Category: Bushcraft (Page 5 of 35)

3 Lengths

Daisy Chain Three Ways

Dirty Civilian 11:30

I like to keep three different lengths. 3 feet, 6 feet and 12 feet. The 3 and 6 foot lengths I find the most practical, the 12 foot lengths I can always cut in half if required. The 6 foot lengths I place a bowline on one end and a double stopper on the other. I use method three of daisy chaining on the 12 footers , doubling them in half before chaining. The three foot lengths I’m going to purchase the paracord in orange after watching Dirty Civilian using the orange to blaze a trail.

Looks like a great idea. I keep changing the way I do ridge lines from not having the line attached to the trap to folding the tarp over a ridge line to using Prusic knots for attachment. I noticed Dave has started using Pile Hitches for the tent pegs which I mentioned in the blog some time ago. I still prefer this attachment method incorporating a Taut-line hitch on the tarp grommet.

Im going to play with this idea some more, but use a Siberian hitch on one end and the loop on the other as demonstrated for the “truckers” tensioning end. I have trouble with shoulder and hand injuries keeping enough tension on a ridge line that is 30 feet long with the weight of a canvas tarp.

Ive always wanted to do this and have been looking at the savotta tents over a tipi.

https://www.survivalsupplies.com.au/savotta-fdf-10-jsp-tent-set-140022136

The problem with a tipi is no one imports the one I like and I’m not sure if its UV rated for Australian conditions. I also prefer the colour of the Savotta over a tan tipi.

I did a course on this with Paul Kirkly some years ago but while I have time at the moment , I wanted to brush up on my skills now I’m in an area with more introduced species.

Identify trees by their bark

Conifers

Leaf, Bark and Fruit

Common British

Winter

Autumn

Spring

From a distance

By buds alternate

Buds Alternate

Opposing

Buds Opposite

Cheat Sheet

Tree Identification Cheat Sheet (Northern Hemisphere)

Free Online Course

https://woodland-classroom.teachable.com/p/kickstart-your-tree-id-skills

PDF

https://www.uwsp.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/leaf-winter-tree-id-key.pdf

I purchased one of these not knowing exactly how to fit it into my gear. Then decided to use it as a every day carry item in a backpack in case I had to boil water instead of filtering. It never occurred to me to use it in conjunction with a Grayl. I am now looking for the Wildfare version with a larger base. My original came from the Aussie Storm Shop and have contacted them to see if they are available.

Alternatives ?

Glacier Stainless Boiler 1.1L

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SADvQGqjZy0

Use with a Grayl

Hacks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtlFrgXl0eE

Coghlans Mug (I think this is the right size)

https://www.wildfiresports.com.au/coghlans-camp-mug-600ml?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9bi_mKqfjAMV0ix7Bx1iHCdfEAQYASABEgK37_D_BwE

I like the hobo tin stove idea. Im now looking for a tin to suit.

Maybe use something like this across the top

https://www.survivalsupplies.com.au/firebox-scout-accelerator-cross-bars-shbb2

Third Locking Position

Also known as a coyote well or gypsy well. Do they work.

Had a little splurge and purchased some titanium cookware from Alton Goods. Ill be testing these out over the next few months. I haven’t owned much titanium in the past preferring stainless steel.

Cookware

I was mainly interested in a new plate and bowl and got lost in the website. The tongs Im not to sure of the tip is very narrow but Ill find out how they perform cooking a steak. The alcohol burner looked much larger in the site pictures also. Initial impressions . It may require a small wind shield.

Ive been looking at several twig stoves on the market. All I knew was I wanted one with a large hole in the front for feeding fuel.

The plate and bowl Ill be comparing to other brands upcoming I like having things for a while and testing them before doing a complete write up. The billy pot I really wanted as the aluminum pot I use for cooking in van I wanted to upgrade to another material.

Fatwood In OZ

I went over some old clips of using fatwood and figured out what I was doing wrong. I was taking shavings using the edge of the blade and trying to ignite. Firstly you have to take scrapings using the 90 degree spine. I thought this deserved a post of its own to point out the basics.

I saw this project on youtube and wanted to give it a go. I called around to local antique dealers and found one cleaning out his back shed and was throwing out a lot of old steel for scrap. He offered me some old files for free so I grabbed as many as I could for a mate that’s into making knives out of them. We used his workshop to cut the file and found it it wouldn’t spark until the sides were smoothed. We polished it up a little and applied gun blue to stop it rusting, leaving enough of the file edges in for looks. It was cut to fit an Altoids tin in length. I didn’t bother drilling a hole in the end for a lanyard.

On the off chance I searched for fat wood in Australia and it came up at my local hardware store. It wouldn’t light by itself using a ferro rod. A cotton ball had to be used for the initial ignition and then it went off and burnt for almost 4 minutes. I still have to try using a scandi grind to see if the shavings are finer. Id also like to split the kindling into smaller pieces to place in my fire lighting tin or have a pre-shaved hand full in a small bag.