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Tool Roll Bag

While internet surfing I found myself looking at tool roll bags. Light bulb! Instead of keeping my whole tool box in my vehicle, I will start using the roll bag instead. Not the most original idea, but it seems the best answers are usually the simplest. It's more portable and compact. So where did I get one? Well I made it of course.

Total cost: One new spool of thread. Awesome!

It's made from painters canvas. I soaked the canvas in black Rit Dye for 30 mins before washing and drying it. I then coated it in a 50/50 blend of melted beeswax and paraffin and ran it in the dryer inside of a canvas sack to melt it into the fabric. Sewed up the pockets, added the straps, and there you have it.

Sami Style Sewing Kit

As I was surfing the net the other day I came upon some photos of Sami style sewing kits that had been posted on Bushcraft USA. They were made from hollowed out sections of antler or bone and contained needles and thread. To make a short story shorter, I liked them and decided to make one for myself.

Sami refers to the indigenous people inhabiting the Arctic area of Sápmi, which today encompasses parts of far northern Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Kola Peninsula of Russia, and the border area between south and middle Sweden and Norway. They are often refered to as Laplanders, but most Sami find this term perjorative.

To begin, I found a white tail antler shed in the shop and culled my pieces from it with a hacksaw. I then proceeded to hollow out the interior of the antler with a variety of drill bits and then finished the pieces with some sandpaper. I found it best to use a random orbital sander to get the smoothest and roundest edges possible.

The only piece of antler big enough to use had a tine protruding from it, and I realized it would make the perfect place to use as a needle push. How fortuitous! So I removed the tine with the hacksaw, to later be used as a toggle for a bag, and made a small indentation to hold the needle centered. It works perfectly, plus the contour of the antler makes for a solid grip and even has a small place for your thumb. The whole kit is just the right size to hold the needle and handle simultaneously.

The lanyard is made from artifical sinew that has been twisted together twice to made a very stout cordage. The kit itself contains two sharp needles and about five feet of easily splitable artifical sinew.

Carpenter's Hatchet

I have always wanted a good carpenter's hatchet. They just have a certain look that I find appealing. Pragmatic crossed with nostalgic. I don't know, but I needed one. I had been thinking I would find one at a random time in life, someplace like a garage sale or pawn shop. Well I got impatient, like I tend to do, and just bought one at an Ace Hardware. Then I proceeded to modify it.

The freshly purchased tool was covered in a glossy lacquer and VERY roughly shaped edges around the hammer side of the head. When I say rough, I mean I could have cut myself on the burrs. Plus it was embossed with an ugly "ACE" on the head and handle. It was $14. That's what you get I guess. So a few minutes with an angle grinder with a wire wheel, then a sanding disk smoothed out the head to a suitable condition. The handle was then stripped of it's gloss, and logo, as well.

Next was a degreasing and a bluing of the head with gun bluing. Just something to patina the steel a little. Then a couple coats of tung oil on the handle. A sharpening, some oil, and a quick axe mask later and there you have it. Something worth toting around. Maybe someday I can use it to build a cabin.

Leather Mora Classic Knife Sheath

While working to entertain myself the other day I decided to make a new leather sheath for my buddies Mora Original. Upon completion I informed him I was trading him for my Mora Clipper with Kydex sheath (It was a "Gentleman's" trade). So needless to say I was pretty happy with the outcome.

The sheath was wet formed around the knife. I did not stain the leather and did a simple coat of mink oil in it when I was finished. If I had some SnoSeal I would have used it.

I used artificial sinew for all of the stitching and cordage. I did a two strand twist to form the cordage used for the neck loop and an additional four feet worth of it wrapped around the sheath for the hell of it. There are a couple loops at the end of the cordage pieces for attaching little things that might need to be tethered to you. All in all, a success.

Where Does the Time Go?

So obviously it has been awhile since my last post. For shame, I know. I'm not going to count how long, as it will only make me feel guilty. So instead I will simply say "Hello" and "I'm not dead."

Hello, I'm not dead.

