I decided to delete the facebook app from my phone last week, with the intent of improving my mental health... I have found so many awesome, wholesome, and just down right educational! So damn refreshing to see positivity out weigh the negativity
Good for you man. I deleted all social media years ago got into meditation working out listening to podcasts and reading I found any time I was board I would start scrolling so I found something else to fill my time. From a complete stranger I’m proud of you whoever you are
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Happines comes from happenings. True joy comes from knowing Jesus Christ! J-Jesus O-Others Y-Yourself
Dang, this 70 year old learned something. I can remember many things over my lifetime of ‘inconvenient camping’ but this trick is ‘new’ to me or maybe I’m forgetful. I will teach this to my 5 granddaughters and let them impress their parents,my 2 daughters. You can teach an old dog a new trick, thanks.
Dear George, this might be kind of a weird question but I’m having to wright a report as if I was living during WW2. Can you tell me how life was during it? Thank you!
Great video, thank you. This is one I learned as a teenager back in the 1980's. My high school ran a program where some of the students could go into the bush with some of the local (Australian) aboriginal elders and learn traditional bush-craft. The elders use the same technique for splitting rain forest vines such as lawyer cane etc. God bless my UA-cam friend.
Great tip man. I remember Ray Mears showing something similar when he was splitting spruce roots for cordage. Glad to see this knowledge is still being shared.
Thanks for sharing! I grew up in Missouri Ozarks, as a kid I watched neighbors and family pull oak splits for baskets and I couldn't remember how they did it. This brought back some memories and some past skills learned. I really enjoy your videos, thanks again.
Yessir Mr Dan is a treasure I really like this young man he reminds me of myself when I was his age but he's taught this codger alot of BC hacks God bless you Dan.
this is why I enjoy your videos so much more than the big name individuals on youtube. you share the simple tricks from he old timers as my uncle did with me in my youth. you sir have the true gift of teaching!
We do this when we are splitting our materials when making baskets, then we smooth the splits with draw knives. Good tip, almost a lost practice that was well known and applied a few hundreds years back in this country. Had a lot that needed toting back in the day, vegetables from garden, eggs from the hen house, thus they wove tatter and egg baskets, if you needed a box or a basket then you made it. Also needed for weaving a certain type of chair bottoms
Learned this approach with making gigs for catching frogs along creeks in the woods....... also good skill for creating all kinds of tools when out with no additional tools..... make what is needed... I like it!
Michael L. Hoel This is the same technique one uses to split out Spruce roots when making cordage. Since I'm an old woodsman it's good to know that the young can still learn from us old guys.
Roy Underhill (The Woodwright Shop) taught me that a long time ago. He knows all of the "Old Timey" tricks. Also, the bark follows the grain. Knowing that will save you a lot of problems.
I thought that immediately when I started watching. Love Roy Underhill, watched him in the 70's, some in the 80's but not always available here. He's still alive and kicking as far as I know. I have most of his books, built a shaving horse, love all the hand tool stuff.
i'm 68 and never heard of this trick...thanks for the info....as usual your videos are excellent and informative....my thanks for your excellent insight
I had seen this concept already while splitting conniferous roots to make cordage out of, but it was awesome to see this done with branches as well. A good refresher.
Dan keepin' the Wow in Wowak! This is great! The only other info I ever found on "steering" a split was an Englishman demonstrating how to make wooden shingles with a froe. It wasn't made clear whether you pushed the handle towards the direction you want to steer the split, or away from it. Given what Dan demonstrated with his hands, it seems most likely to push towards the desired direction. Nice tip dan, this is the sort of thing that can save a bushcraft project when using uncooperative wood!
I had the chance to work on a birch bark canoe with penobscot friends. The split out is the way they treat their spruce root for stitching the canoe. Cool tip, thank you and merry christmas.
