Good evening Cathy and Peter. Peter your making great progress on the build. I'm sure you're ready to have the canoe completed so you can start on your next project. Us viewers truly appreciate all your time and effort in sharing your knowledge. Hopefully the last wee bit goes accordingly without troubles. Thank you both for sharing friends and we'll see you on the next one. Thank you
Yup, that blacksmith shop is weighing heavy on my mind. Just kidding, not many things weigh heavy but, it is the next project and in the planning stage in the evenings. The canoe is all but done at this point as our film releases are always a week behind my progress … in the water soon!
Woodland Escape is my own Escape and Soul Therapy 😍😍. I just always wish the Soul Therapy was a little longer. That is not criticism but my compliment on the fine quality and way that you captivate my attention.... And,... My deep appreciation for your time and effort to make these videos and share them with us. Thanks again Peter and Cathy, Be Blessed.
@@TheWoodlandEscape, no way. It is definitely not too long. And I love how you or Cathy alternate between the build and the nature and animal scenes. Those birds in the next are super beautiful. You could throw in some short coffee, fireplace and food clips as well. I enjoy just sitting with you around your fireplace - even if it's only virtual.
Often my patience is lacking. You took the breaking of the wood as you steamed it in stride. Sign of a man happy in his work. And I agree with Christian that your videos are never long enough. Thanks, Mark.
Hey Peter! WOW! Closer and closer to completion with every step. Let the rich keep their Mega-Yachets! I believe that you will get more satisfaction... and certainly more use.... from this canoe. WOW!
I don't do reenactment anymore. Beside the point. Lots of reasons. Several longhunters and I spent three days in the wild country in Idaho next to Wyoming. A decade ago. Grizzly country ! Two of us had greased our moccasins with bear fat, not realizing the super keen nose on a grizzly would smell that as a food source. We started smelling and feeling the presence of a bear nearby. A night guard had to be posted and I don't believe the dog that belonged to one of the hunters ever relaxed. Definitely added to the wildness of the trek !
Nothing like wearing a Grizzly snack on one’s feet. I also use bear grease, but it’s never been an issue. Mind you, we don’t have grizzlies in this part of the Province.
My dad bent a lot of wood, he didn't have bar clamps but he had a lot of matching wooden wedges. He would make a jig then drive the wedges together so they would push straight against a block set against his material. He made doors and cabinet doors the same way. With a square jig a door is square. He replanked tug boat hulls after WW2. Nothing to pull against putting 1 plank on a round bottom boat and they had a big bend in the prow. So the new 20' plank had to match the old, to fit in the hole. He also soaked a week before he steamed.
Sounds like your dad and I would get along just fine. To be honest, I kinda like it when I don’t have the right tool for the job and have to figure out an alternative approach.
Your one impressive individual, the wife and I watch every video that you put out, we also love it when Kathy in a video, your doing what I've always wanted to do, but never had the time, keep up the wonderful videos, and may God bless you and your family.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge of building the birch bark canoe, Cathy and Peter. Tom no doubt is a great teacher, but I must say he had two good apprentices. I remember years ago working at Sea Ray Boats in knoxville Tn, the Boats were made for customers all around the world,but if I could build a Birch Bark Canoe like yours I would feel mighty proud. Thanks Once Again and Have a Good Evening 🙂.
I keep trying 2 figure out if both U an' Catherine have your own identical brown felt hats with feather or if U R sharing it?! In any case it looks fine on both of U! Nice 2 have a fine helpmate eh Peter? Off 2 the woods 2 scour for some spruce gum while U do some ribbing = WELL DONE and lovely 2 witness. Thank-you most kindly 4 sharing. I marvel too over the secrets in nature, which answer all questions 4 the; 'peaceful and observant'. This canoe will be a character of endearment 4 all the pains U took to bring it life. Aristotle said; "Nature does nothing uselessly." Now here's hoping one of your blacksmith friends, 'watch' n' C your need 4 a longer trough and fulfill it. Health and God Bless!
I look forward to your comments Marie as much as getting our next video out, perhaps a wee be more! Spot on, “ Nature does nothing uselessly. Don’t let our secret out but, we share the same hat, lol. Heck we share pretty much every. Have a great evening.
My wife and I discovered this channel recently. And let me say one thing.. she is not big on RUclips but when she has something to do she ask me to pause your stuff.🤣 I will watch your channel grow to a million subs
Glad you found us and I love you optimism… a million subs. While that would be nice, the 50K we have seem to enjoy our content and that was our goal. Thanks so much for the encouraging feedback and thank your wife for pausing us, lol. Have a good evening.
It’s so nice to see you and Cathy in the videos, enjoy you both so very much. I am starting to understand I’ll be old news could take some abuse, they do seem to be built quite solid. Thanks to the both of you.
Wonderful video. Like spruce gum, pine gum can be softened to suitable consistency for gumming the seams of birch bark canoes. Like spruce gum, the gum of eastern white pine was widely used for "canoe gumming" in the regions where it could be found. This included an area from Atlantic Canada west to Minnesota and in Ontario, northward roughly to the height of land. Rather than pushing globs of gum off the sides of trees, gum was collected from specially prepared "gumming" trees. A "V" notch was chopped into the side of white pine trees at waist level or slightly below. This notch was almost always made on the south side of the tree trunk where sunlight could elevate the temperature and increase the flow of sap. All the bark above the notch was removed from the tree for a distance of approximately one foot. The gum was collected from the lower side of the "V" notch with a small wooden spatula. A photograph of one of these white pine "gumming trees" in Wisconsin can be found in Robert Ritzenthaler's 1950 publication "Building a Chippewa Indian Birch-Bark Canoe" on page 38. These "gumming trees" were located at campsites and most frequently at canoe portage landings. On the rugged and rocky canoe routes of the upper Sturgeon and Lady Evelyn Rivers of Temagami Ontario, these "gumming trees" can still be viewed although almost none of the older ones dating back to the 1700's are producing gum any more. The exact year of their creation can be determined by using an increment borer on the edges of the overgrowth surrounding this tree wound.
