Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Primitive Skills => Topic started by: Woodland Roamer on July 13, 2008, 05:38:00 pm

Title: Wigwam
Post by: Woodland Roamer on July 13, 2008, 05:38:00 pm

Here are some pics of a wigwam I built this spring. I collected most of the bark first and then started on the frame. I stripped the bark from the frame poles and charred the bottoms of them in the fire. I used inner bark from a willow tree to tie the whole thing together. I learned a lot building this one that I could apply to another if I get the chance so if anyone is looking to build one I'll be glad to help.
It's on a nice site along a river with a spring coming in. I've found a lot of artifacts here over the years so this is not the first structure like this to be built here for sure. This thing was a lot of work to build but it was worth it. I'm going to be staying in this a lot during hunting season this fall and hope to bring back a lot of fish and game to cook on the fire! I'm looking to have a good working camp going with places to knap, tan hides, cook, maybe make pottery, just whatever comes to mind. I'm also wanting to make a dugout canoe to use in the river so if anyone in the area has a good poplar or white pine log that I could use let me know.
Alan
The first of the frame in place
(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh286/AlanShook/100_1976.jpg)
Inner bark from willow tree used as lashing
(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh286/AlanShook/100_1996.jpg)
(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh286/AlanShook/100_1990.jpg)
The bark going on. I drilled holes and tied it on with the willow lashing
(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh286/AlanShook/100_2007.jpg)
(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh286/AlanShook/100_2011.jpg)
Putting the roof on
(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh286/AlanShook/100_2017.jpg)

Title: Re: Wigwam
Post by: Hillbilly on July 13, 2008, 05:42:43 pm

That's just too cool, Alan, looks like the centerpiece of a great primitive camp. Thanks for posting it.

Title: Re: Wigwam
Post by: Woodland Roamer on July 13, 2008, 05:45:36 pm

A few more
A view of camp
(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh286/AlanShook/100_2026.jpg)

(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh286/AlanShook/100_2028.jpg)

A couple from inside
(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh286/AlanShook/100_2032.jpg)
(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh286/AlanShook/100_2033.jpg)
The first fire
(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh286/AlanShook/100_2038.jpg)

Title: Re: Wigwam
Post by: Pat B on July 13, 2008, 05:52:47 pm

Very cool, Alan. What kind of bark is it? Looks like poplar. Why do you char the pole bottoms? protection from rot?  I could easily live in there...or at least stay in it during a hunting trip.   
   I have plenty of poplar and white pine if you want to cut and haul from the camp-o-rama. There will be lots of help.  ;)         Pat

Title: Re: Wigwam
Post by: Woodland Roamer on July 13, 2008, 06:00:19 pm

Thanks Steve.

Thanks Pat, yes it is poplar bark and yes charring the poles where they go in the ground is supposed to help prevent rot. Yeah I could use a little more bark to patch up a few spots or a big log for a dugout canoe.  :)

Alan

Title: Re: Wigwam
Post by: Pat B on July 13, 2008, 06:08:08 pm

There are a few 18"+ poplars in the woods here. You are welcome to a tree if you want it.
   Some of the high priced homes around here are using poplar bark shingles for siding. It was a traditional siding along with chestnut bark.
   Your wigwam would make a great ground blind. I'd bet it wouldn't take long for the local critters to get used to it.     Pat

Title: Re: Wigwam
Post by: El Destructo on July 13, 2008, 06:28:14 pm

               Very Nice looking Wikiup Alan......Here is a picture of a Tipi We have on Land back Home in Michigan......The Natives here built Hogans of Sod and Red Clay

[attachment deleted by admin]

Title: Re: Wigwam
Post by: kayakfisher on July 13, 2008, 06:34:19 pm

Hey you all th is just way to cool ,makes me wish I had some land somewhere to do that on
             Dennis

Title: Re: Wigwam
Post by: SelfYewDave on July 13, 2008, 06:59:07 pm

Guys,
That is just plain ole awesome!!!  That is some cool stuff ya'll did there.

 :) :) :)

Title: Re: Wigwam
Post by: n2everythg on July 13, 2008, 07:44:40 pm

Wow Allen that turned out really great.
I want to come up some time and see it in person.

