Feather Sticks 101 | How to Make Feather Sticks
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- Feather Sticks or Fuzz Sticks? Two names. One purpose. Feather sticks are used in order to aid in fire making during wet conditions, and they are also a great way to practice bushcraft knife control. Krik of Black Owl Outdoors creates feather sticks with 4 different knives with 4 different grinds: a convex grind, a saber grind, a Scandinavian grind, and a full flat grind.
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great instruction. I like how when things didn't go as planned, you didn't scrap the video to start over. Things don't always go as planned in the woods and seeing someone persevere in the face of the unexpected is a good example to show.
Michael Reed - I completely agree! I also appreciate seeing the 'failures' so that I can learn from them (and know I'm not the only one).
Black Owl Outdoors - Thank you for this video! I was just trying my hand at making a feather stick a few days ago and wasn't sure what I was not doing right. I have a good idea on how to succeed now!
a trick: you can watch series on flixzone. Been using it for watching lots of of movies recently.
@Ignacio Sergio definitely, have been watching on Flixzone} for years myself :D
Really, my favorite thing about these videos is that mistakes aren't edited out. Good stuff.
Best feathersticking tutorial I have seen thus far. I like the real world footage of successes and misfires. Thanks.
That has got to be the best feather sticking tutorial I have seen on youtube! What I like to do is to use the split pieces of kindling and roughly half feather a fair few of them so they take the flame and self ignite.
***** I sure do love utilizing feather sticks. There's nothing better than using a freshly sharpened knife to feather some wood!
Great video! I liked the fact that you didn’t edit out what didn’t work and explained what went wrong. It actually added value to the lesson.
Great video, even after 7 years still stands up, thanks.
Nice video. Fewer more satisfying things than a nice feathery curl of wood with a sharp knife!
Awesome vid! Hands down feather stick video champ. In my modest attempt to add to this work art I would say that a brief detailing of why feather sticks are useful would have been icing on the cake. What I mean is; why not just fine shavings? Why do they have to remain connected and become feather sticks? Anyone who has made fire in high wind or leaf litter without a bandana/poncho/hat/etc will probably know why, but maybe some others do not. Never the less the unbiased approach you took in this video is refreshing and much appreciated.
Really enjoyed the video. I was hoping to hear more about what you liked/didn't like about each of the grinds though.
YAKMAN HERE !
GREAT JOB ON THE FEATHERS STICKING …
MY SELF , SIX OR EIGHT MORAS…. & SIX OF THE ESSE KNIFES , LOVE THAT CARBON ! !
U ARE 100 % ON THE MONEY … YOUR WOOD SHOULD BE DRY …
KEEP BRING THOSE GREAT VIDEOS A COMING MR.OWL ! !
YAKMAN OUT ! ! 🎄🎄🎅
Cris is the best at making fires
You just can't beat Scandi on wood.
r91976 scandi *sucks* on wood.
Conves edges are arguably better because of how they dont want to bite into the wood as much and thus will kick out the feather and keep a good thin shallow cut. Scandi grinds require much more precision or it will break the feather or cut too deep into the wood. Hollow grinds are the worst in this case. Chisel grinds are hell to me because they try to cut super deep into the wood. All asymmetrical grinds suck for wood processing
@@William_Asston agree, scandi cuts too deep
Don't worry feather stick is not a beauty contest, as long as they can catch a spark it's all good ! Great video ;)
***** Agreed. But I like to advance my skills constantly. So that's why I was being a little hard on myself. Thanks for watching. -Krik
Keep up the good work, i really enjoy watching your vids, you have a geat channel ;) greetings from France
@@BlackOwlOutdoors - you said a sharp knife is what's most important -- but can you use something like a boxcutter knife or razor blade? Or are those too flimsy?
@@manofsan You can but you have to be careful because of how delicate the blade and edge is and if the wood is to wet it would be far more dificult, I would say avoid it if possible but if a box cutter is all you have and you need to start a fire id say slow and steady wins it.
