Simple Wooden Tools

Discussion in 'Survival and Wilderness Skills' started by Lostviking, Jan 1, 2020.

  1. Lostviking

    Lostviking Member

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    It’s New Year’s Day. I was in bed early last night. Like 21:30. No boose, no festivities.
    New Year’s has never been a big day in my life.

    So here I sit, killing time until my new ESEE 3 arrives, I was around here for a long time. But under a different log in name. Because I’m stupid and entered my real name. Wasn’t overly comfortable with that. So I didn’t post. Last week I got it all figured out and squared away.

    I have been reading sections here with renewed vigor. Eager to learn, eager to share.

    So this thread came to mind.

    People always ask me why I like roughing it so much. I don’t really see what I do as roughing it.
    Now, standing in Times Square with three hundred thousand people between you and a bathroom.
    That’s Roughing it.

    This is more my style for New Years Eve revelry.
    [​IMG]

    With some background info set. I thought it might be fun to show some simple wood tools that smooth out some of the roughness around camp.

    The first, is one of the simplest. But I find it way too useful not to cover.

    The lowly toggle,
    The word Toggle probably came from some marketing department. It’s a stick!
    [​IMG]

    But it does wondrous things in and around camp.

    Like keeping your pack up out of the muck, and away from ground critters,
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    My dad was a boatman. So I was tying Bowlines before I could tie my shoes.
    But the Toggle can save you some knot tying, and speed things up.

    I don’t know about you folks.
    But it seems whenever I am setting up camp. It is either raining, about to rain, or snowing.
    The toggle can make getting set up faster. Keep a loop in your guylines, then just slide a toggle in. You can see the precision sawing that went into this one.
    [​IMG]

    Simple, fast, & easy.

    More on toggles as we progress.

    Bonus knot,
    This is known to me as a Grapevine Knot. It works extremely well as a line tensioner. I’m sure there are other names for it.
    [​IMG]


    More later!
     
    Last edited: Jan 1, 2020
  2. Lostviking

    Lostviking Member

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    Another simple tool is basically the toggle with added options.

    The clothes pin,
    [​IMG]

    I stripped this one, but it’s not necessary,nice future fire tinder though,
    [​IMG]


    Wrap some twine tightly around about one quarter of the stick, finish with a Clove Hitch, or some other know you like.
    There are a lot of ways to donthis stuff. None of them are set in stone.

    After you finnish wrapping. Take your knife and split the stick down the middle to just above the twine.
    Trim up the leading edges as desired. And you have a functioning Camp Clothes Pin.
    [​IMG]

    The cool thing about sticks and twine, is when you’re done, you can just toss them in the fire. No harm, no foul.
    Or you can toss them in your pack to use for tinder and kindling next time.
     
  3. Lostviking

    Lostviking Member

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    When I was fooling around with the clothes pins, I noticed this part of the stick with the bend in it. So I set it aside.
    [​IMG]

    It had fork written all over it. Basically a toggle or clothes pin hot rodded out a bit.
    [​IMG]


    If you think about it, almost everything we do in the woods with wood. Is some variation on a stick, toggle or clothes pin.
    Simple stuff really,
    [​IMG]

    French toast takes stale bread and turns it into a nice camp treat. Stupid easy to do too.
    [​IMG]


    Sure beats eating with your fingers!
    [​IMG]
     
  4. Lostviking

    Lostviking Member

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    Since I’m on sort of a role.

    How about we add a toggle to a big clothes pin?

    Find a thumb sized stick, give or take. Cut into two pieces, roughly the distance between your elbow and wrist. Shorter or longer if you prefer.
    [​IMG]

    Bevel two ends,
    [​IMG]

    Strip them if you like
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    Make a small notch in each one to hold the toggle, and give them some flex.
    [​IMG]

    Wrap some twine starting from the skinny end. When you get about half way to the notches, tap the toggle down in place.
    Then keep wrapping with some tension. Tie off as with the clothes pin above.
    [​IMG]

    On these I took the saw and made a few cuts on each piece. Then shaved in a notch. It helps with grabbing coals and meat.
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    All fun little camp projects that take little time or energy and make life easier.
     
  5. IW17

    IW17 Member

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    Very nice thread. Love the photos and use of tools!
     