Life is full of transitions and the latest one has distracted me from posting anything. I'm not sure why, but it has. I have, however, still been creating random things here and there, like ya do, and will start to post about them as time marches on.

So stay tuned...

Beekeeping Tool Box

We "needed" a tool box for working the bee hives so this is what we came up with. Made from a 1"x12"x6' and some other leftover lumber. It can hold 3 medium frames in an enclosed box on one side. The lid is stored inside the box along the side wall.  The other side is open to keep your other knick-knacks in. Has a rack that holds 2 hive tools and a holder for the bee brush. There is also a small holder for the queen clip that you can't see. You can hang the smoker off the end, or the just about anywhere on the tool box.

My H2JO Broke!

Well my GSI H2JO coffee maker took a turn for the weird and decided to split right down the side. It was a long slow process that grew in size everyday for about 2 weeks. Have no idea what started it, but it wasn't even at the seam. Kinda sucks, but it is still useable for the most part. I'm guessing this is just a random situation, because I have had great experiences with all my other GSI equipment.

H2JO

Breakfast Stout

Here's my Breakfast Stout in my super classy Arrogant Bastard glass. Pretty tasty!

System Upgrade

This is what I got (made) myself for Christmas! 

Going to my parent's place is great because I have access to all kinds of tools and toys. So what did I find in the garage? Well how about my old 10 gallon cooler and some wood. I made the false bottom from a coffee grounds basket from a large coffee maker. I drilled more holes in it and cut the sides off of it. I found a perfect sized banjo style piece of copper from an old faucet and mounted it to the valve with a flare fitting. Hope it will work pretty well.

The mash paddle is made from a piece of poplar. I sanded it down smooth and left it unfinished. Feels quite solid and would make a good brewery defense tool as well. 

Prius Shaped Teardrop Camper

Awhile back I started designing a teardrop camper. I wanted something that beat the hell out of a tent for use during the wet season. I also wanted something that could easily have everything ready and stored for the next outing, specifically the galley. 

It is designed to match the height and shape of a Toyota Prius, and be towed by it as well. 

This is basically the sum of my plans. Most of the details will be hashed out during contruction (i.e the solar/charging/battery system).

Tiny House = Tiny Bed Frame

Much to my surprise, if you lay a futon mattress directly on top of a loft floor it will breed mold. Who'd a thunk it? The science behind this is obvious once you realize what's going on. The heat generated by your body and the coolness of the floor, especially a non-insulated interior ceiling/loft floor, combine to produce condensation. This moisture is then held in the fabric of the mattress as it has no way to be evaporated due to the lack of ventilation. So I will provide you with this scientific formula. The NW + moisture = green stuff. If you live here, you understand.

So then you would need a bed frame to remedy this situation right? Something to provide that little bit of ventilation. Well what if you literally only have inches to work with? Well then, I give you the world's thinnest bed frame (it's the smallest I have seen anyway.)

It is a queen size bed frame measuring 60" x 80". It is split into two sections to simplify getting it in and out of the house as well as getting it under the mattress. It is made from five one by twelves and a bunch of drywall screws. All the cross pieces measure 3/4" x 1" while the bottom rails measure 3/4" x 2".  Two 3/4" x 4" pieces hold the two halves together. 

Other than sanding all 98 total pieces it was relatively easy to make. The sanding was the most time consuming. Once you get the end slats squared and check for overall square the pieces go together rather quickly. I chose not to finish the wood, as I do not currently have the necessary environment to let a good coat of sealer cure. So until the weather warms up it will have to do as is. Total material cost for this custom tiny bed frame: ~$75.

Brewing Up Some ESB!

I was finally able to brew some beer! I made a final visit to the home brew supply store on Sunday. Got started at about nine o'clock this morning laying out my equipment and prepping for the boil. Everything went super smooth until it came time to chill the wort. Due to the hose clamps on the input to the chiller being tighten on the vinyl tubing while it was at room temperature it started to spray after it had heated up and softed the tubing. Luckily the little water that made it into the wort was while it was still over 200 degrees. I was happy to see my starting gravity was 1.054. For some reason this was higher than my brew software estimated. Oh well. I tasted the sample I pulled and it had a good bitter to it. It should clean up and taste quite nice as long as there is no unexpected infections. 

