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Hi Red! I am indeed a gear head! Re the frypan in fire: Its not a problem that I have noticed. Gas stoves and alcohol stoves are "fire" too! :) I have been using various forms of non-stick coating fry pans over wood fires for decades. In the bad old days it was some sort of cheapo teflon...

Hi folks, Although I primarily use fire for cooking when I am south of treeline, I have converted to using a Trangia alcohol stove for the wet rainy days. No moving parts, no stove repair kits, totally dependable, etc. In any Canadian hardware store you can buy 99.9% pure methanol, sold as...

Hi Alex. I have several brands of bow saw (Bacho, Sandvik, Gman, unknown). I use the ones with the "bow" space at both ends so that it can cut poles and small logs with a full stroke, not the triangles. The triangles IMO are useless because most of the blade's stroke is impossible when...

Hi Alex, I do carry a 21 inch bow saw, and do not find it a problem at all. I also find it very useful for large diameter blowdown that I have to clear. Most of my ideal firewood poles can be cut with a folding Bacho Laplander (8 inch blade), but I like the power and versatility of the bow...

Hi RL. I watched the video on the chimney jet design, which is the first time I had seen that, so I cannot comment knowledgably about it. It did not look like it can simmer with any sort of adapter? I hope the maker of those sends one to Hiram Cook to test! The video showed 400 ml boiling in...

Methyl hydrate = Methanol. In Canada it is sold in the paint thinner section of the hardware store. The methyl hydrate sold by Canadian Tire is 99.9% pure methanol (as it is in all the hardware stores I have seen it). Pure methanol has less energy per unit volume than pure ethanol, but methanol...

When I clean areas of the vinyl outer skin of my Royalex boat to prep it for filling grooves and gouges, I use 99% isopropyl alcohol and a rag. Takes elbow grease, but it works well for making the surface really clean to be able to take the filler compound. I cannot say how well it works on...

Ray Mear's full length film (winner at the Reel Paddling Film Festival), has a great segment of him carving a very nice paddle with a full size axe and crooked knife. To save me re-typing, below is the copy-paste I posted on another website with the Vimeo link and instructions: Enjoy: Ray...

Quasi hijack, so I'll keep it brief! :p I have only been messing with the Evernew at home, doing tests in the Clickstand (with the wire adapter ring from Clikstand). My Trangia + Clikstand cooking depends on simmering at a lower flameage and temperature, using a simmer ring, since I: (1)...

Whew! Glad you were not hurt Jsaults! :) As people go lighter with smaller UL alcohol stoves, they get tippier and tippier, both with their own small base and the pot support base, if there even is one. (I know Jsaults you did a boo boo not related to the Whitebox stove design itself, so this...

My current rig: Tacoma regular extend cab, 6 foot box with even height (front to back) cap. Yakima 78 inch bars with the old gunwale brackets. The gunwale brackets are bomber and make all the difference. The canoe is centered. Bar mounts to gutter mount plates bolted into the cap with a...

Looks like a fine choice Glenn. You have me thinking I want one now, to add to my collection of 8 or so axes. I will have many fine axes to give to youngsters and friends when I expire, or just before :) Unlike others, I actually like the black forge finish on my axes, so I think I would...

I read a fair bit of the literature on northern canoe tripping/explorations in the early 1900's and earlier, as well as accounts of trappers and hunters back in the old days. I cannot recall a single account that did not mention the centrality of full size axes. I often do not see many...

One attribute of axes that does not get enough discussion sometimes is the shape, thickness, and material of the handle. An uncomfortable handle can ruin an otherwise very nice axe head. Handle shape is infinitely variable, and comfort and confidence using an axe is personal preference...

Hi Canotrouge. Yes it was the tins for re-waxing canvas garments. If you were looking for a product to paint onto wax canvas tents or tarps, then the tins are no good of course, too expensive, too greasy. Cabela's US sells Canvak: http://www.cabelas.com/product/Canvak/744767.uts...

Hi Canotrouge. Years ago I bought some Filson waxed canvas paste from Chaltrek here in Thunder Bay. They are a Canadian Filson dealer. Website with contact info: http://www.chaltrek.com/

No! :) There is another way. (BTW, I am happy your are exploring these axe topics, Glenn! I sense a latent desire to maybe start using an axe.....maybe....? :) ) Proper axe technique always has the axe NOT going into your body if the axe head keeps going. The shorter the handle, the more...

addition to above post: Here's a link to a video I made using the ferro rod with the balsam fir gum/uznea lichen method I mentioned above:

I carry ferro rods in all my kits. They are also very good for lighting gas stoves and alcohol stoves. I love making fires with ferro rods and practice on many types of tinders. I still use a lighter of course, but my ferro rods are 100% dependable with skills and knowledge on tinder prep...

Finding an axe that fits your hands, body and style is like finding a good pair of tripping pants, or a pair of good boots - you often have to try several on before you find what's comfortable and what works for you and your tripping environment. Unfortunately that does mean buying a few to try...