Talk about a simple primative canoe! That it ain't. The patience of Job & the carpentry skills of a master. Unreal achievement - how on earth did the First People develop it???
Hello my friend. I very much enjoyed this video, I'm not at all surprised, I knew I would enjoy it. Thanks again Peter for an outstanding video series. Until next time, take care my friend
Peter that was way to short now we have to wait another week to see you LOL. Cant wait to see you in the water, so you will be a Algonquin paddling one way and A short nosed Ojibwe the other way. if you didn't tell most of us would never know. Great work to both of you! I use a rendered food grade pine tar on my flint tipped arrows, I wont lie I do haft them with epoxy and then tie them with fake sinew and then wax them up with the pine tare.
Hello, just wanted to say thank you for all you share. Absolutely the best viewing over anything on You Tube. It interesting, educational and so good when life becomes overwhelming at times.
Appreciate your efforts and dedication! Canoe is coming along nicely. The explanation of the use of spruce gum over pine is much appreciated. I have used pine alot myself for projects. I couldn't figure out how it would work on the canoe and now I know. You certainly don't lack for kindling around your place!! Thanks again and keep your powder dry!
The Indians may have used a clay pit in the shape of a canoe and placed the hot stones on top of the wood. In Europe, a pot of water and lids were used with a hole for a slanted pipe that conducted the steam and wood was inserted into it. The tube could be extended. GREAT JOB!
Great work Peter. Never guessed what a process was involved to make a birchbark canoe. Must have taken massive amounts of trial & error for our predecessors to figure out what worked the best. Can't wait to see the maiden voyage! I wouldn't break a bottle of champagne over the bow during the launch.😯
If one could use saw wood to begin with, you’d cut the time in half. A tremendous amount of time is required to draw out all the bits. I’m coming up to 500 hours on this one.
Thanks Bob. Darn thing is about to be launched. We are always one week behind on my progress when we release a video. Not moose hunting this fall, first time in 16 years. I trust all is well with you and your clan.
Hi Peter and Catherine What an interesting episode this one was, although it ended too quickly just as my attention was so riveted to the details of the canoe build. You left us with another "cliff hanger"! I have a question about the pitch. After the second straining, have you ever stored the excess for later use. I'm thinking that having it on hand when travelling, would allow for quick repairs. You would only need to melt and apply. Best Regards
Tom Beyers? That's quite a mentor! I'm enjoying the build very much. I've watched every BB canoe build video ever made and I still learn something new in every one of yours.
@@TheWoodlandEscape I would love to. I've been "collecting" for years now,lol. Made some stems , filmed but haven't edited or posted on my channel. Split some cedar and scored some other logs from up by you. Traded a highland bull for them. Problem is good bark. I've got probably enough low quality but reluctant to do a build with it. Especially after your mention of blow-out when inflating the hull with the ribs. I don't want a replica. My stems are like the ones on the trade canoe on the cover of Adneys book. The search goes on. I'll just have to live vicariously through your videos. You're living the dream. As am I. Happy New Year
So nice to see your wife in the videos and you two working together as a team. Can you tell me if you or your wife made her moccasins, they are very nice looking. Keep up the great work.
Thanks Allison and Cathy is the best team mate one could hope for. Cathy does the sewing of our historical clothes and I sew the leather, including her moccasins. I did a tutorial on moccasins making, it is in our play list.
Peter, I had a chance to watch your video to near the end where you asked the question how native people bent ribs. Troughs were unnecessary. First the cedar ribs were kept moist by storing them in water. When it came time to bend a rib, the end of the rib was placed in a small pot of boiling water and held at approximately a forty five degree angle. One hand held the upper end of the rib while the other hand operated a small dipper. Normally winter mittens were worn to protect the hands from the boiling water. The dipper was used to scoop up the boiling water from the pot and dribble it down the length of the rib. The water drained back into the pot, so there was no loss of boiling water. When softened , the rib was limbered over the knee using both hands. To make the proper bends, the rib might have to be returned to the pot several times. A very simple process, using a small fire with little firewood and a minimum of equipment!
I have used pine tar in boat building. In Maine we make “boat soup” which a mix of pine tar, boiled linseed oil, and turpentine to treat wood exposed to water. I wonder if pine tar could be another additive to your spruce sap to keep it flexible. I am guessing that the cedar gets no waterproofing treatment and the boat sill lasts a very long time. Great video.
Don’t know Kevin but, spruce and bear fat seems to do the trick. Birch bark has a nature oil in it and cedar is very rot resistant, so no treatment is required. Also, I have a 17 year old canoe with the original root lacing.
I would say that you have the patience of Job for this part of the build!! I am always surprised at what boiling water does to the wood!! I never knew how pliable it could make the wood!!
That's a lot of work really nice job I was up in Sudbury this week to pick up a cobbler bench well thank you for the video it's very educational thank you Bob
Peter, another great episode! You've got me wondering how the indigenous people managed the bending process prior to the introduction of metal cookware. I like your idea that they may have hollowed out a log and kept the water temperature up with hot rocks; sounds feasible. Is it possible they may have done a 'cold forming' using stream/lake body of water and rock weights to slowly form the ribs? Allowing the ribs to form underwater using a rock 'jig' and slowly adding rock weights until the desired bend was achieved? Please consider trying your idea of making a long wooden trough as an experiment video. I seem to recall reading how the Northwest coastal tribes would form 'box-shaped' containers out of cedar 'planks' using water soaking and direct fire to bend the wood to shape... I could not locate the source of my recall of the water/direct fire technique, but I did find one of Roy Underhill's PBS production of the 'The Woodwright's Shop' that you may find informative and entertaining; I will not list the link directly (that seems to be against the RUclips rules?), but if you search for the video, it is 'Season 12, Episode 1'. In it, Roy visits a Northwest traditional craftsman on Lopez Island in Washington state and they showcase the tools/techniques/products of the First Nation people prior (possibly) to the arrival of the European explorers. Enjoy!
