Making Handmade Wooden Implements
In the spirit of adventure and self-reliance, DIY wooden camping tools have gained popularity among outdoor enthusiasts. These handmade utensils and gear, crafted from wood, are designed for practical use during camping trips, such as cooking, shelter building, or fire management.
Making these tools is a rewarding process that often involves using simple hand tools, raw wooden sticks or plywood, and natural cordage or rope. The focus is on functionality, portability, and sometimes traditional crafting methods.
A variety of DIY wooden camping tools exist. For instance, you can create wooden spoons, cooking utensils, camp kitchen units made from plywood, small wooden mallets or hammers, and even structures like cooking tripods or tent stakes made from wood and tied with rope.
To craft these tools, start with selecting sturdy wood. For simple tools like spoons or mallets, carve and sand the shape with hand tools or a knife to make it safe and ergonomic for use. For a portable camp kitchen or storage built from plywood, cut sheets according to detailed plans, assemble them using drills and screws, creating a compact, foldable cooking and preparation surface.
For more rustic tools or shelter supports, gather suitable sticks and use strong rope or paracord to lash them together tightly, such as making tripods for cooking over fire. Always prioritise safety (smooth surfaces, no splinters), functionality (correct size and shape for intended use), and portability (lightweight and compact).
This approach combines traditional craftsmanship with modern DIY techniques to create reliable, personalised camping tools using wood and simple materials.
Here are some examples of DIY wooden camping tools:
- Camp tongs can be made from a flexible green branch with a "Y" fork, or a green or dry stick split down to the last 5 inches and bound with cordage.
- To craft your own Apache Throwing Star, grab two pieces of wood about the length of your forearms, stripped of bark, and sharpen the ends with a knife to create points that are ready for action.
- The Apache Throwing Star, also known as the "Apache Crown," is a weapon wielded by Apache warriors, crafted from wood to offer impressive speed and accuracy.
- As a throwing weapon, the digging stick can be used for targeting small game such as squirrels, marmots, iguanas, sloths, and rabbits.
- A pilot stick is a wooden tool used for creating a hole in harder ground for roasting sticks, stakes, and campfire crafts. It is made from hardwood, around a foot long and no thicker than a broomstick.
- To create a gigging spear, grab a pole taller than your head with minimal knots and use a knife or tomahawk to create two slits in the shape of a plus sign, around 6 to 8 inches from one end.
- Wooden wedges can be used for splitting wood, especially when heavier tools are not available.
- A hand grill can be crafted from greenwood, shaped like a natural Y, and woven with thin sticks.
- A wooden stump can serve as a flat surface for working, sitting, and as a sawhorse.
- A green wooden spear with four prongs and a three-pronged trident serves as camp security and tools for hunting and cooking.
- The end of the digging stick should be shaped like a flathead screwdriver for digging into the ground, while the other end should be rounded to provide a comfortable grip.
- Mallets can be used for hammering tasks in a camping setting.
- Carve out two square notches on each piece in the middle to fit together snugly and secure them with a pair of jam knots for that extra hold.
- The digging stick can be used for digging up roots or carving out a trench for a Dakota fire pit.
- Fire pokers can be crafted from a sturdy dead stick, around the thickness of a broomstick, with a forked bottom for lifting and a flat top for poking.
- A wooden maul can be crafted from a hearty piece of wood, around 3 to 7 inches thick and roughly the length from fingertips to elbow.
- A "V notch" can be carved into a wooden stump to create a sawing surface.
- The digging stick can be crafted from a piece of wood roughly the length from fingertip to armpit and about the thickness of a wrist.
These DIY wooden camping tools offer a unique, hands-on approach to camping, allowing you to create your own essentials for an unforgettable outdoor experience.
Crafting your own home-and-garden items can extend beyond your garden shed and into your camping lifestyle. For example, you can manufacture a wooden hand grill, similar to a natural Y-shape, weaving thin sticks to create a versatile, portable cooking surface. Additionally, fashioning a wooden stump from a suitable tree trunk can provide a multi-purpose platform for working, sitting, or even functioning as a makeshift sawhorse during your camping trip.
