So, this might be the last one here, as i move in tomorrow morning. I dont have any clue,when do i get the wireless connection to web working, if at all,but if i do, youll see more post here immediately. The "bad" web connection is about the only downside, on this moving to countryside,but its actually annoying too,a si like to blog and reads my emails, but at the same time, i remember that i havent even had an internet connection,nor a computer,before......well i maybe bought the connection and pc, about 5 years ago. And before that i spent more time outside and among crafts. So, if i get the web working, i still hope that ill spend more time making items, hiking etc than hang so much in front of computer. Still, i cant deny that i will miss my blog-time a lot before i get it going again. Yet, it might take anything from 4 days to 4 weeks or so, sorry.
Well, i still have plebty of small crafts that i can do at home and loads of movies and books. I have to finish in example, this laminated, bainite treated 220 x 40 x 7mm full tang leuku Tero did to me, loads of ideas, to work from leather and such. And as i get my metal working gear brough to new place, i can forge, weld, cut and play with steel in various forms too. The geese hunting is about to be at its best moments too,and such. If i get that outdoor work that ive been discussing about, ill have also a better income. So maybe this all turns in a good way.
The Ahma / wolverine puukko, by the way is missing only its sheath,and then its fully ready to be used.
If you have something important to say to me, you can put it in the comments to this post. I wont publish any personal messages,but i will publish the not-personal ones, here too, when i have chance to read 'em someday somewhere.
I hope the winter, real winter would quick and make end of this rainy weather.
Well, thats about it for now, and we'll see again.
Some slowly updating notes about me,my life,outdoor activities,bushcraft,knives,survival skills etc...
torstai 20. lokakuuta 2011
keskiviikko 19. lokakuuta 2011
Moving....
Well, now i have packed up all my stuff in movingboxes, and ive left only a daypack that has all i need tfor next 2 nights here. Then well move to the new place and i already know that it will last for some time, before i have my own internet connection as no phone operator etc,offers any adsl service there, it seems to i have to try various wireless and slow connections, if there is one that would allow me to even slowly write in to blog and check out my emails. I am not quitting, thats for sure but moving to tiny woodstown comes with issues like this.
Anyways, keep those comments coming when ever you want, i like to read em when ever i can get my butt in front of web connected computer.
Tomorrow, if i have time, i will post something before taking the computer in my pack.
Anyways, keep those comments coming when ever you want, i like to read em when ever i can get my butt in front of web connected computer.
Tomorrow, if i have time, i will post something before taking the computer in my pack.
sunnuntai 16. lokakuuta 2011
Just a quick puukko progress update, part 2 or 3.
My Ahma puukko by the hands of T. Kotavuopio, is just about ready. I think its only missing the wolverine paw mark done, and sheath.
Pretty sleek aint it. It has a big long handle, but the length of the blade, makes it all look so well balanced.
Pretty sleek aint it. It has a big long handle, but the length of the blade, makes it all look so well balanced.
Shortly about weekend.
2 nights ago i went to cabin again, to gather the last mushrooms, saw and split firewood, clean up the yard from most items lying all over, from bbq stove to garden chairs,benches and such, as it sure looks like that nights are always subzero now,and the stuff outside freezes and stucks if i dont take em in the barn. So i wasnt doing anthing interesting actually. Regular sauna bathing with 3 buddies, eating and having good time after sauna. Bottle of Fireball, a case of Karhu, 2 kilos of moose beef, onions, mushrooms, rye bread, chocolate, thats what it was all about. Scent of wood smoke from stoves, candle lights and thick woolsocks. At the 2 mornings, i still picked up my gun and went for a 3 hours walk, to catch a bird or two, and i got one. Well, thats more than enough, i know that at christmas, our table will have only hunted meat instead of bought. Were moving to the new home at next weekend,and then the finest bird season is almost over,and i can only try to get ducks and geese and i am mostly interested in geese as its more challenging, sniper-like action, instead of shotgun mayhem :). During this week, i am boxing my possessions,and at thursday i am disconnecting the pc from web and i hope that it will be connected at new home at beginning of the next week. Honestly...i sometimes miss the time without cellphones and computers with networks and all.