Thank you and those are some pretty neat ideas you’ve thought of. I most definitely be checking out Roy Underhills episode 1. You certainly can use just heat for smaller items. That is how I straighten my primitive wooden arrows.
Great video as always, i really enjoy watching this build. I could never find enough birch bark around here to build a canoe, but i would love to build a cedar strip canoe one of these days!
Hi Peter, great to see the progress you have made. Really enjoyed seeing how you harvested your materials from the beginning from the bark to the wood working. It is a really a wonderful experience to watch you at work on your projects. Great job sharing you know- how on the way it was done.
@@TheWoodlandEscape My understanding with anything associated with Native/pioneer life on the 18th century frontier did not come fast or easy. It was all patience, skill, teamwork and troubleshooting. So, I knew it would take several weeks going into it. Great job taking your viewers step by step through the process!
Great patience Peter - and wonderful skill. This has been a fascinating journey to watch and it will be fantastic to see the launch! So many processes and all learned by experimentation by the first builders and then by you too. I remember though that Noah pitched the ark inside and outside - so there'a another task for you ;) Greetings from Scotland where the simple coracle was the primitive boat of choice.
Thanks Jim. I was thinking that I might just have to build me one of those coracles. Don’t think I’m up to pitching an arch just yet but, 40 days of rain might change my opinion!
Now are the ribs a different bent size as they put into the jig to dry. Example from the furthest outer distance on each-end to the center bend? Love your build.
Hello woodland escape! I noticed you are wearing pants rather than a breechclout or breeches. Are the breeches uncomfortable or do they wear out quickly when doing manual labor? From the prices I've seen on various websites, ruining a good pair of breeches could get pretty expensive. Also, are trousers used on the Canadian and American frontiers by farmers and frontiersmen such as yourself or is that a later invention at the beginning of the 19th century? Thanks for your time, love your videos.
Breeches are actually very comfortable but, the 3 pair I own are all but rags. In terms of comfort though, breechclout and leggings are the best. Well, perhaps not for work on a homestead due to wood shavings always dropping down the inside of the leggings, lol. For trekking that combination can’t be beat. In the process of making some new drop front breeches.
Once again, fascinating! I particularly thought the pitch making was interesting, I've never seen it done before. Can you get the ribs too soft when boiling and bending? I've done a little bit of steaming wood and found there to be a learning curve involved.
Howdy Was there any aroma when you were melting the pitch ? Loved it when you said " the ribs are on the fire " Does the pitch ever come off ? Again .. so happy I found your channel..... waiting to see how stable it is thanks
There is a quite pleasant aroma to the boiled spruce gum. I find using traditional pitch that it requires a touch up every one to two years and a complete repitching ever four to five.
I have never built a canoe of any sort but hollowing out a log seems like a massive amount of work. What about a long deepish birch bark container and adding hot water or rocks to heat water?
Actually they would often soak the cedar for weeks before bending in a lake or River. On bending day they would use a small amount of water in a pot over fire, stand the rib up in the pot and ladle water over it until flexible, catching the surplus back in the pot. They did also have other uses for hollowed out logs … maple sugaring, water storage etc.
@@TheWoodlandEscape Thank you Peter, that makes a lot of sense. Like people all over the world they strove to find easier more efficient ways of doing things.
i live with the james bay Cree and a Cree man told me they steamed their wood by wrapping it in wet hide and put it by the fire. they would add water if needed.
I love the music in the introduction , I hear it and itmeadaty get happy ! I know I'm going to enjoy whatever I see . But is that a fiddle or a violin , I can't tell , but it sounds good to me . And what are the other instruments , what is the title of the piece ? It's stuck in my head FOREVER. , I would love to know what it is . Oh and spruce gum comes from spruce trees , right ? ( Hardend sap / on outside of spruce tree ) ? Dose it have to be rendered bear fat ? Will just bear fat work , not rendered ? ( I forget how to render fat / you just boil it ? , Right ? )Any way I apologize for my ignorance , but I'm completely fascinated , thank you for all you do .
Our friends from Nova Scotia play all their own music - fiddle, guitar, penny whistle. However, most of their tunes don’t have titles and they haven’t been recorded.
Concerning how Natives bent ribs Peter .. I've seen at least one old video of them working with fresh green wood and bending ribs without boiling water, but maybe letting them soak in water to help.
I did give it a try once with poor results, but that could simply be not knowing the full technique . Perhaps a longer soak would have addressed the issues.
Native ancestors may have simply soaked the ribs until wet throughout the board, then hold the plank over a fire. Carry to the canoe, & bend into place. At least that's what I would imagine. But that's merely speculation.
Can you please re lable each video so that it is easier to follow your instructions and methods i.e. BIRCH BARK CANOE BUILD 1. Pitch, Sheathing and Ribs Your videos are very relevent historical records of means and methods, but less easy to access to lay persons. Great work and much appreciated. Conor. Scotland
@@TheWoodlandEscape I might suggest you do the same with ogther videos, such as your log cabin so that you have created a viable indexed video libruary. Your work may still be relevent 300 years from now.
