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Post by longtrail on Jun 10, 2008 10:51:30 GMT -5
Howdy Yall! I recently got a request for a few willow camp beds. Great for that soggy NW, Doc. Anyway Joe went and cut a bunch of willows for me down in the muddy flood plane of the Musselshell. This time of year the bark just peels off of them in strips. I actually like the looks of the willows when they need to be scraped, they have more color and don't look like dowel rods. I have been collecting beaver chewed willows for a while but yet to have enought for a back rest which is what I want to make. These beds go together pretty fast. The length is three feet, the holes are drilled an inch from the end and one in the middle. & Laced with what's left of that elk hide I have been chopping up for months. When I make willow back rests I usually tie the willows in bundles tightly, to make sure they dry straight, but with this bed, I am just going ahead, drilling holes, lacing and then rolling it up tight for the night untill I add more today, then when it is finished I will roll it up very tightly, and secrure it that way. The willows shrink as they dry so I do not tie the ends of the lacing around the last, larger willow until they are all dry and I can tighten them closer together. When I lived in Oregon and had access to Tule reeds I would make these out of them. They are lighter to carry and it is not necessary to drill holes, just knot after each reed, and tie four times across instead of three as the reeds are not stiff like the willow. Anyway, this is my latest project. The willows My Tools (including the 30lb drill!!!!!haha) Ace hardware has a cute little drill press for around $100. Might have to invest! Elk Lacing and Totally spiffy Lacing Needle Totally spiffy Lacing Needle up close Rolled tight for the night.
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Post by Buckskin Billy on Jun 10, 2008 21:19:23 GMT -5
cool can't wait to see it finished. glad your up and around. we missed you buckskin diva girl ;D
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Post by Grizz on Jun 10, 2008 23:03:34 GMT -5
that's Diva LT billy......get it right man ;D
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Post by joanne2 on Jun 11, 2008 0:07:37 GMT -5
Yeah I'm looking forward to seeing it too as I've started more than one backrest before! Didn't know you could use the skin for lacing the backrests. That's interesting. thanks a lot for sharing the pics and starting a thread about them. You rock, LT. :-)
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Post by hannes on Jun 11, 2008 5:21:50 GMT -5
diva lt hillbilly, right grizz? also nice too see you back and posting vicky!have also not posted for a while, but read often.i bought a book a year ago by kiko denzer on earth ovens for my wife as a gift. had no time to even page through it.when the michigan girl was here she built one and we are often bakn bread in it.will post a picture at the right place later.
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Post by longtrail on Jun 11, 2008 9:03:07 GMT -5
Thanks Hannes. We have perfect soil here for making one of those ovens. I guess when the power goes out I'll be forced to try my hand at one. Look forward to seeing the one that was built for you and any bread baked in it. Oh,so it's DltH? Grizz? haha Paulette, actually I think what would work best for the lacing would be very thin pieces of rawhide, braided. I question this elk, as it is so lofty, I am not sure how long it will remain strong. Should be ok for the bed, as there is not as much pull as with a backrest. Were you uising willow for your backrest?
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Post by joanne2 on Jun 11, 2008 11:26:33 GMT -5
Well I had some artificial sinew that I was going to use along with a dremel drill and a 1/16" bit.. this was for the backrests and my willow rods were just a little TOO small at like pencil diameter.. but I dunno maybe those were ok.. I forget what stopped me.. oh yeah it was the doll needle I had.. anyway something stupid stopped me after all that time I'd had into collecting and peeling but I still get these urges to be out harvesting willow rods.. can hardly pass them up.. reminds me to put those pruners back in the truck! anyway it is a fun thing to do.
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Post by randyt on Jun 11, 2008 17:25:43 GMT -5
instead of drilling the willow have ya considered using three long cords doubled over and spaced about the width of the back rest and one down the middle. then weave the willow shoots and cords together.
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Post by longtrail on Jun 11, 2008 18:07:55 GMT -5
I tried that years ago and found that the sticks were loose and tended to slide out of the sides. Have you made them that way? How did it work for you? I can see using that technique if one is using the TULE reeds I mentioned. Thanks Dlt
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Post by paweaver on Jun 11, 2008 21:35:56 GMT -5
Hey, Glad your back. O.K. Here I go. I'm going to show my ignorance... With questions.... Then I can claim that I was enlighten With your answers. I have seen pics of back rest which I thought was made out of willow, But I have never seen a willow camp bed. Is that just another name for a willow mat or rug that is used for sleeping on? Having never seen one up close I just always assumed that there was twining or some type of weaving holding them together. Is this assumption wrong? Why the drilling? Does it shrink as it ages or dries? Will the weaving not hold the willow sticks in place? Twining around each stick as you put them to gather is what my weaving knowledge would say to do because it would lock them together so to speak. However I can't wait to see your pics. Wish you lived you lived over the hill or down the road a little bit, I would love to "see" them with my hands. I'm sure I'd being driving you nuts with hundreds of how to questions.
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Post by redthunder on Jun 11, 2008 23:23:25 GMT -5
I have seen pics of back rest which I thought was made out of willow, But I have never seen a willow camp bed. Is that just another name for a willow mat or rug that is used for sleeping on? i can answer some i know, a backrest is use to both sit and sleep on, it´s depend on how long the backrest is made, i have made one 70 inch long, and i sit and sleep on that one, works fine.,
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Post by redthunder on Jun 12, 2008 2:23:42 GMT -5
ok! toke pictures on my backrest, the left one is made with birch, i tie around with doubled strong linen cord, this is 70inches long., the right one i have 2 made with willow, those is drilled and use strong hemp cord, both these is about 50 inches long.,
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Post by longtrail on Jun 12, 2008 13:38:39 GMT -5
RT, wow. You just keep in making me drop my jaw!! Your work is beyond beautiful. I couldn't help but call Joe over and tell him to have a looksee. I notice the tops are different widths, it that tribal? Joe was saying the birch (which we would have sworn were dowls) was the style of the Blackfoot. I like the one on the right. The more color the better. My bed shrinks in comparrison. I am afraid the willows Joe cut for me aren't as straight and uniform as I would have picked out but I am thankful he got them and will go with him next time. Thanks again for showing us you talents. And thanks for the welcome back Paweaver. The beds are the same width from top to bottom, usually six foot long or so. Just something to throw the bedroll on when the ground is wet. Ya it would be nice to live buy people with the same interests we have. Thanks again. dlt
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Post by redthunder on Jun 12, 2008 20:36:38 GMT -5
LT, actually both are Blackfoot, the birch i made a little mix on, with painting Sioux/Cheyenne style,
size birch 6 foot long, 15 inches top, 33 inches bottom, size willow 5 foot long 18 inches top, 35 inches bottom,
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Post by longtrail on Jun 13, 2008 17:03:23 GMT -5
Thanks for including the measurements etc. Your not only so totally talented, but willing to share techniques too. Now thats genuinely a nice person. We keep good company ya'll. :-) !!!!!!!!
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