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Jon Mac
22-01-2012, 09:46 AM
3533


I had a visit from a friend of mine who is studying ancient cultures.
Lucy has recently returned from a dig out in Texas and is keen on carrying out some hands on experiments with stone tools.
Next week we will take a length of Birch, and using fire, shorten it to a length suitable for a long bowl, much like a sour dough bowl, long and shallow.
Her professor will make up some late stone age flint tools, an adze and blades.
With these tools we shall see what can be carved and how.
I am going to have to set a good fire on Monday morning.
I want to use a technique that I have not tried before.
Flint and steel...

Although this technique has nothing to do with the time period we are studying, it is a technique that I have not used before.
To coax a relatively cool spark from the steel into life, I will need something called char cloth.
I ripped my knee through my best (100%) cotton trousers last week, so I have an abundance of suitable material to make plenty of charred cloth.

The weather is pretty grim at the moment, so instead of using a conventional fire out doors, I decided to process the cotton in the firebox of my old range.


View full story at :- http://spooncarvingfirststeps.blogspot.com/

andy202wr
05-02-2012, 05:39 PM
Great website. Some super work. Did the smoke not make a smell in the house.

Jon Mac
05-02-2012, 06:43 PM
Glad you enjoyed my blog Andy, thank you. Most of the smoke was pulled backup the chimney. Some smoke issued into the kitchen, but I guess Sarah and I are a little rough and ready, Sarah coughed a bit and we both had a good laugh. I seem to remember the last time I was told off was when I taught friction fire lighting in the conservatory :campfire:.Prety free and easy in the Mac household...Best wishes...J