Woods Tools

Do all requirements (1-8)

Step 1

Explain how the low-impact camping method (See The Trailman’s Handbook) relates to ropework and helps fulfill the Trailman Oath to “be a good steward of creation.”

Step 2

Describe how knives, swords, and axes were used in history as weapons and tools.

Brief History as Weapons and Tools

Knives, swords, and axes have been part of our history and serving our varied needs for as long as we've been recording it! Knives are type of hand held weapon and tool consisting (in general) of some type of "blade" attached to a handle. They were originally made of wood, bone, or stone, however, as time went on, and our skills improved, they became crafted from copper, bronze, iron, titanium, and even ceramic. Their usages are as varied as their form. They are used for activities such hunting, skinning, de-boning, war, whittling, throwing, carving, cooking, eating, ceremony, entertainment (just to name a few) - and they can be long, short, skinny, foldable, fixed, double edged, single edged, curved, straight, attached to other tools -- completely as varied as our imaginations!

Swords were invented around 3000 BC and were developed as improved metalworking allowing craftsman to develop larger, more resilient blades. They are obviously larger and longer than knives and serve as a thrusting, cutting, slashing type weapon. Over the centuries they have taken many forms: large and small, flexible and stiff, straight and curved. thin an thick, made from bronze, copper, and iron - all of which reflect their unique time in history and geographical location of the craftsman that developed them.

Axes have been with us as long as knives and have been crafted from the same materials over time. Like knives and swords, they have served us for for warfare (think Vikings marauders!) as well as welfare (logging and limbing and bucking). They are generally comprised of a head, which comes in varied sizes with single or double edges depending on their purpose, that is attached to a handle (or haft) of varying length, often related to the purpose. Like knives and swords their form and function throughout time have been a reflection of their place in our history, our level of craftsmanship, and where in the world they were made.

Step 3

Give at least 5 Biblical references to knives, swords, and axes.

[Sword] - Luke 22:36 : "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one"
[Sword] - Matthew 10:34 : "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword"
[Sword] - Ephesians 6:17 : "Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God"
[Axe] - Matthew 3:10 : "The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire".
[Axe] - Jeremiah 51:20-24 : "You are my battle-ax and sword,” says the LORD. “With you I will shatter nations and destroy many kingdoms. With you I will shatter armies— destroying the horse and rider, the chariot and charioteer".
[Axe] - Ecclesiastes 10:10 : "If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success".
[Knife] - Proverbs 12:18 : "Speak without thinking, and your words can cut like a knife"

Step 4

Describe the Woods Tools Safety Rules (See The Trailman’s Handbook).

Know and always follow the safety guidelines as outlined in Woods Tools Safety rules.
Know the rules of your area with regards to wood collection, etc. before your trip and bring the appropriate tools. Follow the rules.
Keep all knife, saw, hatchet, and ax blades closed, sheathed, or covered when not in use.
Keep your tools sharp and well maintained. You are safer and have less impact on what you are cutting when your tools are sharp and in good working order.
Don't cut, damage, or harm living plants.
Always use already downed wood to whittle with, start, or continue a fire.
Pay attention whenever working with any wood tool. Be mindful of the work you are doing as well as aware of others - they might not be paying attention to you!
Work in a contained and designated area.

step 5

Demonstrate how to clean and sharpen a pocketknife.

How to Clean:

Open the knife blade and lock if possible. Use toothpicks, toothbrush and cotton swabs to clean and pick out lint and debris from the blade channel. Pay close attention to all the cracks, crevices and any other areas where dirt may collect.
Clean and remove dirt and grime from the blade. Run warm tap water and use the dishwashing liquid and sponge to gently scrub the blade. Try not to immerse the entire knife in the water. Dry blade with the dry rag. Use compressed air to thoroughly dry the entire knife if you were unable to keep it dry.
Gently scrub the scales with the toothbrush. Use a toothpick to pick out debris from the jigging in the scales. Wipe thoroughly with the dry rag when finished.
Inspect the blade for rust. Discoloration is an early indication of rust. Add a drop of oil to any rust spots and lightly scrub with the steel wool.
Apply a small drop of oil to the pivot point or joint. Lightly wipe the blade with a thin coat of oil. Store in a dry area when not carrying your pocket knife.

How to Sharpen:

STEP 6

Demonstrate how to clean, stow/cover, and change a saw blade for either a folding or bow saw.

Always clean your tools after each use. Remove debris and any remaining soil using a cloth, bristle brush or wire brush. Get rid of any sap that may have collected on cutting tools. Once the blade is clean, rust-free and dry, carefully and gently, use a cloth to apply a light amount of oil or WD-40, to prevent rust from settling in on the blade.

Once clean and dry, folding saws can be unassembled and the pieces put back in their case. For a bow saw, one of the best covers is a piece of old garden hose cut down one half. Foam insulation is another option. In a pinch, old clothing or towels can be wrapped around the blade.

STEP 7

Demonstrate cleaning and sharpening an ax or hatchet.

To clean the head:

To clean your axe or hatchet first make sure that the head is thoroughly dry. Use a cloth or paper towel to remove excess water or moisture from the axe blade.
If there is stubborn dirt or wood sap on the head, scrape it off with a wire brush. Large pieces can also be scraped off gently with a knife.
If necessary, remove any remaining grime on the axe head with a solvent like vinegar, or paint thinner.
If you spot rust, scratch it off using sandpaper or steel wool and clean any particles with a oiled cloth or paper towel.