Krik, that might be green (i.e. wet or unseasoned wood) however, even dried poplar has green colored heartwood. When you were splitting that blank, it sounded like it was dry. Either way, that green color is a characteristic of poplar, not a sign of how wet the wood is or how well it will burn.
Keep up the great work, I love your videos and have even used some of them to introduce or teach outdoor skills to my sons.
Awesome video appreciate you taking the time to make it, great instructions. I’m currently trying get my feather stick skill up to par and this has me in the right direction. Thank you keep them coming
Those curls at the end are great!
Krick,
Most excellent tutorial and you hit on a lot of nuances that are left out. One additional point would be to taking care of the feather and tinder prep BEFORE you get into the bucking, limbing and splitting of fuel wood because your hands will be very tired from the heavy work involved. You need a steady hand for the intricate and delicate detail of peeling off those critical ignition feathers you finished off with and when your hands are tired from heavy work, the will not be steady and will not have fine point control. This was a hard lesson I learned some years back when I was in freezing temps while fishing and in pretty dire need of some fire. Thanks a bunch and good to see you bounce back and fully recovered!
Morakniv Companions are the best blade ever made for the money. They could charge 3x the money and it would still be a steal!
great video guys!!! I'm by no means "great" at feathers ticks, but it's covered so well in this video, I found two things I was doing wrong 1) improper ridges 2) locking my elbow - I think that may be one reason I over cut and lob off he feathers before I'm done. I love these Bushcraft skill videos, always great to get an in depth view at other peoples skills.
Primal Edge I've seen people say you can lock your elbow. Maybe with a super strong power cut. But for something that needs more control, I definitely don't lock mine. Work it and see if it helps at all. Thanks for watching as always. -Krik
BlackOwlOutdoors will do, grazzi!
Thank you for this great instruction. I like the way you explain what you are doing, why and how you are doing it and what is to be considered. Last but not least I like that you show this is no about magic but concentration and how to deal with imperfection. I enjoyed the video - thanks!
The video on making feather sticks with different grind knives was very revealing. The more economical Mora knife seemed to work a little better than what the more expensive knives did. Great lessons.
Moarrr! I loved watching the esee 4 part since that's what I use. I find myself having a difficult time making good feather sticks with it. I enjoyed the technical aspect of the edge direction moving curls a certain way. I would love more feather stick videos, maybe using various types of wood or tips on feather sticks for hard wood.
It was really interesting to see how the different grinds preformed differently. I know they are all capable of creating a feather stick, but it's cool to see how the technique must change with the grind. I personally like a convex grind on my belt knife. For a lot of woods use it is the strongest edge. But I keep a really sharp Opinel No. 9 in my pocket for feather sticks. I think the full flat grind, on a thin blade, allows you to make the shallowest cuts, and therefore the finest curls.
Nice work, thanks for the detailed instruction. I also appreciate the fact that your videos feel honest and not overly “staged”.
Cool vid guys! Keep the good videos and info coming!
Enjoyed. Like to see some more leather work.
Nice demo Krik, i Like the way you trial all 4 knives you showed us they all work but you got to train first. All in the preparation. thanks for sharing. Atb Louis
Another awesome vid! I like that you used different knives with different grinds. I love my Mora!!
I think you did a great job at showing how to featherstick and I havent seen alot of videos showing these methods. So keep it up
Great vid guys! Enjoyed it...
Very good demonstration. Thanks
Teds Outdoors HoodCraft Survival Grazie
Great demo. Showing the different grinds and the resulting feather stick very helpful. Thanks. atb
Really enjoyed this one. Great idea to show the different grinds. Interesting that you went to the scandi grind at the end when you needed to concentrate and get some feathers that would take a spark. I would agree that the best thing is to just have practice with the knife you have.
Great video, thanks. Good pace, not too slow yet still very informative. I also like how things did not go exactly as you had wished but you kept on, real life, and you showed how useful it your feather sticks were. Thanks again.
