裏山ブッシュクラフト - #03 白樺樹液 (#03 Birch Tap)

今回は白樺樹液・・・もうブッシュクラフト界では恒例の春の行事ですね。長い冬を乗り切り使い果たしたビタミンやミネラルをこれで一気に再補充！これからやってくる夏を楽しく過ごすためにも、白樺から採れる春のエネルギーで体を充電しましょう！
ということで、白樺の樹液の採り方の紹介です。白樺以外にも、同じように利用できる樹液の出る木がいくつかあります。日本で代表的なのはイタヤカエデ、そのほではオニグルミやヤマブドウからも採れるようです。イタヤカエデやオニグルミは比較的身近にある木かと思いますので、採集の機会に恵まれる可能性があるかと思います。

"Birch sap" It is becoming annual spring bushcraft event to tap birch to get sap. The sap contains much minerals s and vitamins, which you will need to boost up your body in spring, recharge the energy to enjoy the coming summer.

Little Update on neck knife project - ネックナイフ再開

I was actually planning on finishing the neck knives before the BCFIN meet up, but I did not enough time and did not want to rush it. So I have put them on hold for short while and now it is time to move forward again.
First process is to sharpen the blade and polish. But once the blade is sharpened, I do the brass rod flex test. With this test, I can tell that the blade is good enough for use… I am not saying that the blade is good. because IMO, that comes from how well / long the blade keeps the edge.

 ネックナイフ、ＢＣＦＩＮのオフ会までに本当は仕上げたかったのだが、オフ会の準備などで忙しいし、あわてて仕上げたくなかったので休止してました。が、オフ会も終了したので再開です。
 とりあえずは研ぎと磨き・・・研ぎが完了した時点で熱処理の最終確認を真鍮棒で行います。これで欠けもめくれも出なければとりあえず使える程度の刃物といえます。刃もちについては使ってみないとなんとも。。。良い刃物は刃もちが違います。

Seems both blades passed the test, so finish polishing the blade. I decided to polish entire blade of Makiri neck knife to give little more looks of Katana. Because according to my research, back in the old days, the Makiri was often made from broken katana.
After the polishing, move on to handle making, I choose Cherry and Oak.

 二本とも無事にテストをクリアーしてくれましたので、磨きをかけます。マキリ・ネックナイフの方は、全体を磨くことに。これでもう少しだけ刀の残欠のような雰囲気になったかな？？？
 磨き完了後はハンドル作り、桜とオークを使うことにします。

But mmmmmm,,, the oak does not convinced me for this Puukko neck knife... so I seek the possibility on my new material.. The deer bones.  I have cut the leg bones in good length and started the cleaning of them.
　
しかし。。。何だかこう、、、このプーッコにオークはしっくりこない。そこで新しく手に入れた材料、鹿の骨を合わせてみようと思う。足の骨を適当な長さに切り、早速洗浄作業。

to be continued....
つづく・・・

BCFIN spring meet up report - ブッシュクラフトフィンランド、春のオフ会

週末にアップ予定だった裏山ブッシュクラフトですが、ブッシュクラフトフィンランドのオフ会があったので、今週末にアップすることにしました。楽しみにされていた皆様、申し訳ありませんがもう少しお待ちください。
Spring meet up...
I am not quite sure where to start or how to tell. It was great meet up, so many activities, lots of information received and lots to process.
Unfortunately it was only 3 of forum members could have join this time for several reasons and myself was able to join only from 2nd day.
I have arrived at meeting location in early morning of day 2. Luckily, I have managed to arrive while other 2 members were still in bed.  I did not miss anything on day 2.
春のオフ会へ参加してきました。本当に内容の濃いオフ会となり、どこから話を始めたらよいか、どうやってブログ記事にまとめたらら良いか迷っております。
残念なこととに今回のオフ会はたった三人のみの参加となり、私自身も二日目の朝からの参加となりました。
前日の夜は、遠足前の子供状態。朝も異常に早起きし、おかげで先行のメンバーが起き出す前に現地到着。二日目のアクティヴィティーは全て参加できました。

After the morning coffee, starting the day 2 activities. First thing first… securing drinking water.

