two little cane projects

[George]

I like working with natural materials in making my kit, gourds and cane, for instance. I imagine the early settlers on the Kentucky frontier made use of them more than we are aware.

Cane is handy stuff. I have a ball bag with a cane spout, and it has held up very well. My sewing kit is kept in a cane tube with rawhide sewn around it against splitting. I recently made two cane tinder tubes for my fire kit which work very well.

In 1831 in Texas, Noah Smithwick wrote of having a meal with the frontier family of Thomas Bell, “Beside each platter lay a fork made of a joint of cane.” I liked the idea of that, and I know Kentucky was full of cane, so I made one. I had some growing in my yard for years, still have a few pieces of it left. It’s easy stuff to work with, sands, saws, drills and files easily.



It will go well with my new gourd bowl.


Had to try it out at home to make sure it will work on a trek. :grin:



I have always thought powder measures could be easily made of cane, so I tried making one, today, for my smooth rifle.







I was right, no problems, sawed to shape around a node with a coping saw, burned the hole for a lanyard, sanded it down. 85 grains 3F, by volume or weight, I’m ready.

Spence

 

[Artificer]

Very interesting! Thanks for sharing.

Gus

 

[kullas]

Good stuff, nice. I got alot of the stuff growing here to. I use the river cane in making arrows.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

Nice work sir!

Cane makes good arrows and you can split cane/bamboo and make a heck of a sharp knife.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Very nice Spence....

Just don't do like I did and step on my measure in the dark and bust it into a dozen pieces...

 

[flattail]

Ham and black eyed peas!! Yum! The things I miss since I moved from the South. Nice use of the cane and gourd as well. The stuff I have access to makes nice pipe stems, but not much of anything else.
Keep up the fine work, Spence. I've learned a lot reading your posts.
Thanks,
Ed

 

[larry wv]

Good job Spence. :thumbsup: No cane around here.

Larry

 

[kullas]

After going through this post again I noticed the gourd bowl. I'm really likeing it. Being that I got a gourd canteen im thinking I bowl like this would go well with it. Something I haven't thought of thanks for sharing.

 

[Curt]

Nice work Spence ,you sure have the touch for makin some fine gear. Curt

 

[BillinOregon]

Really like that fork, Spence. That gourd bowl full of chow really looks yummy. Bowl sealed with bees' wax?

 

[George]

Really like that fork, Spence. That gourd bowl full of chow really looks yummy. Bowl sealed with bees' wax?

No, just plain. I've never treated any of my gourd canteens or bowls with anything inside, just never found it necessary.

kullas: more pictures of the bowl, if you are interested.
http://s881.photobucket.com/user/Spence_2010/slideshow/Gourd Bowl

Spence

 

[kullas]

It looks good. Kinda hard to tell but I'm guessing 2" tall?

 

[George]

Yes, exactly, and 5" diameter. A hint... it's important that the rim be level when it's sitting on a table, but not all gourds have a totally flat and level bottom. Tape a pencil to a 2" block of wood, set the gourd upright and move the block around it to scribe a line, cut to the line, and your stew will never run into your lap. :grin:

Spence

 

[kullas]

Thank you for the information I just got done scraping the inside out and I think I'm going to rub a coat of bees wax on it.

 

[steve free]

That's some cool looking stuff. I like it a lot. :thumbsup:

 

[Artificer]

Spence,

What is the approximate diameter of the cane you used? I ask this for those of us who may wish to try making a measure like yours.

BTW, you post took me back to my early years when Dad stopped by a Gas Station and chose/bought cane poles for we three kids to fish with. Thanks for bringing back a cherished memory.

Gus

 

[BillinOregon]

So, Spence, your untreated gourd bowl can be scrubbed and washed and remain a wholesome vessel? Interesting.

 

[George]

Personal preference, but I would like the diameter of the charger to generally follow the bore of the gun. Longer and more slender for my .30, shorter and wider for the .62. Seems more handy to load with, for me. Actually, I use what I have available, this one could have been smaller in diameter, didn't have any.

Spence

 

[George]

So, Spence, your untreated gourd bowl can be scrubbed and washed and remain a wholesome vessel? Interesting.

No problem so far. My canteens are 18 years old, still sweet, never have had mold, etc. The bowl is new, but is very easy to clean and dry, seems completely unchanged after use and an hour to dry.

I have treated metal canteens with beeswax as is usually recommended, and it was not a happy experience. After a while it started flaking off, and there was rust under the wax. Now I leave them plain and concentrate on drying them well, and that seems to work, for me.

Spence

 

[Artificer]

Personal preference, but I would like the diameter of the charger to generally follow the bore of the gun. Longer and more slender for my .30, shorter and wider for the .62. Seems more handy to load with, for me. Actually, I use what I have available, this one could have been smaller in diameter, didn't have any.

Spence

Great suggestion! Thank you.

Gus