Great video! loved how you used different knife grinds on the wood.
I really enjoy your videos. Keep it up. It's relaxing to see a sharp knife into wood at the end of the day, and I know only the people like us would understand it.
thanks you guys :)
Awesome video! So helpful.
Great video and thanks for taking the time to make it and share your wisdom.
Good job! Really enjoyed the video.
+God's Woodsman Thanks man!
Cool video man,nice tips.
Morakniv Bushcraft Black properly sharpened/reprofiled, is the best feathersticker and the best fire making knife, I've ever used and I tried A LOT. Even 400$ knives...
As always, Krik, I enjoyed your sharing of knowledge. Switching between the grinds could throw the best for a loop! You did well for the situation.
i tried this for the first time earlier tonight. I didn't get any of my sparks to take. This helps. Clearly I need to make the pieces thinner
Awesome video man!
Great video awesome that you had issues of your own it helps us highlight problems we might encounter and makes learning so much quicker, nice to see your goofy side coming out Krik lol your a top bloke.
great close up shots.
Enjoyed the content 👌 new to Bush crafting techniques and I got some good pointers
Deserves much more views!!!
Can you do more of the leather craft vids?
As usual another quality video. Thx mate.👍🏻
Nice demo thanks!
That second one looks way better. I'm practicing on my feather sticks. Looking at videos for tips.
Nice demonstration about makting feather sticks.
Uwe
Nice video! This was really helpful
Good info, Krik
damn you and your hypnotic feather sticks....
Well presented info. Thank you for getting it put together for us. Just subbed.
Good vid.. Would like to see more videos on different kinds of shelter building....
Consider it a lesson learned! Mora=woodworking master
MoHawkinsBass There are a few reasons for that. Mainly, the thinness of the blade and grind. They're just not the strongest edges. -Krik
BlackOwlOutdoors Definitely agree. These are the main selling points of the Mora companion, along with how much quality you get for the money. I just find myself (similar to in this video) grabbing it when I know I need complete control for a cutting task. Thanks.
-Matt
Thanks for the tips I am practicing for sure!
Enjoyed the vid!
Jesus ive never heard krik laugh that hard
Awesome video
will it work with a leatherman wave
alex escorcio If it's sharp and you have the skill, it will work.
ok
Strangely satisfying. I tried making these last time I was camping and it was so hard I gave up lol
Well done video, very informative. I really enjoyed this and will be watching others you produce. Thanks.
+RehoKevin Awesome! Let me know if you have any questions about anything we've done!
Really great video, been trying to get a lot better at feathering
K193 same, their always too thick for me :( Or maybe my ferro rod is bad... They dont seem to thick :/
Hi! Lately I have start using feathersticks, and I have notised that the wood and the knife do matters. :) I liked the video, it was well presented and I learned a few tricks I didn´t know about, for example to use the edges of the last carv and some about different edges. It was nicely filmed, zoomed on the right places. I am so glad that the Mora seemed to work best to do curls this time. Thank you for sharing. /Ulrica
Love your channel brother! Great content!
Thanks for the instruction. Cheers mate
Thanks man. Ill try it.
Great videos, much appreciated!
your videos are awesome and incredibly informative! thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Nice! This has to be your best video so far, really great and helpful. Funny that this came online just when I came back from a trip on which I failed miserably at making feather sticks. Sometimes if the knife has seen some use and is not as sharp as it could be and there is no great wood around I just don't manage to get them done properly :D
I think that was great thanks for sharing!
thank you bro...enjoyed watching the vid
Good job I like the vid thanks.
Enjoyed the video. Feather sticks only need to be effective not perfect. As you illustrated...it worked. I do agree with you about choice and dryness of the wood. Convex grinds definitely work best with very dry wood. They tend to "bite" to deeply with the green stuff.
bushcraft2012 Nice point. I've had good success with convex and feather sticks. Maybe that wood was dryer. -Krik
BlackOwlOutdoors Do you guys ever mess with the BOB knife you reviewed before? I've only been out once or twice with mine and am trying to get the hang of feather sticking with it, the weather hasn't cooperated with my last few backpacking trips. Seems like it's kindof a convex edged scandi, they call it a "modified scandi"
Good video!