We have had spring water nearby, but for exercising purpose,  made survival water filter.

朝のコーヒーを飲み、早速２日目の行動開始です。まずは最も重要な飲み水の確保。この場所は近くに湧き水があるのですが、練習のためにサバイバル浄水器（濾過器）を作ります。

Using what’s available to make water filter.
在る物を利用して濾過器を作る。

Once the water is secured, start improving the shelter. Reconstructing the fire pit to more thermal storable and wildfire proof.  Also adding more spruce branches to make bedding more springy and insulated from ground.
水の確保が出来たら次はシェルターの改良に移ります。ファイヤーピットをまずは作り直し。火がこぼれないように壁を補強し、さらに蓄熱性を高めます。ファイヤーピットの次は寝床。ウトウヒ（蝦夷松）の枝をさらに追加し、クッション性と断熱性を高めます。これをしっかりと行うと、シュラフマットを使うよりも優秀な寝床を作ることが出来ます。

The time goes fast when you are on action... the stomach clock start to beeping… time for lunch.
時間はあっという間に過ぎ、腹時計が鳴り出したのでお昼とします。

 After filling up the energy, it is time to start the afternoon activities. First up is a Bucksaw making. I have done this several times, but no one has taught me how and the plan was to make something that lasts longer and making it proper. So we all head out to look for materials.
エネルギーを補充したら午後の活動開始。キャンプ周りで必要になる道具、バックソー作りです。これは何度か作ったことあるのですが、正しく教わったことがない。しかも今回はフィンランド式の物で、本格的に使い続けられる物を作るということ。まずは材料探し、そして加工です。

Work of our MAESTRO.　Made one with style...
マエストロの技。さっきまで森に転がっていた丸太が。。。

The one I made was without style, just it works.
私が作ったのは真っ直ぐそのまま。ただ使えるだけのノコギリ。

 It was still early for dinner, so we took walk around in the forest.  Following the deer highway,  learning and recognizing the trace of wild life. Also took time to enjoy the beauty of nature. I love the old forest…
夕飯にはまだ早いので、森の散策へ出かけます。トラッキングの練習も兼ねるよう鹿の獣道をたどります。森の美しさを楽しみながら、地面や木に残された野生動物の痕跡を観察し、何がどのような行動を取ったのかを推測します。

Night fell, but we all are still active in Kota shelter. Processing the Tinder fungus for tomorrow, talking bushcraft , hunting , jokes and about our life. And our maestro Rautasarvi has entertained us with his delicious pancake cooking.

日が落ち、森は真っ暗。しかし活動はまだまだ続きます。コタシェルターの中では翌日に行うティンダーファンガス作りの下準備。そしてブッシュクラフトフィンランドのマエストロRautasarviがとても美味しいパンケーキを振舞ってくれました。絞りたてのミルクから作るそれは今まで経験したことのない美味しさです。

The day 3 was short day. Starting with walk in the forest correcting breakfast and other natural resources we can utilize.

三日目は半日、あっという間です。軽い森歩きをしながら朝食を採集、そして利用できる資源を観察採集してまわりました。

larva of Carpenter ant (Camponotus herculeanus). very tasty like milk with honey.
ニシムネアカオオアリ？の幼虫。蜂蜜ミルクの様な味でとても美味。

Different fungi can be used as tinder.
火口に利用できる菌類色々。

Quartz for making sparks.
火打石に出来るクオーツ

After learning the important acquiring skills, back to camp and time to pack up. Have last coffee brew over the left over fire and start to digest the information and memories we all got during this meet up. Start to think of what we do next time.

Shake hands with each other to acknowledge the deepened ties of campfire brotherhood…
.............................Great time well spent...............................


重要な「獲得する」ための技術を学びキャンプへ戻る。
閉めのコーヒーを酌み交わしながら今回のオフ会で得た新たなスキル、そして思い出を飲み込みつつ「次は何をしようか？」ということをすでに考え始めた。
握手を交わし、さらに深まった焚き火兄弟の絆を確認して今回のオフ会を終了する。
・・・・・・・・・・すばらしい有意義な時間を、思う存分楽しめた気持ちで一杯だ。・・・・・・・・・・・・

Having closing coffee

Quick up 2

Back from forest walk Learning tracking. Recognizing trace if wild life. Bringing the souvenir back.