@@TheWoodlandEscape I keep intouch with a former USAF and NASA engineer who was the go-to guy if you had a problem with the command module while you were on an apollo missions, or the Space Shuttle or ISS. He was in the first enrolement of NASA. Last month I told him about how my great grandfather was in the US cavilry and how none of us knew if he was at wounded knee or anything else he did. So I pleaded with Jim to make a video diary for his great grandparents so that they would know who he was and what he did. He did not appreciate how his dat time job was a legend to the rest of us mortals. You in some respects are in the same category as my lost great grandfather, but have the opportunity to preserve a slice of history. FYI. As an engineer and lookinf to manufacture a large number of canoes, I would think of hollowing out a large tree, then using it as a bath to resoak the birch bark by putting hot stones from a fire into the water to heat it to soften the bark. I had read about this method to soften then widen the hull of dug out mouri and pacific islander canoes. Gunwhales were added by sewing additional planks onto the sides of the hull. just saying
A knowledge of each particular tree and timber, their particular strengths and fallibility and how to join and craft them for strength and purpose. They say Jesus was a carpenter. Peter, I wonder why?
@@TheWoodlandEscape some of the first things I learned as a kid. My dad, as a young man, hacked ties for a living. I was interested and he taught me not only the different species but what they were like and how they could be used, which could be the best fire wood, which would split clean and could be easily shaped, which had close fibers and couldnt be split but were good for chair seats, which would weather the elements best if left outside or driven in the ground. Had an Uncle who never bought an axe handle but shaped his own out of the white wood of a hill hickory. Those axes could be stuck in a log and the handle twisted 45 degrees. Hey wouldnt break.
@@TheWoodlandEscape I figure that a carpenter or a person who works with wood knows it. He knows it's fibers. He knows it's flaws and it's strengths. You can saw a board and it will still shrink and swell, sometimes warp. I figure trees are like people in lots of ways. They're individuals too. I figure, if there was a Jesus, and I believe there was, or should have been, that he would have understood timber and people the same and would have known how to get the best out of both.
A nother video, three in on week, Wow! I feel so privileged! "You have the patience of 100 men." It has now been 13 days straight here in Phoenix of being 🔥 110° F or more ! ! ! 🥵🥵🥵 🤠🌵🏜️ Phx. Az.
Hope we see you again soon, this has every suspense of Christmas without the tree.
You’ve just given me my evening smile Roger … too funny!
Good evening Cathy and Peter. Peter your making great progress on the build. I'm sure you're ready to have the canoe completed so you can start on your next project. Us viewers truly appreciate all your time and effort in sharing your knowledge.
Hopefully the last wee bit goes accordingly without troubles. Thank you both for sharing friends and we'll see you on the next one. Thank you
Yup, that blacksmith shop is weighing heavy on my mind. Just kidding, not many things weigh heavy but, it is the next project and in the planning stage in the evenings. The canoe is all but done at this point as our film releases are always a week behind my progress … in the water soon!
Woodland Escape is my own Escape and Soul Therapy 😍😍. I just always wish the Soul Therapy was a little longer. That is not criticism but my compliment on the fine quality and way that you captivate my attention.... And,... My deep appreciation for your time and effort to make these videos and share them with us. Thanks again Peter and Cathy, Be Blessed.
Same feelings here.
And here I thought this build and the number of videos required to show the whole process was excessively long. Love your encouraging feedback.
My sentiments exactly Christian.
Id love to watch every minute of the build, id even lend a hand. Cheers and thanks for sharing your journey.
@@TheWoodlandEscape, no way. It is definitely not too long. And I love how you or Cathy alternate between the build and the nature and animal scenes. Those birds in the next are super beautiful. You could throw in some short coffee, fireplace and food clips as well. I enjoy just sitting with you around your fireplace - even if it's only virtual.
Often my patience is lacking. You took the breaking of the wood as you steamed it in stride. Sign of a man happy in his work. And I agree with Christian that your videos are never long enough. Thanks, Mark.
Thank you! Cathy tries not to show me doing the same thing over and over again, too often lol
Hey Peter! WOW! Closer and closer to completion with every step. Let the rich keep their Mega-Yachets! I believe that you will get more satisfaction... and certainly more use.... from this canoe. WOW!
You are right! I’ll take the canoe over any other watercraft!
I don't do reenactment anymore. Beside the point.
Lots of reasons.
Several longhunters and I spent three days in the wild country in Idaho next to Wyoming. A decade ago.
Grizzly country !
Two of us had greased our moccasins with bear fat, not realizing the super keen nose on a grizzly would smell that as a food source.
We started smelling and feeling the presence of a bear nearby.
A night guard had to be posted and I don't believe the dog that belonged to one of the hunters ever relaxed.
Definitely added to the wildness of the trek !
Nothing like wearing a Grizzly snack on one’s feet. I also use bear grease, but it’s never been an issue. Mind you, we don’t have grizzlies in this part of the Province.
My dad bent a lot of wood, he didn't have bar clamps but he had a lot of matching wooden wedges. He would make a jig then drive the wedges together so they would push straight against a block set against his material. He made doors and cabinet doors the same way. With a square jig a door is square. He replanked tug boat hulls after WW2. Nothing to pull against putting 1 plank on a round bottom boat and they had a big bend in the prow. So the new 20' plank had to match the old, to fit in the hole. He also soaked a week before he steamed.
Sounds like your dad and I would get along just fine. To be honest, I kinda like it when I don’t have the right tool for the job and have to figure out an alternative approach.
You have a lot of the same ingenuity the native peoples had yourself, I believe.
These videos are fantastic
A very flattering compliment, Craig, thank you.
Your one impressive individual, the wife and I watch every video that you put out, we also love it when Kathy in a video, your doing what I've always wanted to do, but never had the time, keep up the wonderful videos, and may God bless you and your family.
Thanks to both you and your wife for your interest. I’m sure someday you’ll find yourself with the time required to pursue crazy things.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge of building the birch bark canoe, Cathy and Peter. Tom no doubt is a great teacher, but I must say he had two good apprentices. I remember years ago working at Sea Ray Boats in knoxville Tn, the Boats were made for customers all around the world,but if I could build a Birch Bark Canoe like yours I would feel mighty proud. Thanks Once Again and Have a Good Evening 🙂.