Hi I just got introduced to you from James Townsend Channel, and I must say you are so clear and precise! Thank you! Making my life easier in the Woods🌲
Good presentation. I guess it’s because I’m old but I “discovered” this splitting technique when I was in the woods as a child. I’m glad to see it was common knowledge once. It really is handy when making snowshoes or other things with long thin parts . Are you or have you shown making strip bark cordage?
splitting willow shoots and then peeling the bark to use for cordage is how i learned this technique. and can use the fresh peeled willow shoots for basketry or other projects. at first i peeled the bark and then split the shoots when i needed one but found its easier to just split then strip the bark and if it starts to leave some at the nodes just work up the edge and keep going.
Well worth refreshing and nice to get visualized. Among other places, it's mentioned in volume one of the Foxfire books, where "White Oak Splits" are used for basket weaving and chair seats.
I've used this to evenly split spruce roots for cordage with great results, but I hadn't though to use it on larger material like sticks. Thanks for the heads up.
We use this in traditional birch bark canoe building to make tonnes of cordage from spruce roots. Its not just pulling more, if you find it breaks on that thin side, press into the thick side and then pull a bit harder, its a mix of both. Cool to see, i forget about things like this
On bigger logs, I use a wedge. Get a piece of wood, make a long flat point on it with your knife. Then start off the split with your knife and a baton. Put in the wedge and hit that with the baton. Keeps your knife sharper and prevents breakage, gets a large bit of wood split in half with considerably less effort than banging a blade all the way down. A wedge is especially useful if you have a small knife.
Good vid! Simple tricks like this may not seem like a big deal. But, when you start learning all the simple little tricks that save time/energy, they add up to more free time and a better experience.
Huh... I never knew you could redirect a split like that. I figured the only way you to do that would be to make a new angled cut with an axe or a knife. Good information, man. Thank you. 👍👍
I am 65, a widow, disabled (I keep chugging on...). I am very thankful for your teachings. I truly believe that most people forget the importance of knowing survival techniques that are good everywhere. Too many people today are too lazy to learn survival techniques. I will pass on my knowledge to anyone willing to learn. Don't forget to peak kid's interests. Everyone should know these skills.
I have read about this and heard about this and I have tried to do what I thought was supposed to be done. Never any joy. Now that I have seen what needs to be done- put the tool away and use your hands/fingers- I believe I will find joy. Thanks.
I find that knocking the knife point in at several points down the stick first keeps the split working down the middle and then do what Dan did after that.
This is how we split bamboo into very thin and long pieces/panels, regardless of how long the pole is. Same technique is also used when we have to make strings from tender bamboo to tie bunches of paddy, or other things. The blade just sort of helps in initiating the cut. Rest of the work is about how you use your hands. So one could just use a sharp stone to make the initial split and then the hand splitting takes over.
Thanks - Now I can say I learned it from an old timer, too. LOL I'm probably 15 years older than you. Great channel and you've got a great personality. Cheers
Just like splitting oak shingle with a Fro remember doing that as a kid with my grandfather. If you don't know what a Fro is look it up very great tool for splitting.
I kind of used a similar technique when making bent slats of wood for a rabbit stick/ cross section boomerang. I've found that if you twist the green wood the opposite direction of the spiraling of the grain ( once the green stick is split), you can correct the twist and make the end product flatter. Then you can weight it down to let it set so it can be relatively flat or have more of an aerofoil style bend.
I decided to delete the facebook app from my phone last week, with the intent of improving my mental health... I have found so many awesome, wholesome, and just down right educational! So damn refreshing to see positivity out weigh the negativity
I have been out of FB for quite sometime now and my mental health is better for it. I love these kind of wholesome videos great!
I lasted about a month on fb years ago. Deleted it and now a better, happier person.
@The S Word I am a rock...I am an island. They can bring it. It is just spam to me.
Good for you man. I deleted all social media years ago got into meditation working out listening to podcasts and reading I found any time I was board I would start scrolling so I found something else to fill my time. From a complete stranger I’m proud of you whoever you are
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Happines comes from happenings. True joy comes from knowing Jesus Christ!