Quick up from meet up

We are having savu ongrma...

Packing new gears for this weekend.

This weekend is Bushcraft Finland’s Spring meet up and this time 2 nights 3 days. So I have started the packing and new gears are added this time.
One is a gas mask bag. I have seen weekend woodsman using it with back packing and looked convenient and comfortable, so I thought I will try it as well to see if suite me. If this works, the gives me the solution to when I need to pack little more than my summer kit.

2nd item I got this time is a Savotta Military sleeping bag.
Yes, I finally bought sleeping bag good for extreme cold. I can manage up to about -15 degrees Celsius with previous layered summer sleeping bags, but packing comes little problematic if I cannot use sledge to haul the gears. Also takes some effort to set up and crawl myself in to the bag. So, decided to get one proper sleeping bag.

3rd item is an axe, the one new Billnäs axe. As I have got, the only defect was the hang of axe. The helve has shrank over the time that the head was rattling. I could have just replaced the helve completely, but it is a original helve and is in good condition otherwise. So I wanted to try to save it.

I have managed to remove all the parts without damaging anything. It actually is very interesting to see this, coz usually this part is destroyed in the process of removing old helve.

How the woods are compressed and where are the stressed part and so on..

One interesting thing about this axe is that, how cross wedges are fitted.

Usually the cross wedges are both wood or one is metal. And the metal one is usually fitted against the growth ring of helve. But this one is other way around.

As you can see, the larger slit was the place metal wedge was in. this is usually the place wooden wedge goes. I am assuming that this was the factory fitted.. So hummm…. Was this the normal way to hang Finnish Axe head??? Any reason for this??

However, I have replaced the wooden wedge and put all back together. And now, this axe is ready for work! Also I have made new sheath for it, because I did not like the look of one came with.

With all these new gears, naturally, I needed to figure out how to pack all…

Man… it was as much difficult as final level of Tetris. Took me about 2 hours to come up with some kind of solution. Let’s see, if this works… if not, then I got good excuse to buy a Frame Pack :)

Flea market fun weekend - 蚤の市アサリ

I was going around the flea markets last weekend. It is kind of shopping both me and my wife enjoy and I needed to discover new knife material supply source. 
I use old files as knife making material and have been getting it from one flea market located near my house. But recently, the owner of that shop has changed, so the types of sellers who uses the shop.
Went around several flea markets in the town, but no luck of finding new good supply. But found something on that way…
時々妻とともに、リサイクルショップや蚤の市巡りをするのが楽しみとなってます。先週末は鋼材用に使う古ヤスリの新しい供給元を探す必要もあったので、市内のリサイクルショップなどをあちこち回ってみました。
結局古ヤスリの新しい供給元は見つかりませんでしたが、それなりに収穫はありました。

 Finnish army surplus, gas mask bag and good old Finnish Kellokoski Axe model 123. Both are in good condition. The bag, I will be using it for short hike, most likely will modify to my needs. The axe is a 1.8kg head, good for splitting. I have other one of Kellokoski axe the model is 124, bit bigger one and it does the splitting job real well. Well, I do not have need for this axe to be honest, but it was only 5e and was in good condition. Also these are not made anymore.
フィンランド軍の放出品、ガスマスクバッグとフィンランドの古い斧、Ｋｅｌｌｏｋｏｓｋｉ製モデル１２３。どちらも状態良好。バッグの方はちょっとした森歩きの時に使用予定。もちろん手を加えてさらに使いやすくします。
斧の方は１．８ｋｇの薪割りに良い大きさの物。同じ会社のモデル１２４を薪割りに使ってますが、スプリッティングモール並みに割ります。別に必要ではなかったのですが、骨董品化しつつあるこの斧、このコンディションで５ユーロ・・・買わない理由はないですね。



