Your work is beautiful! I was curious if you can make thia style of basket with another type of wood--are the splints (is that the right word?) From poplar/cedar/fir less sturdy, esp over time?
Many "knock-offs" are made from sawn maple splints. They may also be veneer cut. There are some videos on people making them from commericially available material. I have no idea what it is though or it's carbon or ethical footprint. There are a few suppliers of ash splints. I used to offer them for sale and may in the future but haven't any right now ( in quantity). There is a guy who may , Stephan Jerome. He has a few videos on UA-cam.
We use willow as well, but as coppiced whips. Only because there is a lot of pressure on the Ash now and we want to have options to allow the ones we care for some rest. The brown ash in this area is the best for separating, but green and white will pound out if you start hitting it as soon as it hits the ground. The growth rings on those get too tight on each other within hours it seems. Anyone have experience using Hickory?
I've tried it different times of year and watched every video I could find. I haven't found any consensus. Some logs will seperate better than others. Soaking doesn't exactly help but will keep the billet fresh which is easier than a dried out stick. I prefer the riven (stick) version of pounding. I've tried the log pounding method but didn't work well for me. Might have been that particular log , who knows.
Thanks so much for the very informative videos. I have a couple of questions, I'm planning on building a pack basket here in the Black Hills which is mostly a Pine Forest (ponderosa and lodge pole) there are not many ashes around (hardly any naturally occurring deciduous trees besides birch and quaking aspen) would Pine or birch make a good substitute? Also about how many Weavers or feet do you need to make an entire pack basket?
While I've seen the damage here in Maine, I haven't seen it on the brown ash, just white and green. So far the bigger threat is over harvesting. Since this series of videos we have planted basket willows and are sharing/learning old English willow tending and basketry.
Since my previous reply I've seen several source that recommend several years of soaking! There splints were much darker than fresh logs produce though. It did not seem to make it a lot easier either.
First of all they are called "Adirondack Pack Baskets" because it was first taught to the trappers by Native American Indians living in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York. Secondly, you are suppose to soak the logs for "2" years before you ever start peeling. The correct method (this guy in the video has no idea about) cuts waste or spoilage down by as much as 50%. Thirdly, you NEVER start pounding the log before you first peel it. Doing so creates tears in the layers and adds substantially to the wasted materials. This guy is a wannabe fraud. He probably took some basket weaving course, and now he wants to dress up and pass himself off as some kind of mountain man. Born and raised in the Adirondacks, and family going back nearly 200 years in the Adirondacks, I can spot a phony a mile away. At best, he's first or second generation from Maine.
Sorry dude, your talking out your ass. Marks basket are strong enough to stand on and he's raised a family on it. Made here in Maine as well. Chair borne Ranger someone one with less dirt time because your wasting both yours and mine.
two years soaking? Do you rive them into billets before soaking or don't your method involve riving them down. I was in the "park" today canoeing , Moser res. I've pounded quite a few sticks and have made 3 or 4 pack baskets and a half dozen smaller ones. I'm getting back into it this year. A buddy has a 20 acre swamp full of ash. The borers just started killing his trees and I want to harvest enough to keep busy for some time. Any advise you could offer would be appreciated.
Awesome skill, i enjoyed hearing how he selected the tree, thanks for sharing.
thats great! my parents used to carry me in their pack baskets when I was a baby I love this video thank you
Your work is beautiful! I was curious if you can make thia style of basket with another type of wood--are the splints (is that the right word?) From poplar/cedar/fir less sturdy, esp over time?
Many "knock-offs" are made from sawn maple splints. They may also be veneer cut. There are some videos on people making them from commericially available material. I have no idea what it is though or it's carbon or ethical footprint. There are a few suppliers of ash splints. I used to offer them for sale and may in the future but haven't any right now ( in quantity). There is a guy who may , Stephan Jerome. He has a few videos on UA-cam.
We use willow as well, but as coppiced whips. Only because there is a lot of pressure on the Ash now and we want to have options to allow the ones we care for some rest. The brown ash in this area is the best for separating, but green and white will pound out if you start hitting it as soon as it hits the ground. The growth rings on those get too tight on each other within hours it seems. Anyone have experience using Hickory?
Can you do this any time of year? Or does it have to be winter?
I've tried it different times of year and watched every video I could find. I haven't found any consensus. Some logs will seperate better than others. Soaking doesn't exactly help but will keep the billet fresh which is easier than a dried out stick. I prefer the riven (stick) version of pounding. I've tried the log pounding method but didn't work well for me. Might have been that particular log , who knows.
05:05 importance of material selection
Thanks so much for the very informative videos. I have a couple of questions, I'm planning on building a pack basket here in the Black Hills which is mostly a Pine Forest (ponderosa and lodge pole) there are not many ashes around (hardly any naturally occurring deciduous trees besides birch and quaking aspen) would Pine or birch make a good substitute? Also about how many Weavers or feet do you need to make an entire pack basket?
no, they would not. Not pounded like black ash. You could have birch sawn very thin and use as a substitute possibly.
Thank you so much. Please add a link about the poet musician(s).
the borer got all the ashes here in NH
This is super inspiring. Thanks.
Are you on the Chirch Hill rd?
Yes! Currently running a knife making workshop, so if you're in the area, we'll be here.
very nice. so...with the emerald ash borer's destruction of the ash tree, this is the end...?
While I've seen the damage here in Maine, I haven't seen it on the brown ash, just white and green. So far the bigger threat is over harvesting. Since this series of videos we have planted basket willows and are sharing/learning old English willow tending and basketry.
Very inspiring.
Website does not work. Might have to quit my job and make my own basket.
awsome stuff
Ciao potrei sapere che legno usi. grazie
Frassino nero (Fraxinus nigra)
very nice!
Don’t you need to soak the log prior to stripping ?
No , fresh is best , soaking will keep the log fresh though.
Since my previous reply I've seen several source that recommend several years of soaking! There splints were much darker than fresh logs produce though. It did not seem to make it a lot easier either.
Do you know what is the kind of that tree, please?
Brown Ash.
@@primitiveskills so, where can I talk to someone about basket making?
WAY COOL!nded)
Яйца тебе так же отпилить !!!
First of all they are called "Adirondack Pack Baskets" because it was first taught to the trappers by Native American Indians living in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York. Secondly, you are suppose to soak the logs for "2" years before you ever start peeling. The correct method (this guy in the video has no idea about) cuts waste or spoilage down by as much as 50%. Thirdly, you NEVER start pounding the log before you first peel it. Doing so creates tears in the layers and adds substantially to the wasted materials. This guy is a wannabe fraud. He probably took some basket weaving course, and now he wants to dress up and pass himself off as some kind of mountain man. Born and raised in the Adirondacks, and family going back nearly 200 years in the Adirondacks, I can spot a phony a mile away. At best, he's first or second generation from Maine.
Sorry dude, your talking out your ass. Marks basket are strong enough to stand on and he's raised a family on it. Made here in Maine as well. Chair borne Ranger someone one with less dirt time because your wasting both yours and mine.
two years soaking? Do you rive them into billets before soaking or don't your method involve riving them down. I was in the "park" today canoeing , Moser res. I've pounded quite a few sticks and have made 3 or 4 pack baskets and a half dozen smaller ones. I'm getting back into it this year. A buddy has a 20 acre swamp full of ash. The borers just started killing his trees and I want to harvest enough to keep busy for some time. Any advise you could offer would be appreciated.