J-Jesus
O-Others
Y-Yourself
Dang, this 70 year old learned something. I can remember many things over my lifetime of ‘inconvenient camping’ but this trick is ‘new’ to me or maybe I’m forgetful. I will teach this to my 5 granddaughters and let them impress their parents,my 2 daughters. You can teach an old dog a new trick, thanks.
Or maybe you are just starting to realize your not old as long as your still learning.
Dear George, this might be kind of a weird question but I’m having to wright a report as if I was living during WW2. Can you tell me how life was during it? Thank you!
@@FaithFirstFishing I’m 72 so born in 1950, sorry I can’t help.
@@georgerector9252 Oh I’m sorry I meant the Vietnam war. So sorry.
@@youtubecensorspeace1874 a lesson for you: *you're
Thanks, Coalcracker Bushcraft team!
I agree with George ... I'm 73 and been a camper my whole life. And you just taught an old camper a new trick. 😊😊. Thanks Dan. God bless.
Great video, thank you. This is one I learned as a teenager back in the 1980's. My high school ran a program where some of the students could go into the bush with some of the local (Australian) aboriginal elders and learn traditional bush-craft. The elders use the same technique for splitting rain forest vines such as lawyer cane etc. God bless my UA-cam friend.
This will definitely help me in a survival situation. So glad didn’t miss out on this
Thanks for all the tips AND for making short videos that get right to the point. This woman appreciates the style.
Great tip man. I remember Ray Mears showing something similar when he was splitting spruce roots for cordage. Glad to see this knowledge is still being shared.
Thanks for sharing! I grew up in Missouri Ozarks, as a kid I watched neighbors and family pull oak splits for baskets and I couldn't remember how they did it. This brought back some memories and some past skills learned. I really enjoy your videos, thanks again.
Yessir Mr Dan is a treasure I really like this young man he reminds me of myself when I was his age but he's taught this codger alot of BC hacks God bless you Dan.
Ahhhhhh, my daily dose of Dan. No better way to start my day. Learning, learning, learning.
A skill that I never knew I never knew.
Either that or it is so obviously true, that you think you always knew that.
And now you know, what you know, ya know?
🤣
@@Mike-gt1cs lmfao! True.
"--Have you EVER SEEN A BUSHCRAFT IN THE WOOD BLUE MOON--" (I didn't look up the lyrics first xD oops)
I like the light amusement factor whist learning cool stuff. Like your positive energy as well! 💪 greetings from the Netherlands
I've split a lot of sticks, never knew you could recover from it going toward the side! Nice trick. Thanks for posting.
this is why I enjoy your videos so much more than the big name individuals on youtube. you share the simple tricks from he old timers as my uncle did with me in my youth. you sir have the true gift of teaching!
I love how he laughs at himself! It cracks me up 😂😂😂
We do this when we are splitting our materials when making baskets, then we smooth the splits with draw knives. Good tip, almost a lost practice that was well known and applied a few hundreds years back in this country. Had a lot that needed toting back in the day, vegetables from garden, eggs from the hen house, thus they wove tatter and egg baskets, if you needed a box or a basket then you made it. Also needed for weaving a certain type of chair bottoms
I really like your crucial skill videos. No bs over useless survival skills. Nice job.
Man! I’m learning so much on this channel, thanks Dan, the tool box that never gets full . Always room for more tools. Alan Rice.
I been watching a few of these videos. My grandma taught me what I ve seen so far. I had forgotten these things. I ll watch more videos. Thanks buddy
The Dad jokes at the beginning are awesome, also my family....loves when I do that..😋
Same principle as with splitting spruce roots. Good vid, really enjoy your content.
Thanks for the trick my Grandfather showed me this year's ago great trick.
Thanks Dan Coalcracker , I'll remember that. That worked great!
Learned this approach with making gigs for catching frogs along creeks in the woods....... also good skill for creating all kinds of tools when out with no additional tools..... make what is needed... I like it!
A great trick to look really good in the woods.
Michael L. Hoel
This is the same technique one uses to split out Spruce roots when making cordage. Since I'm an old woodsman it's good to know that the young can still learn from us old guys.