And on Sunday, Tampere had an annual flea market event call “Perakonttikirppis”. Entire center square was filled with sellers and buyers so I was there fishing for new toys.
そして日曜日には、毎年恒例となった蚤の市イベント“Perakonttikirppis”が行われました。タンペレ市の中央広場をガラクタから骨董品までが埋め尽くす・・・もちろんお宝探しに行ってまいりました。

And these are what I got this time.
そしてこれらが戦利品

Cow horns for knife making and hot metal cutter for my forge work. Cow horns… I should have gotten it much more coz my dogs seems to be very interested in…:)
And  YES,, Again Axe!!  This time is a Billnäs Axe model 300. In very good condition + I am guessing that the helve is an original…?? The price was 25e. I tried hard but the seller did not drop the price by keep repeating “THIS IS OLD FINNISH AXE! VERY OLD! VERY VERY OLD!!!!” I never paid more than 15e for any of my axes I own… so this new GOOD OLD Billnäs became my most expensive axe. Well,, it is OK.. I let it go last time the similar axe because I did not agree with the price and I regretted for a year.  I am cleaning this up now so I can use it next time I have chance.
牛の角３本と鍛冶に使う切りタガネ。牛の角は家の犬が欲しがって欲しがって・・・もっと買って来れば良かった。
そしてまた斧です。これはBillnäsのモデル３００、斧頭８００ｇの小型の物。前の持ち主が大事に使っていたらしくとても良好な状態。柄ももしかしたらオリジナルかも・・・　ただ、値段が２５ユーロ。今まで買った斧で一番高いのが１５ユーロ、相場が１０ユーロ前後のものだからかなり迷った。がんばって値切ろうとした物の“THIS IS OLD FINNISH AXE! VERY OLD! VERY VERY OLD!!!!” の一点張りで一歩も引かない売り手。前回同じタイプの斧をこれと同じ状況で買わずに、非常に後悔していたので、今回は諦めて買っちゃいました。これは早速手入れ開始、次のキャンプで使います。

Got a new axe today

Just quick posting because I am very exited about this new axe I got.
Today Tampere has had largest free market event and I found this!
It is a Billnäs small axe model 300.
Head weight is about 800g, helve 40cm. It really is in good condition. The only problem I can find is hang is little loose. Let's see if I can fix it nicely without replacing it.

裏山ブッシュクラフト - #02 - ブッシュチェアー (Bush chair)

Here you go, the second Urayama Bushcraft video. This time I am challenging on making bush chair but little different from usual bush chair construction. I was planning on making this video out in the woods, but when I had time to make video, it was bad storm all day, so made this video indoor. But I still have used only the tools I would carry in my pack.

裏山ブッシュクラフトの第二回。今回はブッシュチェアーに挑戦です。通常ブッシュチャーといえば三脚型のものが一般的なのですが、少し違った構造のものに挑戦してみました。
本当は森で実際に材料集めて作る予定だったのですが、撮影予定日は朝から吹雪。仕方がないので室内での作業です。しかし使った道具はバックパックで持ち歩ける物のみ、キャンプ地で作れることを前提に行いました。

Easter holiday - Exploring forest

I also had time to get out in the woods with dogs. The weather was quite crazy as was snowing now and then for about week, then above zero degrees in day time. Well, at least the day time was good sun shining like spring should be.

As I get some enough time to go out in woods these days, I head out to “that” forest / woods to explore the area more. This time, I grabbed my belt kit which I call “Skelton Pack” as it composed by only the minimum set of items I need / want with me.

There was still quite deep snow in the woods but not difficult walk. Only few small areas I wish I had my snowshoes with me, but was manageable.

The aim of this time was to find some nice hang round place I can use for this coming summer. Well, I did not find that this time, but still there was some interesting findings in that woods…..

ネックナイフ、熱処理待ち- Neck Knife ready for HT

ネックナイフ２本、熱処理待ちまでたどり着きました。熱処理前に行う必要のある削り作業、鋼材内のストレスを取る為の焼きなまし作業、焼きなまし中に刻印打ちと全て完了です。
2 neck knives, ready for heat treatments. I have finish shaping the blade, normalizing the blank to release the internal stress, punch mark the maker’s mark,,, all done.

