Fire Log: November 27, 2015

Finally got a little extra time today to build a new fire pit and reflector for the Winter Bushcraft Shelter and play with some new kit.   I think the pit has the right orientation to the shelter now,  so the smoke blows away  or straight up.   My youngest son actually started the fire today with his fire steel and jute twine.   It takes him about 2 minutes to get a fire going,  not bad for an 11 year old.

New Pit & Reflector

BK 16 close up for Becker Fans

BK-16 makes amazing feathers and shavings for campfires.  This was a piece of Black Walnut ( We have a lot of these around here).
















I also brought out the BK-5 today too,   because the new Becker needed company.

Sharpening Reflector Stakes

After chopping points on to the reflector support stakes,  shavings still curled off the Walnut.    Overall we still had a good time playing in the dirt!

Be safe and enjoy the season everyone!

My Gear: Cooking Pots

Next to knives, cooking gear is my largest bushcraft vice.  What else could explain a mental condition where a grown man will watch YouTube videos about billy cans?  Some say psychosis,  I say passion.

My first cook kit ever was one of those aluminum Scout kits,  you know the one with a wing nut holding the fry pan handle on and a tipsy pot.   Every one I've seen had melted pot lit handles and many dents.   These things had to be invented by scout moms intent on discouraging Cub Scouts from wanting to cook over a fire.

Fast forward to the 21st century and the really cool stuff, like stainless steel, titanium and Teflon coated aluminum.  Without even touching on the surplus market,  there are hundreds of great cooking pots.  However,  you can't carry all of it with out a pack mule and sounding like a Civil War Regiment on a road march.

Nessmuk  wrote about a lite weight five piece tin set and a camp kettle in his Woodcraft book.  Even then he stated he would not carry all five pieces on short trips.

  E.H. Kreps carried a No. 0 fry pan and a 1 quart small tinned pail with hay wire bail.  Aloung with a knife,  he felt these were sufficient for up to two people.

Horace Kephart,  when he did go lite,  listed a fry pan or army mess kit, large tin cup, quart pail, and a knife.

All three listed a pail or kettle among the cooking necessities.  The preferred size was 2 quarts or less. The other common item was a knife.   With this they could prepare food for the pan and pot and create other cooking tools as needed.   Unless they drank directly from the pot,  Nessmuk and Kreps must have had a cup of some sort when camping.

Thus we come to my typical bushcraft cook gear.   I like to carry a billy pot of some sort and a cup.  At least one knife is along in my gear,   more often more than one.   Additionally,  I carry a wood spoon I made,  not having time to make a new one every time I'm in the woods.

Steel Cup with Folding Handles

I have tried a few pots,  including home made billy cans,  and all have been adequate for boiling water or cooking.   My all time favorite is a IMUSA grease pot that I fitted with a bail.  It is a good size,  inexpensive, and lite weight.

Old faithful IMUSA Grease Pot

Next in line would be my GSI stainless Steel kettle.  I use this alot at my bushcraft shelter to making tea and coffee.   One could cook in it,  but it is not the best design for it.

GSI Kettle

I also have a large 1.6 Liter MSR Stowaway Pot.  This pot has a locking lid and is great for storing gear in a pack.  I use it when it is more than just me wanting something to eat.

MSR STOWAWAY on right

I recently purchased a Zebra 12cm pot that I have not tested out yet,  but have great hopes for this piece of cook ware.

New 12cm Zebra Pot

IMUSA (left) Zebra (right)

Frying pans and plates have not really been a priority for my packing list.  If I need a plate,  the pot lid usually suffices.  I really don't fry food much and any bread I usually make in the pot or on the coals.

That is what I currently use for my bushcraft cooking,  but camp cookware is right up there with knives.   I would love to see what everyone is using in their kit.

Keep Safe and Enjoy the Fall Season!

Bushcraft Winter Shelter

This is my winter set up for Bushcrafting.  Nothing fancy,  just a couple canvas painter tarps and one U.S.M.C. Field Tarp.  The reflector is really weak yet,  but I have plans for a better wind block.

All buttoned Up

 I close up the front with the camo tarp when not in use.  This helps deflect the winter winds and keeps the whole thing from being blown over the ridge.

Front Flap Opened

 The front flap can be extended out like a canopy to provide some rain protection.
I use some rather large logs inside as benches and to weigh down the tarp bottoms.  This method has worked pretty good in the past for keeping snow from blowing in.

Fire Pit,  Needs more work

I'm planning on building up a rock and log reflector behind the fire pit as time and ambition permits.

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

Fire Log: November 8, 2015 Making Char Cloth

This week I decided to make more char cloth for flint and steel fires.  Of course this means starting a fire with Flint and Steel of course.  It has taken some time to get proficient at making fires this way,  but it has quickly become my favorite method.

My kit

It took two strikes of the steel to flint to catch a spark,   this is a new record for me.  When I started using flint and steel it wasn't so pretty.

Spark caught in char

Things have been dry enough, that a handful of dead grass and golden rod tops made a quick birds nest.

Blowing into flame

Once you get the raw flame,  it is just a matter of continuing with your fire building routine.  It pays to have all your materials at hand and sorted by size.

Starting to catch flame

Going Good Now!

Making char cloth is straight forward.  I used an old flannel shirt this time,  but any natural material will do.  Stay away from any cloth that has synthetic fibers,  these just melt.  Cut up the cloth into squares and layer into the tin.

Cotton Cloth in a "Altoids" Type tin

Once you have enough cloth cut up,  close the lid and place it in the fire.  With this type of tin,  there is no need to punch a hole in the top.  The hinge allows enough gaps for heat and gas to escape from the tin.  Tighter lidded cans probably should have a nail hole in the top.

Smoke pouring out

Eventually smoke will start pouring out as the cloth cooks down.  This smoke will probably start burning as well.  When it looks like the smoke and flame are diminishing,  pull it from the fire and let it cool.  Keep it closed until you can touch it without burning your hands.

Finished Product

The finished product will be totally black,  at least in a perfect world.  A little brown doesn't really hurt anything.  I try to stay ahead on my char making,  but I also carry extra cotton cloth in a waterproof bag just in case.

As always,  I would like to hear how others do things or suggestions.  Please feel free to comment.