To sharpen:

To sharpen an axe, use a mill bastard file at least 10 inches long with a handle. Wear leather gloves while filing.
To prevent hitting your fingers on the axe's edge, always file from the back of the axe head towards the edge. File at an angle towards the middle of the blade using strokes from your shoulder. Do not file straight at the edge. Filing straight on will cause causes a rough uneven file marks.
Follow the rounded contour of the axe head. Don’t file too much away from the corners of the axe, since that’s the weakest part of the blade and most likely to chip
On the return stroke, do not make contact with the blade and don’t drag the file back. Dragging the file back dulls the teeth and once it’s dull you can’t re-sharpen it.
Once the axe is sharp on one side, flip and repeat the steps with the file on the other side.
Stop often and clean particles in the file with a wire brush. The teeth of your file will quickly become clogged with shavings from the axe as you work. The teeth need to be clean to be effective.

STEP 8

Following the Woods Tools Safety Rules, participate in skill instruction as needed and do THREE (3) of the following using a knife, bow saw, folding saw, hatchet, or ax:

a. Whittle a cooking stick and cook a food item over a wood or charcoal fire.

Don't damage a living tree. Look for sticks on the ground.
Choose a stick that is long enough so you don't get cooked in the fire too!
Make sure that it is sturdy enough to support your meal. The bigger the item, the thicker the stick (or you may want to consider multiple sticks).
Carefully whittle away a few inches from the end to clear off the outside bark and make a sharp point.
Skewer your victuals, cook, and enjoy!

I think that one of the best projects to make as a beginner is a marshmallow stick. It’s also extremely useful for camping. Find a stick around 0.5 thick then strip off all the bark and whittle the end into a point. That’s it!

b. Whittle something out of soft wood.

"Something" is a broad term. This must be an item agreed upon ahead of time with the Trailman's Trail Guide. It should be:

Some sort of recognizable item
Doable by a beginner
Not simply a stick sharpened to a point,
Perhaps something like a pyramid, an eating utensil, small boat, small plaque with a design, or a hiking stick.

c. Make a fuzz stick.

How to Carve a Fuzz Stick

If you're familiar with the world of open fire cooking equipment and tools, you know that fuzz sticks (or feather sticks) are excellent fire starters. While it is not the fastest way to start a fire (because it requires some pre-fire knife work), this technique is highly effective and incredibly satisfying. It's also a great skill to teach your kids. Here's how to "fuzz" a stick:

Step One

Find a dry stick that is about the diameter of your thumb. You can also use a piece of kindling. The key is to use wood that is dry enough to burn readily but not so bone-dry that it has hardened and become difficult to carve. You might need to experiment with a few different sticks before finding one that can be "fuzzed." Soft woods, like pine, are excellent for "fuzzing."

Step Two

Shave curls down the length of at least half the stick. Leave the curls attached so that they create "fuzz" that can easily ignite. Creating the curls without breaking them off takes a little practice at first.

Step Three

This is the fun part. Once you have "fuzzed" most of the stick. Prepare your tinder, stack your kindling, light your fuzz stick, and then use it to ignite your fire. You can place it directly in the fire or use it as a torch to ignite your tinder in multiple spots.

d. Prepare tinder, kindling, and fuel wood for a small fire.

TINDER:
The most important element to starting any fire is tinder. Without good tinder no amount of spark or friction-produced ember will be useful. Tinder comes in many different forms from natural to synthetic and may or may not include additives. This is the base fuel needed to start your fire and it will provide the first flames which you’ll apply to your kindling.

Straw, dryer lint, and wood shavings can make good tinder.
To make tinder, collect what you can from small bits of dry leaves, straw, and extremely thin pieces of wood, about the size of small wire. If you you have firewood the size of fuel below, small pieces that can be manually pulled away from the firewood can serve as tinder.
To create wood shavings, locate a small dead and dry branch. While holding a knife at a right angle and with the blade pointing away from your body, run the blade away from you along the stick to create the shavings
Fuzz Sticks can also be used as tinder. See: How to Make a Fuzz Stick

KINDLING:

The second element of producing a sustainable fire is kindling. Kindling provides the first base of flames strong enough and long-lasting enough to light your main source of fuel. Kindling can be collected from dry twigs about the size of pencil, or it can be cut from thick branches about the size of your wrist, or pieces of fuel wood using an axe or possibly a hatchet. Whenever handling an axe or hatchet, be sure to use gloves and eye protection, be knowledgeable of proper usage of an axe or hatchet and apply caution. Videos below describe methods for making kindling.

FUEL WOOD:
Fuel wood is the last ingredient for your fire and is any large piece of wood that is used to feed and maintain a fire. Now, you might think about dragging over some giant logs, but the truth of the matter is that good fuel wood generally doesn’t need to be larger than the thickness of your wrist and the length of your arm. That can be collected from large, fallen branches, and then cut with a saw or axe into sizes that can be used in your campfire.
More often than not, you're going to purchase your fuel wood. When it comes to actually preparing fuel wood, you will need to locate large dead branches where you are camping, or you will have to have cut and split felled trees as well as allowed the wood to dry before you need it, Being a good steward, you don't want to cut or attempt to make fuel wood from a live tree.
If you do have trees to cut and split and time to allow it to dry into quality fuel wood, then a splitting wedge and axe can be used. The videos below describe how to split wood into fuel wood.

e. Saw off a piece of a log at least 2-inches in diameter.

f. Chop through a log at least 2-inches in diameter on a chopping block.

g. Split a log.

h. Limb a log (stand on the opposite side of the log from where you are limbing).

i. Use an ax to cut a V-shaped notch at least 2-inches deep in a large log (bucking).

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