あ、そうそう、刻印のデザイン決まりました。結局単純化し続け、これに決定！
Oh, yes, yes, I finally decided the marking.
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓

勝ち虫です。ただ単純に昔から好きだったということもありますが、これにした一番の理由は＞

環境変化の指標ともいわれるトンボ＞ブッシュクラフトっぽい

「勝ち虫」と昔から縁起の良いトンボ＞縁起が良い

刀装具などに昔から使われるトンボ＞和テーストが入るナイフに良い感じ

このデザインなら刻印自作可能＞これ重要ｗ

 It is a Kachi-Mushi = the winner’s bug
The reason I choose this was simply I like a Dragonfly… but also there are several reasons>
Dragonfly indicates the climate, environment changes > Bushcraft like bug!
Dragonfly = Kachi Mushi was popular among SAMURAI as a lucky bug > lucky bug symbol is a good mark!
This design was popular on Katana decoration > I make Japanese taste knives, so that suite.
It is simple enough so I can DIY the stamp > This is important… lol

で、完成して刻印打ちしたのがこれ。

And this is how it looks on the blade…..

本番前に何度も練習したのに！！！こつ掴むまで練習したのに！

やっぱり本番になると腰引けるようです・・・・まあ、、それっぽく見えてるから今回だけは良しとします。だってもうやり直し効かないし・・・・涙

次に使う時まで色々試してみて、気に入らないようなタガネに切り替えようかな。。。

Doesn’t look like anything?????? DO not say it! I have practiced so many times on junk steel beforehand. And I was able to make it much better 10 out of 10….
I guess I chickened out on real go…. Well,,, it still look, perhaps, with kind eyes, maybe look like something, so I let it go THIS TIME.
I will keep practicing and play around till next time. if It seems not suitable for me, then will change it to Chisel work.

Neck Knife forging - ネックナイフの鍛造

It was Easter holyday and had 4 days of off from work. Generally, it was good days off for me that got to do some projects started. But was not quite relaxing as I got my eye injured and is bad….
It seems to have happened when I was grinding the forged knife blank. A tiny particle jumped in to my eye and seems to stack in. I was wearing a eye protection, but seems was not proper. The particle made its way to my eye and now, I have hard time keep my eye open.

先週末は復活祭休暇で四日間の連休でした。久しぶりの連休ということで、溜まっていたプロジェクトを消化することに・・・が、しかし鍛造を終えたブレードをグランダーにかけていた時に事故発生。保護ゴーグルを着用していたにもかかわらず、削りかすが根に飛び込む自体。どうやら横の隙間から飛び込んだらしい。しかも刺さってしまったようでアイボンしても取れない。参った・・・というか今目を開けていられない状態。救急で病院行ったものの、専門医の診察が必要なので休み明けまで「我慢しなさい」とのこと。今日、これから眼科です・・・

This picture has nothing to do with the topic, but was a nice moon sky night…
関係ない写真ですが、綺麗な月夜の日がありました

However, let’s talk about the knife project. It is always difficult to find time for forging work, so even I do not have the makers mark ready, I went ahead and started the blade making.
I have bit short on material at this moment as I only had enough to make about 2 to 3 neck knife + one short blade puuko.  so I needed to choose which one to make this time.  I picked Makiri and Puukko neck knives and one small Puukko.
目の話はこのくらいにしておいて、鍛冶作業の話。鍛冶をする時間を捻出するのはいつも大変。なので、銘の刻印がまだ出来てないくても、このチャンスにブレードは鍛造しておかないといけない。ということで計画していたネックナイフです。
ただし、素材となる古ヤスリの手持ちが底を突いていて、使えるのは半円のヤスリ一本だけ。これだと、ネック２・３本と小型のプーッコ１本しか作れない。仕方がないのでマキリとプーッコのネックを１本ずつ、そして小型のプーッコ１本を作ることに。

After forging job, put the blade blank to grinder and hand grinding to get the detail straight.  A great Japanese blade smith said, “Grinding is not a job of a smith”. So I usually try to get detail as much completed as I can on forging process. But this time, I had very remitted time on anvil; I choose to spend more time on grinder instead.