From one boat builder to another, thank you.
I keep trying 2 figure out if both U an' Catherine have your own identical brown felt hats with feather or if U R sharing it?! In any case it looks fine on both of U! Nice 2 have a fine helpmate eh Peter? Off 2 the woods 2 scour for some spruce gum while U do some ribbing = WELL DONE and lovely 2 witness. Thank-you most kindly 4 sharing. I marvel too over the secrets in nature, which answer all questions 4 the; 'peaceful and observant'. This canoe will be a character of endearment 4 all the pains U took to bring it life. Aristotle said; "Nature does nothing uselessly." Now here's hoping one of your blacksmith friends, 'watch' n' C your need 4 a longer trough and fulfill it. Health and God Bless!
I look forward to your comments Marie as much as getting our next video out, perhaps a wee be more! Spot on, “ Nature does nothing uselessly. Don’t let our secret out but, we share the same hat, lol. Heck we share pretty much every. Have a great evening.
My wife and I discovered this channel recently. And let me say one thing.. she is not big on RUclips but when she has something to do she ask me to pause your stuff.🤣 I will watch your channel grow to a million subs
Glad you found us and I love you optimism… a million subs. While that would be nice, the 50K we have seem to enjoy our content and that was our goal. Thanks so much for the encouraging feedback and thank your wife for pausing us, lol. Have a good evening.
I'm probably sounding like a broken record, but another excellent video in this series. Thanks for taking us along.
Not at all John, it is encouraging to get positive feedback.
It’s so nice to see you and Cathy in the videos, enjoy you both so very much. I am starting to understand I’ll be old news could take some abuse, they do seem to be built quite solid.
Thanks to the both of you.
Than you!
Wonderful video. Like spruce gum, pine gum can be softened to suitable consistency for gumming the seams of birch bark canoes. Like spruce gum, the gum of eastern white pine was widely used for "canoe gumming" in the regions where it could be found. This included an area from Atlantic Canada west to Minnesota and in Ontario, northward roughly to the height of land. Rather than pushing globs of gum off the sides of trees, gum was collected from specially prepared "gumming" trees. A "V" notch was chopped into the side of white pine trees at waist level or slightly below. This notch was almost always made on the south side of the tree trunk where sunlight could elevate the temperature and increase the flow of sap. All the bark above the notch was removed from the tree for a distance of approximately one foot. The gum was collected from the lower side of the "V" notch with a small wooden spatula. A photograph of one of these white pine "gumming trees" in Wisconsin can be found in Robert Ritzenthaler's 1950 publication "Building a Chippewa Indian Birch-Bark Canoe" on page 38. These "gumming trees" were located at campsites and most frequently at canoe portage landings. On the rugged and rocky canoe routes of the upper Sturgeon and Lady Evelyn Rivers of Temagami Ontario, these "gumming trees" can still be viewed although almost none of the older ones dating back to the 1700's are producing gum any more. The exact year of their creation can be determined by using an increment borer on the edges of the overgrowth surrounding this tree wound.
Thank you Doris. As always, I’m fascinated by your knowledge.
Talk about a simple primative canoe!
That it ain't.
The patience of Job & the carpentry skills of a master.
Unreal achievement - how on earth did the First People develop it???
The birch bark canoe is really a work of art and ingenuity. I share your respect for the indigenous people!
Hello my friend. I very much enjoyed this video, I'm not at all surprised, I knew I would enjoy it. Thanks again Peter for an outstanding video series. Until next time, take care my friend
Always such positive feedback Phillip, thank you.
Peter that was way to short now we have to wait another week to see you LOL. Cant wait to see you in the water, so you will be a Algonquin paddling one way and A short nosed Ojibwe the other way. if you didn't tell most of us would never know. Great work to both of you! I use a rendered food grade pine tar on my flint tipped arrows, I wont lie I do haft them with epoxy and then tie them with fake sinew and then wax them up with the pine tare.
I won’t lie either. I’ve used your exact method on my primitive arrows, lol.
Nice looking ribs and pitch there eh! Amazing how our ancestors figured that out thanks for sharing
It is a tad mind boggling!
What a pleasure it is for me to watch your amazing skills at work. Well done.
Thank you so much!
As always, I was GLUED to the monitor for this video.
Thanks Hayward.
Hello, just wanted to say thank you for all you share. Absolutely the best viewing over anything on You Tube.
It interesting, educational and so good when life becomes overwhelming at times.
Such encouraging feedback, thank you very much.
Peter, thanks for the nice video. It will be nice to get back home. Enjoyed watching the work in the garden. Good bye North America….
Safe travels!
Appreciate your efforts and dedication! Canoe is coming along nicely. The explanation of the use of spruce gum over pine is much appreciated. I have used pine alot myself for projects. I couldn't figure out how it would work on the canoe and now I know. You certainly don't lack for kindling around your place!! Thanks again and keep your powder dry!
True enough, a bark canoe builder never runs out of kindling. Watch your top knot my friend!
That is going to be a beautiful canoe always enjoy the wee bit of history as well can't wait to see her on the water
Thanks Tim. We have a wee bit of history coming out next week.
Every time I see you have a new video I can hardly wait to watch it. Great learning experience. Keep your powder dry. Can't wait for the next one
Thank you. We sure appreciate the encouragement!
The Indians may have used a clay pit in the shape of a canoe and placed the hot stones on top of the wood. In Europe, a pot of water and lids were used with a hole for a slanted pipe that conducted the steam and wood was inserted into it. The tube could be extended. GREAT JOB!
That is an interesting theory Jindra. Appreciate your interest.
Bear fat makes the best shortening bar none for pastries.😎
Interesting, I’d give it a try if I could bake, lol. Speaking of pastry, absolutely nothing beats a good old butter tart!