Nice video cool Chanel in austrailiA we have pine and gum and red gum these are the best fire woods ps I'm thinking about buying a striker witch one should i buy
So what's the best grind type for making feather sticks in your opinion? Which one allows you to control angle between knife and sticks more carefully? thank you
jacked up in the woods, fun!
say, did you mention what is your preferred grind for carving feather sticks?
I like the instructions and tips given, and hey, who cares if they're ugly? we care if they BURN!!
Nice! But how do you choose the wood do you have any preferences or just that I seem to be dry enough?
I think your feathersticks are fine. Thanks for the vid.
A great walk through and you've given me something to try too, and thats doing feather sticks with different blade edges. As always great editing and less 'special herbs' in your coffee next time ;) ~Peace~
Sweet. Which knife is easiest to use for feather stick
Jacked up on Coffee haha. I can relate. Coffee studies I have seen and my own experience for the last few decades have proven that coarse motor skills are increased yet fine motor skills can suffer somewhat or greatly depending on the dose (my max at one time was 900 mg but I have read of doses up to 6000 mg on Erowid...not pretty).
Anyway guys, Great vid. Not a true test of the knives grinds etc but was never meant to be. The Mora wins for these tasks out of the ones you have since it is light and nimble but also... 'dat grind'...three levels of shallow cutting power (inc. The 2ndary bevel you sharpen on apart from that main bevel which leads nicely into the flatish blade). Just eats it up. It makes Zero sense to me to not own at least a basic Mora due to price, performance, grind, ease of sharpening and weight..it's not really even there till you need it. Cheers
EarlyMist I try to stay away from coffee. But I sure do love hot chocolate and coffee mixed. Mmm.
I really enjoy your videos, what camera do you use? it's the best quality I have seen so far amongst other youtube videos. you really motivate me for going camping and ordering some good stuff like survival knives etc. good job. keep it up. very informative, precised and interesting videos.
The 16:00 was the best one
BlackOwlOutdoors Krik, it looks like your ESEE has been stripped and had a forced patina applied. How did you do it? I am considering an ESEE 4 and am trying to decide between the coated and uncoated blade options. Do you think it would be better to get the completely uncoated blade, or get the coated blade and strip only the blade portion and leave the handle coated under the micarta scales? Also, great video (as always)!
I liked the info
good job
Great video! We can learn more when things DON'T go right, and then when they do. A video where somebody just shows off isn't as good to learn from. Thanks!
Perfect video, cheers!
Nice insight thx a lot
Witch grind is the best for feather sticks in your opinion?
Thanks for the beautiful video. Would it be fair to say the scandi grind is the best for this application?
Neversink Outdoors I definitely prefer a scandi grind when working with wood. But they're not the strongest type of grind. But that never bothered me. I've had good success with convex grinds as well. -Krik
BlackOwlOutdoors Thanks for the response. On an unrelated note (and I apologize as I'm sure you've answered this elsewhere already), what camera and sound equipment do you guys use? You've got some absolutely beautiful footage. I ask because I'm thinking of picking up a camcorder, compact camera, or DSLR, and not sure what to go with.
I've been trying to use my Mora to do this and I can't get it right. Does this only work well on hard or soft? Does it have to be seasoned? I've got a ton of willow limbs I'm trying to turn in to kindling and it isn't working right at all.
Poplar is pretty soft, can you get nice curls like that with hard wood?I don't use feather sticks, never needed them. But I am going to start practicing with them because I want another tool in my kit.
+Jeff Witt It's possible to get nice curls from hardwood. But I haven't been able to get super thin curls from hardwoods. I haven't really experimented with that in a while. Maybe we'll do a video on it. Thanks for watching.