Bear "Fun", "Jungle" Tools, Ideas and Special / Member Projects

Thanks Bear for a great idea.. I have a piece of african blackwood I've been kicking around for a while now. Seems like the perfect project.

 

Bear, can you PM me? I seem to have forgotten how...

 

LOL---- @AxesAreBetter will do... btw just click on me and hit start a conversation

 

Ah. I just missed it. Been sick.

 

Sending out good thoughts so you feel better soon @AxesAreBetter

Take Care and God Bless AAB....

Bear

 

Aloha Monkeys,

Finally getting around to projects and requests from months ago... sorry or the delays...

Here's one request for a long time member... who has waited just too long for these...

I am not particularly fond of forging titanium, actually it really sucks as opposed to steel, as I have found you need to heat it to bright yellow and then it cools ridiculously fast on the anvil, especially with small stock like this, so you only get a few hits before you have to reheat...

Titanium is really hard to begin with and I have found it hardens even more when you forge and repeatedly heat it.... Really messed up my hammer, anvil and peening hammer .... grrrrrrr.... needed to redress them....

Then getting them to match in length and width is another challenge... especially when you hammer texture and the whole things moves again....

But when the request came in ... I was happy to make these for him...

Actually did things differently and worked a lot better... so I learned something .... but still don't like forging titanium.....

So here you go buddy... some pics to hold you over until they arrive....

Hope you like them....

Have a great Wednesday!

Take care and God Bless,

Bear

 

Bear, always in the positive frame of Mind.

 

They work just fine for me....

 

Aloha Monkeys,

Got 9 of the brown canvas micarta blocks drilled, fitted and cut to size ... 5 are already spoken for... so 4 remaining.... I won't finish them in case anyone wants to save some money and finish it themselves and custom fit it to their style and hand.....

Also as promised... here's a couple pics of some non-stabilized wood and bone (fossilized walrus) I can make into a bearing...

Curly koa... back... black micarta... back... Curly Maple... and extreme birch burl (will go nicely with your burl handled knife )..... I have more but just to give you all an idea....price will vary depending on the material... but nothing too ridiculous... up to $10 more....

Anyway... thanks for all the inquires and the interest....

I also have two made in the USA bearings that I will use upon request... will add a couple bucks to the final price...

Thanks again... so many projects.... so little time

Have a great Wednesday all!

Take Care and God Bless,

Bear

 

I would be interested in a wood or bone one. Whichever you feel has more character.

 

Currently, I use a divot in the side of my pocket knife, on the rare occasions, when I have used this method of fire starting. (Usually when I am showing someone else how).
I believe I have a small block of purple heart that would be perfect for the purpose.

 

I have been using an old dried out piece of kiawe for both the spindle and bearing block. I like hau for the hearth. Never failed with that set up yet. @Bear's block would only make it easier. As Ray Mears says, "If you're roughing it, you're doing it wrong."

 

Yes, and no. If you have planned ahead, you have 15 other ways to light a fire with much less effort. And if you did not plan ahead, this item was left behind anyways.

 

It's planned. I usually make a fire using friction almost only when showing someone how. Or if the mood strikes. Normally, I prefer white phosphorus when lazy. Or call @Bear and have him bring his flamethrower.

 

A cordless drill works quite well for a friction fire drill.

 

But not quite in the spirit of it. [emoji12] Not like the spirit of the flamethrower. I can see carrying a flamethrower in to the woods. But a cordless drill? Come on!

 

I have a complete tool kit when I go hunting. We make alterations and repairs to the cabin and to gear while there. We may need to make automotive repairs, or remount the cast iron stove pipe. Tools, are a standard part of my hunting gear, it just stays with the truck, unless I need it. One truck has a small stick welder under the hood and powered by the engine.

 

You are obviously not roughing it. Good for you.

 

Rock on son. Haha.