Once we’ve finished doing the fire bow section Ill retire the RB3 and Number 12 to my backpack.The right hand side of my pack is my cooking gear. Ive added a piece of leather for pot handling.
heavy duty leather scrap for pot handling
The left hand side of the pack Ive dumped out several things from the inside compartment to fill up the space left by the exclusion of the Grayl. My sea to summit mattress, poncho, hygiene and sanitation kits have now taken this place. I have a platatac OSSA jacket starpped the the back of my pack but I always carry a poncho just in case it the weather dumps on us.
OSSA jacket
The top compartments, there are three in the Snugpack Rocket Pack. The top one personal meds, middle cygnett power bank, spare batteries and LED Lenser ML 4 Lantern and the bottom the AMK 9 first aid kit.
The other pieces of clothing I haven’t covered in previous posts is my 511 tactical Taclite M65 Jacket. Ive been wearing that the most down here so thats going for my every day use and Ive just picked up a Katmandu Duck Down filled vest that folds up to nothing an is very warm.
katmandu vest got it on sale last week
The center of the pack are my clothes in a dry bag and tarp system and Ill strap the Frost river messenger back to the top under the strapping.
duck down folds down to nothing
So most of the gear I normally take bush is staying. I feel Nekad without an axe or chopping tool and all my 4WD recovery gear is staying to make room as some people may require a 4wd for access to the tracks.
Im not into hiking. Not because I dont enjoy it but I have too many injuries. So ultra light isnt my thing. Im pretty sure when I get back Ill be retiring parts of my equipment. Namely my nylon tarps. Theyll go into emergency bags, the 4WD or sold. I prefer canvas. I like a lavvu and oil skin tarps. Ill have a 4x4m canvas tarp made up to replace my DD Hammocks tarp for a cooking under when using the 4WD. My Monowalker Fatmate will also be retiring and sold.
This is probably my last four day course, preferring privates to cover things I haven’t done before and shorter day hikes.
I came across soft shackles in 4wding and kept wondering how to make them out of paracord for camping and the instructions on youtube seemed bewildering or overly hard to be an easy and quick option. I came across this video today using a double overhand knot as a stopper knot and a larks-head. Cant get any simpler than that. Great for holding up lantern under the tarp.
Three of my favorite things Trees, History and Jo staffs all combined in the one video by Tom Langhorne on the Fandabi Dozi channel. I usually watch Tom for his insights into staff Fighting something Ive trained in for several years however I also have an interest in history especially Celtic being part mongrel I guess 43% England and Northwestern Europe, 22% Scotland, 22% Ireland, 7% Germanic Europe and 6% Other Regions which would be Spanish among them.
In this video he delves into Celtic history of trees and their uses. The reason Im posting this apart from being an interesting video is that Tom has purchased a 7 acre woodland and is trying to raise funds for it by raffling three handmade Staffs made from Ash, Hazel and Birch.
Nick from Hidden Valley Bushcraft has done a great video on modifying a Polish Lavvu and where to get it done. Its changed my mind about buying one. I was put off by the idea of the buttons to join it. Ive been looking for a model 3 or large.
I was talking with a mate and we had the same idea at the same time. He wanted to freshen up his knot skills by making a net and I was interested in making a Gill Net from cordage. (I dont like using nylon, Ive seen too much of it left behind to kill animals and fish). I had done a little cordage making, net making, weaving but wanted to take it to another level.
I could just use a larks head and reef or overhand knots but wanted to learn a few different knots as well. I also wanted to aim at using my hands and not a net needle for this project but because Im shying away from a net needle makes me want to learn how to use one, so Ill see how it goes. So far Im at the research stage and have decided on using a paracord main line and number 6 bank line for the body of the net.
The top knot on the main support line Ive decided to use a bull hitch and have the choice between several others depending on if I decide to use only my hands or a net needle. The knots will be different for both methods.
This is the third attempt at trying to put straps on my bedroll. It started out as an experiment in Ranger Rolls but ended up a 21 century bedroll. I still have to make up a proper ranger roll using poncho, poncho liner, reflective blanket and wool blanket. The straps were part of a swag carrying design by Al Ainsworth of Howling Dingo on etsy. I had the same problem with my tarp, both are now Staffy approved.
the idea was to pull 8 inches of bivvi bag out of the bottom of the ground sheet too busy laughing close up of leather straps with solid brass bucklesrolled up nice and tight to prevent water getting in