The canoe is looking amazing. The amount of work you have put into it. It’s looking so good. Looking forward to seeing it on the water.
Not long now Beverly. Our filming is always a week behind my progress, so it is close now.
Great work Peter. Never guessed what a process was involved to make a birchbark canoe. Must have taken massive amounts of trial & error for our predecessors to figure out what worked the best. Can't wait to see the maiden voyage! I wouldn't break a bottle of champagne over the bow during the launch.😯
If one could use saw wood to begin with, you’d cut the time in half. A tremendous amount of time is required to draw out all the bits. I’m coming up to 500 hours on this one.
Hey Peter that is the coolest thing, can’t wait to see you in the water with it. Nice Bubba. (Old guy from Arkansas)🇺🇸
You and me both … not too long now!
That is one. FINE LOOKING CANOE. Awesome job
Thanks some much.
Another fabulous video, Peter and Cathy. . You have a gift for teaching ! Looks like the canoe will be ready for the Fall hunt :- ]
Thanks Bob. Darn thing is about to be launched. We are always one week behind on my progress when we release a video. Not moose hunting this fall, first time in 16 years. I trust all is well with you and your clan.
So fascinating to learn about the pitch and bear fat, thanks again Peter great vids man.
Thank you.
Hi from Syracuse NY USA everyone thank you for sharing your adventures in history my friends
Thanks as always Earl..
I have shared your videos all over the United States of America and around the world my friend
We are honored!
Love watching you work the wood and birch and working on things out in the wilderness staying busy and all
I never seem to run out of projects.
You always have projects indeed
wow this canoe will soon be in the water, well done and it looks amazing
Indeed and I’ll head out for an historical trek once done.
Thanks for showing us how to bend wood, Very interesting
Glad you found it interesting. Perhaps we should have filmed the ones that broke,lol.
Hi Peter and Catherine
What an interesting episode this one was, although it ended too quickly just as my attention was so riveted to the details of the canoe build. You left us with another "cliff hanger"!
I have a question about the pitch. After the second straining, have you ever stored the excess for later use. I'm thinking that having it on hand when travelling, would allow for quick repairs. You would only need to melt and apply.
Best Regards
That is exactly what is done. One always carries extra pitch for repairs.
allways look forward to your videos,have a good day
Thanks Robert and you.
I wanted to keep that kid,but she wouldn't let me!😆💚🤣
Right!
Another great video my friend. I always look forward to seeing them.
Thanks David.
Awesome. thanks for sharing. Keep your paddle in the water.
Thanks Douglas, it so will be putting the miles behind me in the new canoe.
Tom Beyers? That's quite a mentor! I'm enjoying the build very much. I've watched every BB canoe build video ever made and I still learn something new in every one of yours.
Glad you like them, Timothy. Perhaps you should try your hand at it.
@@TheWoodlandEscape I would love to. I've been "collecting" for years now,lol. Made some stems , filmed but haven't edited or posted on my channel. Split some cedar and scored some other logs from up by you. Traded a highland bull for them. Problem is good bark. I've got probably enough low quality but reluctant to do a build with it. Especially after your mention of blow-out when inflating the hull with the ribs. I don't want a replica. My stems are like the ones on the trade canoe on the cover of Adneys book. The search goes on. I'll just have to live vicariously through your videos. You're living the dream. As am I. Happy New Year
Your almost there! There is no sense building one from inferior bark … I speak from experience.
Your canoe already looks great! I can´t wait to see it float...
Me, too!
Coming together nicely!, You do great work, really enjoy watching amazing talent at work! Thanks for what you do!!
Than you for your support!!!
So nice to see your wife in the videos and you two working together as a team. Can you tell me if you or your wife made her moccasins, they are very nice looking. Keep up the great work.
Thanks Allison and Cathy is the best team mate one could hope for. Cathy does the sewing of our historical clothes and I sew the leather, including her moccasins. I did a tutorial on moccasins making, it is in our play list.
Peter, I had a chance to watch your video to near the end where you asked the question how native people bent ribs. Troughs were unnecessary. First the cedar ribs were kept moist by storing them in water. When it came time to bend a rib, the end of the rib was placed in a small pot of boiling water and held at approximately a forty five degree angle. One hand held the upper end of the rib while the other hand operated a small dipper. Normally winter mittens were worn to protect the hands from the boiling water. The dipper was used to scoop up the boiling water from the pot and dribble it down the length of the rib. The water drained back into the pot, so there was no loss of boiling water. When softened , the rib was limbered over the knee using both hands. To make the proper bends, the rib might have to be returned to the pot several times. A very simple process, using a small fire with little firewood and a minimum of equipment!
Great information as usual Doris. For my next build, I want you helping, lol.
Another great one to enjoy!
Always such encouraging comments Tammy, thank you.
I have used pine tar in boat building. In Maine we make “boat soup” which a mix of pine tar, boiled linseed oil, and turpentine to treat wood exposed to water. I wonder if pine tar could be another additive to your spruce sap to keep it flexible. I am guessing that the cedar gets no waterproofing treatment and the boat sill lasts a very long time. Great video.
Don’t know Kevin but, spruce and bear fat seems to do the trick. Birch bark has a nature oil in it and cedar is very rot resistant, so no treatment is required. Also, I have a 17 year old canoe with the original root lacing.
It's coming together 👍
In is indeed. Going to go historical trekking in it once completed.
I would say that you have the patience of Job for this part of the build!! I am always surprised at what boiling water does to the wood!! I never knew how pliable it could make the wood!!
I also find it quite fascinating.
Another good one and thankfully no snaps, crackles or pops.
Well at least not on film,lol.
That's a lot of work really nice job I was up in Sudbury this week to pick up a cobbler bench well thank you for the video it's very educational thank you Bob
Wow a cobblers bench, I assume an antique.
