Scoutcraft DIY

If you want to do pioneering, you're gonna need some spars.  The Scout Pioneering website has a nice article on how to put together a pioneering kit , including the color coding scheme for various lengths.  I like to use pine or poplar for spars because they grow fast and straight, and they are lightweight.  One way to get some spars is to ask a builder or developer if you can cut some trees from a piece of land that is scheduled to be cleared. Here is a trailer load full of spars that I was given permission to cut from a construction site prior to the area being cleared.  I used a machete to limb the trees and it worked well. Once you have cut some trees, you will need to remove the bark.  Leaving the bark on can cause your poles to deteriorate faster and can cause your lashings to slip.  There's more than one way to skin a tree.  One way is to use a draw knife.  There are also various chainsaw and angle grinder attachments.  Some advo...

Char cloth is used for multiple fire starting techniques, like flint and steel, or the fire piston.  It is easy to make and here is how you do it: Materials Altoid tin cotton cloth or cotton balls Tools drill 1/8" drill bit stove or BBQ grill Take an empty Altoids tin and drill a 1/8" hole in the center of the top.  The bottom of the inside of the "O" is roughly center. Place some small squares of 100% cotton cloth, or cotton balls into your tin.  Do not pack them in tight.  4 to 6 cotton balls is about right.  Place this on the stove or BBQ grill on low heat.  Better to do this outside, but I have a really good exhaust fan, so I did it inside.  After a while, smoke will start coming out of the hole.  After about 10 minutes, the smoke will stop.  When this happens, turn off the heat and let the tin cool.  That's it. Don't do this without parental permission / supervision.

I was doing some research on pioneering for an upcoming Camporee with a pioneering theme.  I came across a blog called Ropes & Poles .  One of the articles was about a tool called a frapping mallet .  It is used to tighten up lashings on larger projects.  You wrap the rope around the handle, brace the head against your spar, and use the handle as a lever to tighten the lashing.  I could not find much else on frapping mallets on the internet.  I don't think these are available for purchase anywhere.  I did find an old sailors tool called a heaving mallet used on rigging in a similar manner. Nevertheless, I was intrigued and had to make one.  This is not your typical project that anybody can make in their kitchen, but if you have the required tools, and know how to weld, it's not that hard. Materials 1/2" x 18" iron pipe 1-1/4" x 6" iron pipe scraps of hardwood spray paint Tools Cut off saw drill press center punch hammer 1...

A fire piston is a device that uses the heat created from rapidly pressuring a gas to ignite a piece of char cloth.  The main components are a cylinder, a plunger and an O ring.  You can buy a commercial fire piston for $20 to $50.  This article will show you how to build one for less than $10.  The most expensive material needed is a piece of copper pipe.  I paid $5.92 for a 24" piece at Lowe's.  If you can get your hands on a scrap piece, that would be ideal, or split the cost with 3 friends who want to make one also.  You could make it out of 1/2" PVC pipe, but I doubt it would be very durable.  The remaining items are in the $1-$2 range. Materials  1/2" copper pipe (5" long) 1/2" copper pipe end cap wooden cabinet knob 3/8" oak dowel (about 6") rubber O ring (#6) wood glue petroleum jelly Tools hacksaw or pipe cutter file sandpaper propane torch flux / solder saw pocket knife small round file or sandpaper wrapped ar...