As i got that old gas stove working, and we have done some repairs and cleaning at the cabins old kitchen that was more like warehouse before, i wanted to use it.
Fried onion with real butter, with handful of mushrooms.
Add 500 grams of fresh ground moose beef, throw some salt, and a drop of whiskey in it. Sadly, i didnt have any cream with me, nor had i remembered to bring potatoes with me. So i boiled some macarone, and mixed it with this grub above, but i didnt hear any complaints about it.
This stuff sure is my favourite poison now and as the days get colder, i just "might" have a flask filled with this in my chest pocket when doing some outdoors in the snow and such.
I am glad that we have some...14 cubic meters of firewood at the cabin, it will last just fine over winter no matter how much we heat the cabins four fireplaces or the one in sauna.
Frost and ice, it all tells me about good times ahead.
On the way back home, my buddy who woked up early as i did, but drove to his moose chase place, sent me a pic about his catch of the day. I heard that ill get a good piece of that as well. Lucky me to have a friend like that.
I didnt take much pics, my phones battery is doing death it seems, sorry, but i hope these are better than no pics at all.
As i got that old gas stove working, and we have done some repairs and cleaning at the cabins old kitchen that was more like warehouse before, i wanted to use it.
Fried onion with real butter, with handful of mushrooms.
Add 500 grams of fresh ground moose beef, throw some salt, and a drop of whiskey in it. Sadly, i didnt have any cream with me, nor had i remembered to bring potatoes with me. So i boiled some macarone, and mixed it with this grub above, but i didnt hear any complaints about it.
This stuff sure is my favourite poison now and as the days get colder, i just "might" have a flask filled with this in my chest pocket when doing some outdoors in the snow and such.
I am glad that we have some...14 cubic meters of firewood at the cabin, it will last just fine over winter no matter how much we heat the cabins four fireplaces or the one in sauna.
Frost and ice, it all tells me about good times ahead.
On the way back home, my buddy who woked up early as i did, but drove to his moose chase place, sent me a pic about his catch of the day. I heard that ill get a good piece of that as well. Lucky me to have a friend like that.
I didnt take much pics, my phones battery is doing death it seems, sorry, but i hope these are better than no pics at all.
keskiviikko 12. lokakuuta 2011
Just a quick puukko progress update.
Its definetely getting readier.
Handle block atached,as well as the bolster.
After shaping and still wet after two days in jar of tung oil. It has to be cleaned, and finished with 1000 grit sandpaper, brass part has to be filed and polished etc but its goin to be pretty beautiful...i think, what say you ?
I'll name it Ahma, which translates in to wolverine, as it will be having a wolverine paw in its handle,maybe in the sheath too. I have always found wolverine interesting and it sure is controversial, loved,hated, chased,protected smaller creature living here. Some see it as a terrible beast killing reindeers,some realise that it might not kill as much as claimed. Theres not much of them around anymore,but some think they all should be hunted down. To me, its definetely an animal worth keeping alive,as well as any other predator in this world, from wolves to gators,from snakes to mountain lions. The worst creature to roam in this globe,are we the people,not the animals.
Just as wolverine is, this knife will do things that people like, like carving decorated camp tools,and whittle shavings to set up a warming fire,as well as tasks that some find repulsive, meaning skinning,boning,gutting game.
Order yours from T.Kotavuopio, its easy even for oversears customers.
Handle block atached,as well as the bolster.
After shaping and still wet after two days in jar of tung oil. It has to be cleaned, and finished with 1000 grit sandpaper, brass part has to be filed and polished etc but its goin to be pretty beautiful...i think, what say you ?