@@TheWoodlandEscape yes I antique cobbler bench over 100 years old
I'm loving this channel, thank you for such great content and history!
Thank you for your interest!
Peter, another great episode! You've got me wondering how the indigenous people managed the bending process prior to the introduction of metal cookware. I like your idea that they may have hollowed out a log and kept the water temperature up with hot rocks; sounds feasible. Is it possible they may have done a 'cold forming' using stream/lake body of water and rock weights to slowly form the ribs? Allowing the ribs to form underwater using a rock 'jig' and slowly adding rock weights until the desired bend was achieved? Please consider trying your idea of making a long wooden trough as an experiment video. I seem to recall reading how the Northwest coastal tribes would form 'box-shaped' containers out of cedar 'planks' using water soaking and direct fire to bend the wood to shape...
I could not locate the source of my recall of the water/direct fire technique, but I did find one of Roy Underhill's PBS production of the 'The Woodwright's Shop' that you may find informative and entertaining; I will not list the link directly (that seems to be against the RUclips rules?), but if you search for the video, it is 'Season 12, Episode 1'. In it, Roy visits a Northwest traditional craftsman on Lopez Island in Washington state and they showcase the tools/techniques/products of the First Nation people prior (possibly) to the arrival of the European explorers. Enjoy!
Thank you and those are some pretty neat ideas you’ve thought of. I most definitely be checking out Roy Underhills episode 1. You certainly can use just heat for smaller items. That is how I straighten my primitive wooden arrows.
Great video as always, i really enjoy watching this build. I could never find enough birch bark around here to build a canoe, but i would love to build a cedar strip canoe one of these days!
That would be a challenge, as well! Best of luck!
Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful! What an accomplishment. Off to the next video!
Thank you so much!
Hi Peter, great to see the progress you have made. Really enjoyed seeing how you harvested your materials from the beginning from the bark to the wood working. It is a really a wonderful experience to watch you at work on your projects. Great job sharing you know- how on the way it was done.
Thanks Gil, I was uncertain if people would enjoy given the number of videos required to show every step.
@@TheWoodlandEscape My understanding with anything associated with Native/pioneer life on the 18th century frontier did not come fast or easy. It was all patience, skill, teamwork and troubleshooting. So, I knew it would take several weeks going into it. Great job taking your viewers step by step through the process!
Thanks!!
Great patience Peter - and wonderful skill. This has been a fascinating journey to watch and it will be fantastic to see the launch! So many processes and all learned by experimentation by the first builders and then by you too. I remember though that Noah pitched the ark inside and outside - so there'a another task for you ;) Greetings from Scotland where the simple coracle was the primitive boat of choice.
Thanks Jim. I was thinking that I might just have to build me one of those coracles. Don’t think I’m up to pitching an arch just yet but, 40 days of rain might change my opinion!
Very interesting and entertaining to watch .
Thanks Alex.
I really enjoy your videos! 🇺🇸
Thanks James.
Truly enjoy yer videos. And very nice looking canoe!
Thanks Robert, it should be floating in the next week.
Love the video
Glad you enjoyed.
Je regarde tous merci c est superbe !
Thank you!
Now are the ribs a different bent size as they put into the jig to dry.
Example from the furthest outer distance on each-end to the center bend?
Love your build.
Yes, they are. They get a tighter bend as you close in 9n the bow and the stern.
Hello woodland escape!
I noticed you are wearing pants rather than a breechclout or breeches.
Are the breeches uncomfortable or do they wear out quickly when doing manual labor? From the prices I've seen on various websites, ruining a good pair of breeches could get pretty expensive.
Also, are trousers used on the Canadian and American frontiers by farmers and frontiersmen such as yourself or is that a later invention at the beginning of the 19th century?
Thanks for your time, love your videos.
Breeches are actually very comfortable but, the 3 pair I own are all but rags. In terms of comfort though, breechclout and leggings are the best. Well, perhaps not for work on a homestead due to wood shavings always dropping down the inside of the leggings, lol. For trekking that combination can’t be beat. In the process of making some new drop front breeches.
Once again, fascinating! I particularly thought the pitch making was interesting, I've never seen it done before. Can you get the ribs too soft when boiling and bending? I've done a little bit of steaming wood and found there to be a learning curve involved.
A learning curve indeed. If the ribs are not thick enough or have spots that want to hinge, than yes, you can get them too flexible.
Howdy
Was there any aroma when you were melting the pitch ?
Loved it when you said " the ribs are on the fire "
Does the pitch ever come off ?
Again .. so happy I found your channel..... waiting to see how stable it is
thanks
There is a quite pleasant aroma to the boiled spruce gum. I find using traditional pitch that it requires a touch up every one to two years and a complete repitching ever four to five.
she'll be ready for water way before snowseason
We are always a week behind when we release a new video, so it is nearly done now.
@@TheWoodlandEscape cant wait to see her '1st swim'
It's coming along looks good man you have been working on my place then I'm moving into I've been kind of out of contact for a while
It is indeed Larry, thanks. Hope your move is going well.
I have never built a canoe of any sort but hollowing out a log seems like a massive amount of work. What about a long deepish birch bark container and adding hot water or rocks to heat water?
Actually they would often soak the cedar for weeks before bending in a lake or River. On bending day they would use a small amount of water in a pot over fire, stand the rib up in the pot and ladle water over it until flexible, catching the surplus back in the pot.
They did also have other uses for hollowed out logs … maple sugaring, water storage etc.
@@TheWoodlandEscape Thank you Peter, that makes a lot of sense. Like people all over the world they strove to find easier more efficient ways of doing things.
i live with the james bay Cree and a Cree man told me they steamed their wood by wrapping it in wet hide and put it by the fire. they would add water if needed.
That’s a great idea! Thanks for passing it on!