  6. ASH

    ASH Member

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    Cool tongs
     
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  7. Jeff Randall

    Jeff Randall ESEE Knives / Randall's Adventure & Training Staff Member

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    Good photos too
     
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  8. Lostviking

    Lostviking Member

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    Thanks for the kind words!

    If you guys haven’t figured it out yet. I like twine.

    I love Paracord, tarred bankline, Spectre and all the other high-tech cordage. But for a $1.88 for a spool of twine, it’s hard to beat. Cheap, light, and compact. Unlike paracord, it gets tighter when it gets wet. It’s both biodegradable nad burnable, without sending plastic toxins into the air.

    Another camp staple is the Tripod. Think of it as three big toggles lashed together. Sticks really.

    Bonus Knot
    The Clove Hitch.
    Everyone should know or learn this. Just two loops with the loose ends coming out the middle.
    [​IMG]

    Start from the clove hitch. Then run your cordage over the next stick and under the last. Wrap around so you are back on top, them under and over again. It pays to have an assitant for this. It’s all very complicated!
    [​IMG]

    The gray ball of over aggressive fuzz is known as the Self Contained, Camofluaged, All Purpose, Attack Cat.
    More affectionately known as “Self Contained”

    Repeat this until you have about 6-8 rows. They don’t need to be super tight.
    [​IMG]

    When you come around the last time. Wrap your cordage around the twine between the poles. This will snug things up nicely and give you a nice hinging action. Then just finish off with a clove hitch or two.
    [​IMG]

    This is what you end up with,
    [​IMG]

    This particular tripod lasted close to a year in a semi permanent camp.
    [​IMG]

    Back in the days of Kephart and Nessmuk, this technique was known as Wrapping and Frapping.

    Tripods come in pretty handy, They are the basis for camp chairs, lean-tos, beds, and so much more.
    [​IMG]
     
  9. Jeff Randall

    Jeff Randall ESEE Knives / Randall's Adventure & Training Staff Member

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    Good stuff. Keep it coming!
     
  10. Lostviking

    Lostviking Member

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    Thanks guys!

    Hooefully it inspires someone to go out and try some stuff.
     
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  11. Lostviking

    Lostviking Member

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    Another simple fork variation.

    Big toggle, two small toggles, basically a micro frog gig
    [​IMG]
     
  12. Lostviking

    Lostviking Member

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    I put this in the snare thread, but it fits well here too.

    Three sticks
    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]
     
  13. Lostviking

    Lostviking Member

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    Don’t overlook the basic walking stick. Those colapsable poles are cool, but they aren’t very tough. Especially if you’re fighting for you life.

    [​IMG]

    It will last longer if you peel the bark. It also gives you a good feel for the knife and edge control. Which will come in handy later.
    [​IMG]

    I like a little bit of a point on the bottom. Not too much, just enough for some purchase.
    [​IMG]

    Then a nice rounded top.
    [​IMG]

    Simple, but extremely useful in the woods. Stability, protection, reaching dry wood above your head, moving wood in the fire. Lots of uses for a good stick.
    [​IMG]
     
  14. Lostviking

    Lostviking Member

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    Mini toggle? sure why not.

    Keeps the cast iron high and dry,
    [​IMG]
     
  15. Lostviking

    Lostviking Member

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    Frog Gig. Or big fork?

    Same principle.

    Wrap your stick with twine, like the clothes pin or fork.
    [​IMG]


    Make two splits crosswise down to the twine wrap. Pound two toggles down as far as you can to spread the ends.
    [​IMG]

    Wrap some twine above the toggles to adjust the spacing of your points as desired.
    [​IMG]
     
  16. Lostviking

    Lostviking Member

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    Don’t go to that big box store for your barbecue tools,

    Put your knife and skills to work.
    [​IMG]

    Moving forward, expect to see some ESEE action!
     
  17. Patrick Rollins

    Patrick Rollins Lead Instructor Staff Member

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    Excellent post! Keep up the good work.
     
  18. Lostviking

    Lostviking Member

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    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

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    [​IMG]

    I ended up going to an X pattern on the tensioning cords, to stiffen things up a bit.

    Probably not very bushcrafty, but I always try and carry a pencil, a few 10-12 penny nails, and a loose saw blade.
     
  19. Strigidae

    Strigidae Administrator Staff Member

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    Killing it!
     
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  20. Lostviking

    Lostviking Member

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