I'll name it Ahma, which translates in to wolverine, as it will be having a wolverine paw in its handle,maybe in the sheath too. I have always found wolverine interesting and it sure is controversial, loved,hated, chased,protected smaller creature living here. Some see it as a terrible beast killing reindeers,some realise that it might not kill as much as claimed. Theres not much of them around anymore,but some think they all should be hunted down. To me, its definetely an animal worth keeping alive,as well as any other predator in this world, from wolves to gators,from snakes to mountain lions. The worst creature to roam in this globe,are we the people,not the animals.
Just as wolverine is, this knife will do things that people like, like carving decorated camp tools,and whittle shavings to set up a warming fire,as well as tasks that some find repulsive, meaning skinning,boning,gutting game.
Order yours from T.Kotavuopio, its easy even for oversears customers.
maanantai 3. lokakuuta 2011
Fall weekender
Last weekend, i stuffed my pack and guns into car once again, to go and see if any game would be waiting for me in the bush. Well, i got only two birds,hazel grouses, but they tasted well, freshly cooked in open fire pan along with generous amount of mushroom,bacon and onion all fried and mixed with cream...kind of a stew you might say.
I found an old but working gas stove at flea market and i took it with me and now it it has a new home and life in the forest cabin where we hang out. i do love open, real camp fire, but i think, that its good to have a stove too, so we can cook a meal inside the house as well. Theres a fireplace too, but its easier to use pan and pot on stove than in fireplace in which you cant build a holder for cooking items.
There was mushrooms, so much that i got 4 bags gathered in some..under an hour. And at next weekend i'll be harvesting more.
I had fun time teaching my girlfriend to drive the pick-up that we use there. She learned to use lowering gears and turn on and oof the spindle locks in front, use the winch and then drive in the actual bush,after she managed to drive in old logging machine tracks.
Filling up the tanks from stream, for sauna use.
Off course, i took an advantage to hunt,as i had again this hunting guest pass. And shot some cans etc too,naturally :). My only caths was two pigeons, the bigger birdd were hiding all the time,as there was pretty windy weather and the trees were dropping the leaves and at that time, birds dont fly to branches,sadly.
Although there wasnt much to hunt, i enjoyed the fresh windy days, seeing the nature changing its colours for winter. Already we had -3c temps at nights and i just cant wait, to see days when snow drops and when we have minus temps at daytime too.
The small bar has to be filled soon too, so when the winters there, you can have some proper drinks after a day in snow.
my girlfriend did a serious cleaning at cabon and from some old box she found his obviously older wood handled Mora. It has a slightly worn blade, and the tip has a minor piece missing,some patina and dirt.
As we came back to home i sanded off the red paint, scrubbed the matel parts a bit, and dyed the handle and then oiled it. Ill be making a new leather sheath over the original plastic sheath too, so now she has a "new" beater knife that she can keep at the cabin always as a spare.
Theres an old road, thats officially used last time, about 50 years ago, crossing thru the cabins yard. I have been looking from maps that the old road went to another road in the bush, that still exists and leads to my friends cabin, in about 9 kilometers from the cabin where i visit.
So i drove the old road that is rarely used by our off-road vehicles, and its still blocked so that even jeeps etc, cant connect to the another road. Its kind of a two roads that used to be one but now theres forest growing thru it. But with ATV i could drive it all the way. It was fun and i saw a lot of moose and deer tracks too, plus few toilets of badger.
At some point i stumbled upon old place where once stood a house, and there was just a fireplaces stone base left and next to it, a pile of moss covered junk.
The word junk in my books doesnt mean anything bad always,though. Like this coffee pot. It must be atleast 30 years old or older. It still had good zinc ? lining and the outer side had a good condition emalium. I didnt find the lid, but i picked it up anyway and brought it to cabin as well as the old coffee jar, and ill be using them as decoratives there somewhere.