Ha! An old-timer did in fact teach me this. Good job on your explanation, bud, well done.
Yes sir 👍 Same goes with cordage
Very good Dan
Dan, you keep me smiling!😁
Roy Underhill (The Woodwright Shop) taught me that a long time ago. He knows all of the "Old Timey" tricks. Also, the bark follows the grain. Knowing that will save you a lot of problems.
I thought that immediately when I started watching. Love Roy Underhill, watched him in the 70's, some in the 80's but not always available here. He's still alive and kicking as far as I know. I have most of his books, built a shaving horse, love all the hand tool stuff.
i'm 68 and never heard of this trick...thanks for the info....as usual your videos are excellent and informative....my thanks for your excellent insight
I had seen this concept already while splitting conniferous roots to make cordage out of, but it was awesome to see this done with branches as well. A good refresher.
Dan keepin' the Wow in Wowak! This is great! The only other info I ever found on "steering" a split was an Englishman demonstrating how to make wooden shingles with a froe. It wasn't made clear whether you pushed the handle towards the direction you want to steer the split, or away from it. Given what Dan demonstrated with his hands, it seems most likely to push towards the desired direction. Nice tip dan, this is the sort of thing that can save a bushcraft project when using uncooperative wood!
That was counter intuitive. ..
Always good information. .
Thanks. .
I like your down to earth presentation style. So far these videos seem to be something anyone can do without a lot of money investeded.
Dan great video so refreshing this day and time really appreciate
I had the chance to work on a birch bark canoe with penobscot friends. The split out is the way they treat their spruce root for stitching the canoe. Cool tip, thank you and merry christmas.
Simple yet effective. Thanks man.
That's absolutely genius bro. Many thanks.
Hi I just got introduced to you from James Townsend Channel, and I must say you are so clear and precise! Thank you! Making my life easier in the Woods🌲
I subscribed
Good presentation. I guess it’s because I’m old but I “discovered” this splitting technique when I was in the woods as a child. I’m glad to see it was common knowledge once. It really is handy when making snowshoes or other things with long thin parts . Are you or have you shown making strip bark cordage?
I am not sure how you make strip bark cordage but I have my doubts about it from how it sounds in comparison to using roots to make cordage.
splitting willow shoots and then peeling the bark to use for cordage is how i learned this technique. and can use the fresh peeled willow shoots for basketry or other projects. at first i peeled the bark and then split the shoots when i needed one but found its easier to just split then strip the bark and if it starts to leave some at the nodes just work up the edge and keep going.
Well worth refreshing and nice to get visualized.
Among other places, it's mentioned in volume one of the Foxfire books, where "White Oak Splits" are used for basket weaving and chair seats.
I've used this to evenly split spruce roots for cordage with great results, but I hadn't though to use it on larger material like sticks. Thanks for the heads up.
Thanks Dan; another very useful bit of woodcraft from a master...Cheers.
We use this in traditional birch bark canoe building to make tonnes of cordage from spruce roots. Its not just pulling more, if you find it breaks on that thin side, press into the thick side and then pull a bit harder, its a mix of both.
Cool to see, i forget about things like this
On bigger logs, I use a wedge. Get a piece of wood, make a long flat point on it with your knife. Then start off the split with your knife and a baton. Put in the wedge and hit that with the baton. Keeps your knife sharper and prevents breakage, gets a large bit of wood split in half with considerably less effort than banging a blade all the way down. A wedge is especially useful if you have a small knife.
Subscribed on the strength of that tip. Brilliant!
That's the coolest trick I've ever seen! Thanks.
Learned this in cub scouts 50 yrs ago. Learned a lot in webos to. Think I still have my books to
I really like all your tips and tricks and tools for my toolbox.
This was fantastic! Simple and bushcrafty. I like it!
Another little nugget! Thanks again!
Those Old Timers !
Good morning lad. You have some great skills. Have alot of wood to split today but tables saw for me.
