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Thread: Wood/Beetle?

  1. #1
    Hobo
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    Wood/Beetle?

    Hi all, this is a two-pronged question.

    First, i'm just wondering if anyone can confirm the wood in these pictures? I've always assumed downy birch but the bark of old branches never seems to catch a spark as well as other birch i've found in England (I live in central Scotland). Hope the pictures help, i can always grab more next time i'm out.

    Secondly, the wood had a few beetles in it - not sure what kind but they burrow faster than i can carve though! Turned my cup into a colander chasing one out (pic) Do i need to worry that i've brought these into my shed?

    All the best,

    Matt

    EDIT: Spent a whole night on YouTube looking at beetles and i think it's a common furniture beetle. Still not sure if i need to worry - still, kinda wish i hadn't set them free to wander my shed...
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    Last edited by MattMc; 21-04-2017 at 11:09 AM.

  2. #2
    Ent FishyFolk's Avatar
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    Birch :-)


    Grab that bark and keep with your fire kit, it is wonderfull for fire lighting, and will take a spark form a ferro steel. If it is hard just scrape it with your knife some.
    Victory awaits the one, that has everything in order - luck we call it
    Defeat is an absolute consequense for the one that have neglected to do the necessary preparations - bad luck we call it
    (Roald Amundsen)

    Bumbling Bushcraft on Youtube
    Nordisk Bushcraft - The Nordic bushcraft blog and forum

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by FishyFolk View Post
    Birch :-)


    Grab that bark and keep with your fire kit, it is wonderfull for fire lighting, and will take a spark form a ferro steel. If it is hard just scrape it with your knife some.
    Brilliant - thanks

  4. #4
    Natural Born Bushcrafter Woody's Avatar
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    I would say that's downy birch .
    Bétula pubensces

    Green birch is nice to carve .

    Ive never tried the bark of downy birch for fire lighting , as there so much paper and white birch around... Interesting to know is not as effective.
    Will have to give that a try...


    but can see how the bark is a lot more fractured and not continuous as the betula pendula 's Bark.


    As for the beetles i wouldn't worry too much about it just yet .

    And good job on the colinder 👍😉

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Woody View Post
    I would say that's downy birch .
    Bétula pubensces

    Green birch is nice to carve .

    Ive never tried the bark of downy birch for fire lighting , as there so much paper and white birch around... Interesting to know is not as effective.
    Will have to give that a try...


    but can see how the bark is a lot more fractured and not continuous as the betula pendula 's Bark.


    As for the beetles i wouldn't worry too much about it just yet .

    And good job on the colinder 👍😉
    Thanks Woody,

    I've been in the shed all day making a big pile of birch chips. It really [I]is[I] nice to carve! First water-tight cup done

  6. #6
    Ent FishyFolk's Avatar
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    I manged to break our dear kitchen spatula, made in the woods while the runt, then age 1 slept in bliss perched in his hammock in the bushes...so a soon as the snow melt is done in a month or too it's off to find my favourite carving wood...juniper, to make a new one. This time with the runt in tow, wearing his own knife :-)
    Victory awaits the one, that has everything in order - luck we call it
    Defeat is an absolute consequense for the one that have neglected to do the necessary preparations - bad luck we call it
    (Roald Amundsen)

    Bumbling Bushcraft on Youtube
    Nordisk Bushcraft - The Nordic bushcraft blog and forum

  7. #7
    Hobo
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    How'd you get on with the spatula? I've always wanted to go camping somewhere like Norway - that's one lucky 'runt' you have there

    I managed to finish my first cup and the beetles haven't destroyed my shed - so far....

    Thanks all for the help.

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