My 5 gallons of sweet delicious ESB are now fermenting in the little bench of the tiny house. I had to buy a Brew Belt to maintain a constant temperature between about 65F and 75F. It will take some playing with to get the setup just right, but I am optimistic it is the best bet, short of making a temperature controlled box in the shop. I don't really want to do that though. It would cost money. 

So hopefully in about 10 days I will be bottling up some Extra Special Bitter!

Full boil in my converted 7.75 gal keg kettle.

Second and third hop additions measured and bagged. The muslin bags are awesome.

Bucket of Starsan and my generally messy work bench.

Immersion chiller being sanitized in the boil. 

Keggle and Bottle Crate Update

After thinking it over, I decided to go ahead and zip the top off my 7.75 gallon 1/4 barrel keg (as far as I know it's not stolen, at least not by me). I have been reassured by some folks at HomeBrewTalk.com is it easy to plug the bung hole on the side. Just need to do a good cleaning on it and get an immersion chiller. So brew kettle: Check!

I was in the shop this morning when a neighbor stopped by and I mentioned it would be handy to have a bottle opener mounted on the front of the beer crate. Well about five minutes later he showed back up and handed me a wall mounted opener. So I put it to good use. Still need hinges and a latch though.

Wooden Beer Bottle Crate made from Pallet

I was recently looking at some designs, both old and new, of wooden beer bottle crates and decided to make my own. I'm poor so I salvaged the wood from a pallet that was lying around.
I like the idea of the wood crate, because it makes it easier to take some beers camping or to a friends house. You can also use the crate as a seat (so you can guard the beer), or use it as a table and play cards on it.
When I get my beer brewing setup running, I plan on bottling in 22oz bottles and so far have a collection of a little over 100 of them (three 5 gallon batches worth). I happened to come across a large collection of them someone was getting rid of. They had the anchor steam style bottles, guiness bottles and the standard 22oz bomber bottles. So I decided to design the create accordingly.
The crate is designed to hold all three styles. For the standard 22oz bottle there is a set of dividers made from 1/8" wall paneling. For the anchor steam and guiness bottles you simple remove the dividers. The bottles fit nice and snug with just the right amount of room so they don't clang together. The standard 22oz don't even touch with the divider in place. The whole crate got a coating of exterior siding stain/waterproofer to protect it for the long haul. I just need to get a couple hinges or maybe just a set of latches for both sides, so I can remove the lid completely.

You don't have a shaving mug shelf in your Tiny House?

Well if you know me, you know I'm a pretty bearded kind of guy. Some go so far as to call me a mountain man, but I at least trim my beard. Well I just recently decided to go back to using a good old fashioned mug and brush for my shaving needs. I add a few drops of some homemade shave oil to the lather. It makes quite a big difference. So where to keep the mug and brush? Well it is best to have your shave brush hang to dry, and their is no place for it in the shower. So why not build a nice little shelf and make a brush hanger right above the mug? Sounds good to me.

This is a shot of the medicine cabinet I built for our bathroom needs, picture sans the rolls of toilet paper, q-tips and towels that usually adorn it. 

Re-Thinking the Pack

For anyone who's keeping score, I recently drew up some plans to build a utilitarian little pack named the Mother Ship. Well I have been giving it some thought, crunching some numbers, and thinking about it all some more. Concluding, I have made some alterations to what I have in mind.

My intent was to have an adaptable pack I can use for a variety of activities. After thinking about designs, and looking at pictures I have outlined some key bases I am looking for in the pack. Simple, adaptable to load size, and comfortable to carry. So I am now leaning in the direction of a lumbar pack. 