Great tip Dan. Up early you are today, hope the coffee was good. I’m sure it was. Take care.
Good vid! Simple tricks like this may not seem like a big deal. But, when you start learning all the simple little tricks that save time/energy, they add up to more free time and a better experience.
I will never forget this bit of knowledge. Right on man.
simple, easy, effective I *LIKE* it.
Huh... I never knew you could redirect a split like that. I figured the only way you to do that would be to make a new angled cut with an axe or a knife.
Good information, man. Thank you. 👍👍
Worthy knowledge. You are redeemable.
Nice tip. Trying it today.
Good to know. Thanks!
This technique is useful in splitting bamboo too.We used to practice in making bamboo flat code.
You are really well skilled! And I your humor and sensibility.
And thanks for another great one
Now that is something I didn’t know before. Thank you.
I like it Dan thanks…time to “SPLIT” the scene :)
I am 65, a widow, disabled (I keep chugging on...). I am very thankful for your teachings. I truly believe that most people forget the importance of knowing survival techniques that are good everywhere. Too many people today are too lazy to learn survival techniques.
I will pass on my knowledge to anyone willing to learn. Don't forget to peak kid's interests. Everyone should know these skills.
Bless your heart . Wish you grace and percerverance strength . Bless you ma'am.
As always...great stuff. Thanks
Cool and easy. Thanks.
Greetings from Russian woods
Really like the knife design from the thumbnail
This is the same process used in splitting Spruce roots evenly, for sewing birch bark baskets or canoe together.
You'd think that by the nature of the wood grain that this wouldn't be possible, very cool trick honestly
Another great bit of info!!! Thanks for another great video brother. Stay warm
I have read about this and heard about this and I have tried to do what I thought was supposed to be done. Never any joy. Now that I have seen what needs to be done- put the tool away and use your hands/fingers- I believe I will find joy. Thanks.
I love those bushcraft tips. Thanks
Simple but effective, nice video
I miss bushcraft of the 80's
I find that knocking the knife point in at several points down the stick first keeps the split working down the middle and then do what Dan did after that.
Really nice little trick! Thanks a lot for sharing it.
Dan, you are a master!
Outstanding job. Glad I watched this
Thanks for the tools 🔧 😀
Take care and stay safe my friend !!!!
Thanks an; another very useful bit of woodcraft from a master...Cheers.
That's a handy skill to know. Thanks for sharing the tips!
well done... Well taught
This is how we split bamboo into very thin and long pieces/panels, regardless of how long the pole is. Same technique is also used when we have to make strings from tender bamboo to tie bunches of paddy, or other things. The blade just sort of helps in initiating the cut. Rest of the work is about how you use your hands. So one could just use a sharp stone to make the initial split and then the hand splitting takes over.
Good trick. I grasped the idea within the first 7 times you said it tho..
Good info saw this once on the woodwrights shop.thanks for the reminder.
I can't wait to try that!
Thanks - Now I can say I learned it from an old timer, too. LOL I'm probably 15 years older than you. Great channel and you've got a great personality. Cheers
Just like splitting oak shingle with a Fro remember doing that as a kid with my grandfather. If you don't know what a Fro is look it up very great tool for splitting.
Thanks for sharing 👍
I kind of used a similar technique when making bent slats of wood for a rabbit stick/ cross section boomerang. I've found that if you twist the green wood the opposite direction of the spiraling of the grain ( once the green stick is split), you can correct the twist and make the end product flatter. Then you can weight it down to let it set so it can be relatively flat or have more of an aerofoil style bend.
So it's like riving a board or using a froe. I knew this but I know most don't and it's easy to forget sometimes. Thanks for the reminder.
great tip.... However a demo on how to use it would be good. Examples.. Thanks for this video.
This has frustrated me for a long time. You gave me a good tip. Thanks!
Thanks. Didn’t think of that
Cool channel mate. No bull. Just really handy stuff. Cheers.
I learned this technique from the Ojibway for splitting spruce roots for lashing baskets, canoe gunnals, etc.