I love the music in the introduction , I hear it and itmeadaty get happy ! I know I'm going to enjoy whatever I see . But is that a fiddle or a violin , I can't tell , but it sounds good to me . And what are the other instruments , what is the title of the piece ? It's stuck in my head FOREVER. , I would love to know what it is . Oh and spruce gum comes from spruce trees , right ? ( Hardend sap / on outside of spruce tree ) ? Dose it have to be rendered bear fat ? Will just bear fat work , not rendered ? ( I forget how to render fat / you just boil it ? , Right ? )Any way I apologize for my ignorance , but I'm completely fascinated , thank you for all you do .
Our friends from Nova Scotia play all their own music - fiddle, guitar, penny whistle. However, most of their tunes don’t have titles and they haven’t been recorded.
The spruce gum does come from spruce trees and you can use other kinds of fat, including lard.
"Sure and it's a hot summer day! Let's go boil up some ribs.😉
Actually, we have been very lucky in Ontario this year, so far. But, apparently, the heat is about to hit us.
Concerning how Natives bent ribs Peter .. I've seen at least one old video of them working with fresh green wood and bending ribs without boiling water, but maybe letting them soak in water to help.
I did give it a try once with poor results, but that could simply be not knowing the full technique . Perhaps a longer soak would have addressed the issues.
❤😊😊
Do you get much spring back when you take the staves out of the form?
A little bit which is what you want. When the ribs are driven in they are held only by friction so the spring helps build a tight canoe.
Native ancestors may have simply soaked the ribs until wet throughout the board, then hold the plank over a fire. Carry to the canoe, & bend into place. At least that's what I would imagine. But that's merely speculation.
It is a good speculation. Ve tried it with mediocre success.
@@TheWoodlandEscape somebody somewhere has the age old secrets. Lol
Off the subject of canoes.
Do you have a pattern available the moccasins you're wearing ?
Thank you.
I don’t, but if you go to our playlist you’ll find under tutorials how I make them start to finish. Hope that helps.
Hi !
May I ask, is it knowledgeable? Why does the hat have to be decorated with feathers? What is the history of the feather decoration on the hat?
I think it is just ornament and fashion.
Cathy ,how can you sit like that?!
I have a friend,she is Lake Huron
Genealogy -Indiginous - she can sit just like You❣
Cathy is like a rubber band … don’t I wish!
@@TheWoodlandEscape 😆😋😅😏
Can you please re lable each video so that it is easier to follow your instructions and methods i.e.
BIRCH BARK CANOE BUILD 1. Pitch, Sheathing and Ribs
Your videos are very relevent historical records of means and methods, but less easy to access to lay persons. Great work and much appreciated. Conor. Scotland
I can’t thank you enough Connor, that sound advise.
@@TheWoodlandEscape I might suggest you do the same with ogther videos, such as your log cabin so that you have created a viable indexed video libruary. Your work may still be relevent 300 years from now.
@@conormcmenemie5126 A very good idea, we are on it and really appreciate you planting the seed.
@@TheWoodlandEscape I keep intouch with a former USAF and NASA engineer who was the go-to guy if you had a problem with the command module while you were on an apollo missions, or the Space Shuttle or ISS. He was in the first enrolement of NASA. Last month I told him about how my great grandfather was in the US cavilry and how none of us knew if he was at wounded knee or anything else he did. So I pleaded with Jim to make a video diary for his great grandparents so that they would know who he was and what he did. He did not appreciate how his dat time job was a legend to the rest of us mortals. You in some respects are in the same category as my lost great grandfather, but have the opportunity to preserve a slice of history.
FYI. As an engineer and lookinf to manufacture a large number of canoes, I would think of hollowing out a large tree, then using it as a bath to resoak the birch bark by putting hot stones from a fire into the water to heat it to soften the bark. I had read about this method to soften then widen the hull of dug out mouri and pacific islander canoes. Gunwhales were added by sewing additional planks onto the sides of the hull. just saying
@@conormcmenemie5126 Finding suitable bark is going to be a problem. My last build I sampled 20 plus trees to find one that would work.
Dommage que ce ne soit pas en Français.!
A knowledge of each particular tree and timber, their particular strengths and fallibility and how to join and craft them for strength and purpose. They say Jesus was a carpenter. Peter, I wonder why?
Perhaps 36 years as an arborist paid off,lol.
@@TheWoodlandEscape some of the first things I learned as a kid. My dad, as a young man, hacked ties for a living. I was interested and he taught me not only the different species but what they were like and how they could be used, which could be the best fire wood, which would split clean and could be easily shaped, which had close fibers and couldnt be split but were good for chair seats, which would weather the elements best if left outside or driven in the ground. Had an Uncle who never bought an axe handle but shaped his own out of the white wood of a hill hickory. Those axes could be stuck in a log and the handle twisted 45 degrees. Hey wouldnt break.
@@TheWoodlandEscape I figure that a carpenter or a person who works with wood knows it. He knows it's fibers. He knows it's flaws and it's strengths. You can saw a board and it will still shrink and swell, sometimes warp. I figure trees are like people in lots of ways. They're individuals too. I figure, if there was a Jesus, and I believe there was, or should have been, that he would have understood timber and people the same and would have known how to get the best out of both.
What a fantastic education!
For sure!
Bear fat? I heard of bunny turds, but not bear fat..
Il parle le français
I wish we did speak French. Learning it has always been on our “to do” list.
A nother video, three in on week, Wow! I feel so privileged! "You have the patience of 100 men." It has now been 13 days straight here in Phoenix of being 🔥 110° F or more ! ! ! 🥵🥵🥵 🤠🌵🏜️ Phx. Az.
I agree, we appreciate the three in one week and really feel privileged. 👍
That heat wave your in is horrible, must be breaking records. As to that patience thing, at least when the camera is running, lol.