The best thing in this trip was that i was given this small cabin, near the large main cabin. It has a small room with bunks, a small room to change clothes and a small sauna, plus a outhouse and a firewood shelter...that is just big enough to take a snowmobile in too :). Ill be removing the inner walls and making it one bigger room,throw away the sauna equipment and replacing the KIUAS with a stove, that has a cooking surface on top of it. Sturdy locks, wooden window covers with hinges, better bunks, a few stools and a table, and ill have comfortable small cabin there too, for me to use,and for my friends who will receive a key too. I still think that ill be using the main cabin if theres more people,so its better to use the woods to heat the big cabin, but if im there alone, ill use the smaller that requires less wood. Theres a well next to it ,with checked pure water. I wont be building anything as a yard, just remove the junk around it,and add a lid above the door, that will be modified to open towards inside,so its easier to go in,even when the high amount of snow is in front of the door.
We brought in to the main cabin, some stuff too. Few coffee pots, more matches, candles, a small skillet and a barbeque thingy made from steel wire, in whicj you can roast meat, bread etc, in between the two folding steel nets.
I got this new brew, that was way too good it seems. Fireball, a whiskey liquour with some hot spice and cinnamon. It went empty too fast when we were heating up sauna, building a new firewood shelter from logs and throwing the axes :)
It just might be my favourite soft drink for a while.
This puukko has been pretty darn good, especially when i got to make a new sheath. It isnt nice or beautiful i know, but the previous i made accidentally for left handed so i didnt carry the puukko so much, but now i will. It seems to hold the edge super fine and its sturdy enough for any puukko task, but also, its small enough to be used for more detailed jobs as well. It has a nice balance too, a sthe brass parts in the handle add weight to handle, as the blade isnt the lightest one.
The blade is made by T. Kotavuopio, from ball bearing race,and the handle etc. is done by myself, from leatherdyed curly birch, and brass parts i made by casting them from used 308.rifle cartridges.
Well thats about it now. I didnt do anything interesting nor didnt take so much pics but i thought that some of you might like these anyway.
I found an old but working gas stove at flea market and i took it with me and now it it has a new home and life in the forest cabin where we hang out. i do love open, real camp fire, but i think, that its good to have a stove too, so we can cook a meal inside the house as well. Theres a fireplace too, but its easier to use pan and pot on stove than in fireplace in which you cant build a holder for cooking items.
There was mushrooms, so much that i got 4 bags gathered in some..under an hour. And at next weekend i'll be harvesting more.
I had fun time teaching my girlfriend to drive the pick-up that we use there. She learned to use lowering gears and turn on and oof the spindle locks in front, use the winch and then drive in the actual bush,after she managed to drive in old logging machine tracks.
Filling up the tanks from stream, for sauna use.
Off course, i took an advantage to hunt,as i had again this hunting guest pass. And shot some cans etc too,naturally :). My only caths was two pigeons, the bigger birdd were hiding all the time,as there was pretty windy weather and the trees were dropping the leaves and at that time, birds dont fly to branches,sadly.
Although there wasnt much to hunt, i enjoyed the fresh windy days, seeing the nature changing its colours for winter. Already we had -3c temps at nights and i just cant wait, to see days when snow drops and when we have minus temps at daytime too.
The small bar has to be filled soon too, so when the winters there, you can have some proper drinks after a day in snow.
my girlfriend did a serious cleaning at cabon and from some old box she found his obviously older wood handled Mora. It has a slightly worn blade, and the tip has a minor piece missing,some patina and dirt.
As we came back to home i sanded off the red paint, scrubbed the matel parts a bit, and dyed the handle and then oiled it. Ill be making a new leather sheath over the original plastic sheath too, so now she has a "new" beater knife that she can keep at the cabin always as a spare.
Theres an old road, thats officially used last time, about 50 years ago, crossing thru the cabins yard. I have been looking from maps that the old road went to another road in the bush, that still exists and leads to my friends cabin, in about 9 kilometers from the cabin where i visit.
So i drove the old road that is rarely used by our off-road vehicles, and its still blocked so that even jeeps etc, cant connect to the another road. Its kind of a two roads that used to be one but now theres forest growing thru it. But with ATV i could drive it all the way. It was fun and i saw a lot of moose and deer tracks too, plus few toilets of badger.