鍛造後はグラインダーと鑢で形を整える。「削るは鍛冶屋のやる事ではない！」ということですので、通常は出来るだけ完成に近い形まで鍛造するのですが、今回は時間の都合から削り取ることで成形時間を短縮です。

 2 blades are almost done. Still need to shape tang and clean up the deep scratches out.  The largest one… I will work on that bit later when my eye is back..
ネックナイフ２本はほぼ完了。タングの成形と深い傷を消せば後は焼きいれ待ち。３本目のプーッコは目が治るまでお預け。ちなみにこれは親友の「クレイジーメキシカン」君への一本です。

裏山ブッシュクラフト - #01 - バックソー (Bucksaw)

This is the first Urayama Bushcraft video. Making bucksaw in the woods with only knife and axe.

裏山ブッシュクラフトの第一回。今回はクラフトや薪作りに便利な「バックソー」を作ります。使う道具は斧とナイフだけ。これで簡単に伐採用のノコギリが出来てしまいます。

バックソートはその昔、伐採や薪作りに使われていた大型ののこぎりで、弓鋸に似ています。違いは、のこぎりの歯をささえてテンションをかけるのに、弓型のフレームではなく方形のフレームを使い紐をねじることでテンションをかけます。
この道具も、チェーンソーが出てきてから廃れていった道具の一つです。

ではビデオの方をお楽しみください。

Several on-going projects

I have been slow on updating the blog lately, but not because of laziness. It is because I have been occupied with several projects.

I have mentioned it on last video upload (was only in Japanese…) that I will be making series of bushcraft related videos in Japanese but with English sub this time.
I was working on few of those videos and now the first 2 videos are edited and third one is on shooting process. So will be making it for public view on this weekend (Saturday or Sunday).

Other projects that I was doing…
A candle lantern and 3 seasons’ shelter.

I got the idea of these 2 projects from the blog “The Weekend Woodsman”. (My project on these are not completed yet, so if you do not have patience waiting me to finish, go check out his blog. )

First, I needed a small candle, but somehow, all Tealight candles are consumed in my house…. So decided to make some.
I have a stock of 1kg pure beeswax in my workshop so melted some to make beeswax candle.
Used a WC paper roll core as a mold, because could not find any other suitable diameter mold…. 
And this is the result.

I assure you it is not a dynamite:).
It is just a core of WC paper roll filled with beeswax + linseed oil mix. As a wick, I have used a hemp twine.
Originally, I was planning on cut it in short few pieces then peel off the paper mold to make Tealight candles.

But once I cut off a piece, it came to my mind that the mold could also be a wick…
So I lit it to see how it works.

 Took little longer time for flame to go all the way around than expected, but it worked well. It throws quite enough heat around.

Of cause, it works well as a normal candle too.

Humm, I wonder…. can this round flame candle be used as some kind of stove???
I should test that some time.



Then the shelter project.

I call this shelter a “3 seasons”… only because I got winter shelter which I can fit a stove in. But as seen on Weekend Woodsman’s blog, he has been using it in winter time and I do not see any problem doing so.

The reason I wanted to make this is that I saw the potential of shifting the configuration of this shelter to accommodate the needs of different situations. I have been wanting a single shelter system, which can be used as a open / closed A frame, a lean-to, a Loue Lean-to and a tarp.
And this shelter would do all that + rain poncho and bivi bag. Also the weight of  this shelter is relatively right as will be about 2kg all included.


I am using 2 sheets of German rubberized rain poncho as a base and adding the knock off US army rain poncho for the side closure.

Left: German rubberized rain poncho
Right: El cheapo knock off US army rain poncho.

Cut the US army poncho in about half to make triangle, add some snap buttons, then sew the cut-off edge.

Also adding some snap buttons on to German poncho so US poncho pieces and German poncho can be connected. 

I will be showing this more in detail once it’s done.