Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Cave Men only "Oooga Booga" => Topic started by: jamie on July 21, 2009, 10:11:43 am
-
doing a half dugout for an indoor exhibit. this one was started with chainsaw kerfs to save time. burning the whole thing is actually better. that way the wood burns to a more natural shape. chainsawing saves some time but the burn doesnt work as well. when these two projects are done ill be burning out a 12 footer for myself. this one is pine mine will be tulip. the tulip one will be coming from a large tree we dropped to harvest bark for the longhouse.
fanning the flames
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/coyotebow/museum/009.jpg)
scraping out the char with a fire hardened stick
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/coyotebow/museum/011-1.jpg)
shaping the nose
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/coyotebow/museum/013.jpg)
-
pretty cool stuff, man...you on vacation?
-
nope. Work all day then work on projects when i can
-
shaped the nose some more today but quit early.
-
Jamie, It seems most of the older dugouts down here were made from pine. A fire was built around the tree till it fell, thus , not having to chop a big tree down with stone tools. And then it was worked with hot coals and stone adze's. The heat also hardened and helped waterproof it sealing the resin. It makes more sense to me the stone tools were used to scrape and chop the burned, softened wood than chopping hard pine or cypress. And after that, it would have took just elbow grease to take sand and water and "wet sand"the soot and smooth the inside.
-
pretty much the same technique i use. Stones arent needed. Shells, bone, and stone work but the stick is the eastiest. Aside from time the primitive way is the best method. The burn is more natural and even. With the saw i have to be much more careful not to burn out the walls.
-
I don't really have time for another new project but you got me looking for a log. That looks cool!!! How thick do you leave the walls, and do you season the wood first?
Trey
-
trey the finished walls should be about 1 1/2"- 2" thick. letting the log lose some moisture is a good idea. but you'll never get all the moisture out of something that big anyway. nice thing about these projects is the fire does all the work. you just need to add wood and check the burn.
-
Great project Jamie, I've been looking for a log to do one too. Do you have trouble with the fire making the wood check where you dont want it to, like on the ends or the bottom?
Alan
-
some checking will occur but most dont go deep enough to effect its ability to float. the one at the museum has cracks that go to the waterline on its bow. you just have to distibute your weight and it stil has no problem.
-
Thanks for the info Jamie, I wonder if you could fill any cracks with pitch or maybe a clay and grass mix? I may have more questions for you if I ever find a log and get started on one.
Alan
-
pitch, wood shavings. what ever you can think up can be used. told me he fills the cracks with sticks. and pitch and then burns it again. says you can barely tell its a patch job. yet to see it though
-
Jamie, there has been a recent find of a dugout in I believe ark? Not sure,but I have seen pics and the cahokia mounds bought it and have it submerged in acetone or something to preserve the wood. (3 years ) 20' plus and very cool! They used a stone adze similar to the one you posted on your other thread to chip it out.extremely fine work. cypress.
Haven't found the link to the pics yet, but I know they are out there.
Enjoy all your doings. Really like you long house. ;)
-
thanks tim . i'll see if i can find it.
-
A breechclout and leggins and different hat and that picture would be taken from time cool project
Dennis
-
I should make one out of cypress for fishing ;D
-
dugout is in the exhibit. ill get a pic when the exhibit is done
-
A dream of my childhood! Hope there will come no cracks fore and aft.
Regards Uwe
-
I should make one out of cypress for fishing ;D
best of luck to you there padna. you find a dry cypress that big around that noone stabs you for, i will be impressed.
-
Jamie, they would do like Mullet said about the fire. They would build up a big thick ring of mud, and clay, around the tree, and then start a fire around the base, and keep it burning, till it burned far enough through to topple the tree. Once they determined the bottom, and top, and started to shape it, they would drill holes, about 3/4's to and inch deep, all along the bottom. Then when they burned, and scraped the hull out, and came to these holes, they knew not to burn any deeper, and they could keep an even thickness all along the bottom. Then when finished, they would plug the holes, with a stick, and cut it off flush, and it would be water proof, as it swelled. There used to be one at Dubois park, in Jupiter Fla. When I was a kid I was always fascinated by it. It belonged to Bessie Dubois, and it was kept by the house, on saw horses. Not a whole lot of free board. Used to see pictures of Seminoles in them with their whole family in those things. Not much free board, and not much to keep a big ol gator from bumping someone in. Not the most stable looking thing. They would put wet sand, in the middle of the canoe, and build cooking fires in them. Always wanted to build one. Dug out, not cooking fire. That's what the wimin were fer...... :o ;D ;D ;D
Wayne