At some point i stumbled upon old place where once stood a house, and there was just a fireplaces stone base left and next to it, a pile of moss covered junk.
The word junk in my books doesnt mean anything bad always,though. Like this coffee pot. It must be atleast 30 years old or older. It still had good zinc ? lining and the outer side had a good condition emalium. I didnt find the lid, but i picked it up anyway and brought it to cabin as well as the old coffee jar, and ill be using them as decoratives there somewhere.
The best thing in this trip was that i was given this small cabin, near the large main cabin. It has a small room with bunks, a small room to change clothes and a small sauna, plus a outhouse and a firewood shelter...that is just big enough to take a snowmobile in too :). Ill be removing the inner walls and making it one bigger room,throw away the sauna equipment and replacing the KIUAS with a stove, that has a cooking surface on top of it. Sturdy locks, wooden window covers with hinges, better bunks, a few stools and a table, and ill have comfortable small cabin there too, for me to use,and for my friends who will receive a key too. I still think that ill be using the main cabin if theres more people,so its better to use the woods to heat the big cabin, but if im there alone, ill use the smaller that requires less wood. Theres a well next to it ,with checked pure water. I wont be building anything as a yard, just remove the junk around it,and add a lid above the door, that will be modified to open towards inside,so its easier to go in,even when the high amount of snow is in front of the door.
We brought in to the main cabin, some stuff too. Few coffee pots, more matches, candles, a small skillet and a barbeque thingy made from steel wire, in whicj you can roast meat, bread etc, in between the two folding steel nets.
I got this new brew, that was way too good it seems. Fireball, a whiskey liquour with some hot spice and cinnamon. It went empty too fast when we were heating up sauna, building a new firewood shelter from logs and throwing the axes :)
It just might be my favourite soft drink for a while.
This puukko has been pretty darn good, especially when i got to make a new sheath. It isnt nice or beautiful i know, but the previous i made accidentally for left handed so i didnt carry the puukko so much, but now i will. It seems to hold the edge super fine and its sturdy enough for any puukko task, but also, its small enough to be used for more detailed jobs as well. It has a nice balance too, a sthe brass parts in the handle add weight to handle, as the blade isnt the lightest one.
The blade is made by T. Kotavuopio, from ball bearing race,and the handle etc. is done by myself, from leatherdyed curly birch, and brass parts i made by casting them from used 308.rifle cartridges.
Well thats about it now. I didnt do anything interesting nor didnt take so much pics but i thought that some of you might like these anyway.
maanantai 26. syyskuuta 2011
Quick leuku...sort of,job. Trades ?
Heres a few snapshots of this knife i made recently.
Its forged and ground from an old Viiala file,un used. I have had this unfinished blade on my drawer for a long time and as i didnt have time to do anything from start to finish, i used this file blade now. Its not artsy fartsy high end blade at all, as you notice,just a crude but working one. Heat treated properly to get rid of brittle properties of files high carbon steel.
It has two different edges, one for whittling and one more convex like for chopping and splitting, as leukus are meant to be used. Th efinal edge has to be done, its not ready in the pictures, i have to do some work with my DMT sharpeners when i have the time,or leave it as it is,for some sharpening perv. Its not and axe,though, and it has a normal sturdy stick tang,as they traditionally do.
On the spine side, theres sharp corners for firesteel use,and a short part with fake edge, for cracking bones of game bird or such,so you dont have to break em with actual edge itself as it might leave a mark in it.
The handle is made out of moose antler, thick leather spacers,some dyed and oiled lighty curly birch, then sanded and covered with hard parafin wax on top of the wood and leather parts.
The butt is like this. Riveted tang with simple brass spacer,and theres also a hidden reinforcing screw holding butt,leathers and the woods together,under that almost hidden :) stump of 30-06 rifle cartridge that is fixed to its place with epoxy.
It has a simple dyed and oiled leather sheath with wooden liner in it,too.