I have looked at many lumbar packs, and unfortunately it it very hard to find a large sized pack. Most are designed for jogging or small day hikes. I was eyeing the Kifaru brand packs, specifically the Scout, but I cannot justify the price tag on their gear. As bomb proof and well designed as it may be, $203? Ouch! Plus you have to buy the waist belt separate. I figured their had to be a less expensive way to meet my demands. So back to the original idea of sewing my own? Well.....

After crunching the numbers I calculated it would run me about $80, plus or minus, to obtain the materials I would need to create whatever design I came up with, plus time to build it. While I would love to make my own pack, especially a custom designed lumbar pack, I wanted to find another option. So what now you ask? Well Mountainsmith...that's what. 

The Mountainsmith Day lumbar pack, I forgot all about Mountainsmith's line of lumbar packs, seems to fit the bill. It has plenty of size for storage, and straps for load compression. It has a suspension system and the ability to add a pair of shoulder straps called Strapettes, and every review of it I have read is good. And the price tag for the Mountainsmith Day? Well with some judicious searching it can be had for around $70 with the Strapettes. 

One of the things I really think will prove useful for me is the rigging for the Strapette addition. The straps seem well designed and functional, and I'm sure they work great, but it allows me to create my own straps in the future, or adapt another strap system.  I was thinking I might want to add a homemade pouch to fit my sleeping gear and shelter in the upper part of my back and could use the Condor H-Harness in which to attach it.

The main question I had for the Mountainsmith Day was, can I fit a military style canteen in the water bottle pouches on the sides? Well after querying a forum where they were being discussed I was reassured that they will fit. I want the option to carry the Nalgene canteen bottle and my canteen cup.  Thus allowing me to always be able to have a small cook kit packed away for outings. I also have plans to create a simple "shower cap" style rain cover to deal with all of the Pacific Northwest rain that is just around the corner. 

Labor Day Paddle

In an attempt to make my presence in the home scarce on Monday, I loaded up the kayak and headed for McNary Lake. It's called a lake, but it's really a series of large ponds and waterways, but none the less a very nice place to paddle, but talk about crowded! I actually had to wait in line to launch my kayak, as people would lumber to shore and then leave there kayaks and canoes in the 10 foot wide launch area while they wander around near their vehicles, but I digress.

Once in the water everything is always better. People tend to paddle away from you. I do however, find it very fun to paddle as silently as possible and sneak up behind people who are meandering though the channel. The Greenland style paddle I use can be quite silent if used correctly. The look on peoples faces as you glide up beside them, say hello, and then accelerate away from them is close to priceless. Especially, with a beer tucked in the front pocket of your PFD.

Upon reaching the end of the channel it widens out and I found a nice little hard-mudded shore area to beach the kayak. I dragged the kayak into the shade, pulled out my camp chair, a little snack and another beer and sat in the shade and relaxed. I believe I was pretty invisible, as some kayakers paddled right past me about 30 yards off shore and didn't even seem to be aware of my presence. (In their defense it was really sunny and I was in the shade.)

Side Note: There is a beaver in this area by the look of the chewed through trees that were sitting in front of me. I however, did not make contact with said beaver.

Hopi Red Dye Amaranth

Earlier this spring we planted a variety of flora in a little area next to our Tiny House. Among the wildflower seeds we put down were some Hopi Red Dye Amaranth. It's getting bigger everyday! Now if only the tomatos would start turning red.

First Meal on the Trangia

A friend of mine recently gave me a Trangia alcohol stove and a Clikstand stove stand. Very solid setup. And seeing as it was quite warm in the Tiny House yesterday we decided, well I decided, to boil up the quinoa on the Trangia stove outside. So I whipped out my Montbell titanium cook set and went about making my first meal on the Trangia. It boiled up and simmered 1 cup of quinoa and 3 cups of water quite well. Using about 1.5 ounces of alcohol by my guesstimation. As soon as the water came to a boil, I lifted off the pot and place the simmer ring on top of the stove with the swing lid all the way open, and it simmered perfectly.  In conclusion I am very pleased with the Trangia stove. It will probably become my new go-to stove for any type of outdoor cooking. I like alcohol stoves, but I really like an alcohol stove that can simmer!