Anyway... great job.
wade

Title: Re: Wigwam
Post by: ricktrojanowski on July 13, 2008, 09:00:53 pm

Very cool.  That is an awesome shelter.  How do you get the bark off in such big pieces? 

Title: Re: Wigwam
Post by: Don on July 13, 2008, 09:11:52 pm

Allen.
 That is cooler the cool.  ;D
How do you keep the bark flat or from curling when you've had a fire going inside?
Also is the bark lashed to the poles?
That will make the perfect shelter for a  hunt.
What size?
Again I love it.
Don

Title: Re: Wigwam
Post by: DanaM on July 13, 2008, 09:38:06 pm

Very very cool 8)

Title: Re: Wigwam
Post by: Hillbilly on July 13, 2008, 10:18:30 pm

Quote

How do you get the bark off in such big pieces?

Rick, from about May to August, the bark slips easily off of tulip poplar logs, you can just about cut a log and knock it clean out of the bark with a sledge hammer. If you cut it down one side of the log, it peels right off with very little effort.

 Oh, and nice bark tipi, Mike-very cool.

Title: Re: Wigwam
Post by: El Destructo on July 13, 2008, 10:26:44 pm

It's really cool inside....my Brother John and I built this two years ago...it gets used a bunch too....lots of get togethers around the Fire Circle.....it's really nice in the Spring and Fall....a bit on the warm side in the Humid Summers!!!

Title: Re: Wigwam
Post by: Otoe Bow on July 13, 2008, 11:50:57 pm

That's neat man.  Thanks for sharing.  How do you attach the bark to the frame?

Mike 

Title: Re: Wigwam
Post by: Woodland Roamer on July 14, 2008, 12:16:22 am

Hey thanks Pat, yep the deer have already walked right past it.

Mike, Thanks and your tipi looks great!!

Thanks Dennis and SelfYewDave.

Thanks Wade, come on up and check it out.

Thanks Rick, what Hillbilly said on the bark, it just slides right off when the sap is flowing in the summer.

Thanks Don, I forgot to mention that I drilled holes and tied the bark to the frame with the inner willow bark. The diamater is about 12 feet on this one and it's about 8 feet high in the middle at the smokehole.

Thanks Dana.

Thanks Mike, it's tied to the frame with inner willow bark.

Alan

Title: Re: Wigwam
Post by: salad days on July 14, 2008, 02:03:42 pm

that looks like it is really gonna be fun camping in that. :)

Title: Re: Wigwam
Post by: Woodland Roamer on July 14, 2008, 10:42:26 pm

Thanks OS, I can't wait to see an October sunrise from camp!

Alan

Title: Re: Wigwam
Post by: JackCrafty on July 15, 2008, 01:42:32 am

Very, very, very cool. 8)

Title: Re: Wigwam
Post by: Woodland Roamer on July 15, 2008, 10:54:47 pm

Thanks jackcrafty!

Alan

Title: Re: Wigwam
Post by: Minuteman on July 16, 2008, 08:28:31 pm

That has been a long time a coming! Didn't you build a frame a coupla years ago and couldn't find enough bark for the cover?. On Paleo Planet?  Is this the same frame ( with burned ends) or a new one?Looks like the same camp anyway.
 It was worth the wait. Well done.

Title: Re: Wigwam
Post by: huntertrapper on July 16, 2008, 09:56:24 pm

thats great man, thats really great, ive built tipis in my back yard with tarps and there nothing better than on a cold night to see smoke rising from the vent hole, NICE JOB!

Title: Re: Wigwam
Post by: Badbill on July 16, 2008, 10:08:45 pm

What a cool hunting camp that is!

Title: Re: Wigwam
Post by: Woodland Roamer on July 16, 2008, 11:06:13 pm

Thanks Minuteman, yeah it has been a long time coming, you can say that again! I built the frame you remember early in 07 and then never found the bark. Unfortunately that frame was too rotted (and too big) so I took it down and started fresh this spring, made sure I had the bark this time then built the frame.

Thanks huntertrapper, I can't wait for fall!

Thanks Badbill.

Alan