Thats about it, nothing special or anything,as you see. Its not pure leuku, but it looks bit like leukus, i think, atleast if you have bad eyes.
I might sell this with Paypal, or trade it into something like single blade folding knife,good matchcase,multitool,pack,rifle scope,survival gear,or something.
Oh by the way, the file teeths are visible but smoothed out dull,so you cant file your nails with this anymore.
Its forged and ground from an old Viiala file,un used. I have had this unfinished blade on my drawer for a long time and as i didnt have time to do anything from start to finish, i used this file blade now. Its not artsy fartsy high end blade at all, as you notice,just a crude but working one. Heat treated properly to get rid of brittle properties of files high carbon steel.
It has two different edges, one for whittling and one more convex like for chopping and splitting, as leukus are meant to be used. Th efinal edge has to be done, its not ready in the pictures, i have to do some work with my DMT sharpeners when i have the time,or leave it as it is,for some sharpening perv. Its not and axe,though, and it has a normal sturdy stick tang,as they traditionally do.
On the spine side, theres sharp corners for firesteel use,and a short part with fake edge, for cracking bones of game bird or such,so you dont have to break em with actual edge itself as it might leave a mark in it.
The handle is made out of moose antler, thick leather spacers,some dyed and oiled lighty curly birch, then sanded and covered with hard parafin wax on top of the wood and leather parts.
The butt is like this. Riveted tang with simple brass spacer,and theres also a hidden reinforcing screw holding butt,leathers and the woods together,under that almost hidden :) stump of 30-06 rifle cartridge that is fixed to its place with epoxy.
It has a simple dyed and oiled leather sheath with wooden liner in it,too.
Thats about it, nothing special or anything,as you see. Its not pure leuku, but it looks bit like leukus, i think, atleast if you have bad eyes.
I might sell this with Paypal, or trade it into something like single blade folding knife,good matchcase,multitool,pack,rifle scope,survival gear,or something.
Oh by the way, the file teeths are visible but smoothed out dull,so you cant file your nails with this anymore.
torstai 15. syyskuuta 2011
Fjällräven Chap G1000 trousers & Greenland wax.
As the fall is here,a nd its pouring water daily and i think ill be gettin wet all the time over the coming weekends hunting trip i got my self a new block off Fjällrävens Greenland wax that i just love. Easy to add by rubbing on followed by gentle melting it in the cloth with heat from hairdryer and such. I dont use any Gore-Tex jackets nor pants, as i dont have the fund to get any and i am afraid that ill break em immediately somehow, most likely id end up having a hole in the cloth made by campfire spark. That would not be cost effective and i rather sit by the fire than away from it. BUT, if you run a business selling & manufacturing Gore-Tex clothing, you have em in Big sizes and in natural colours that blend in forest, i be happy to try out em, if they would make me see GT in different angle. I sure would not turn away a pair of some cool Optifade gear ;).
Well in any case, i am now rubbing in a heavy layer of this wax, and i am pretty sure i wont be disappointed, after using this wax for years. I dont expect any 100% water proof at all, as i rather have a breathing and wet clothing than non-breathing totally waterproof clothing that will get wet inside anyway due to my heavy sweatting:).
I am pretty happy tell that the Fjällräven trousers that i got some time ago, are working like clock. I was bit suspicious for some reason but i havent disapponted at all. The size and form are just in the spot, i havent breaked any zippers nor lost any buttons. The only small fails are the breakage of seam under front zipper, the 5 cm long one. But i got it sorted out, with stronger seam. The other was my own fault,kind of. The other backpocket,has a zippered pocket covered by flap with pressbutton. I got the zipper puller somehow stuck between boards while sitting,and when i got up from bench, the puller snapped off. It was only bent and opened,nothing had breaked,and i just put the puller cord back, pressed the zippers opened loop close with multitool and its been working well after that. G-1000 fabric i have found earlier to be awesome stuff, its very rugged, but not that heavy and its spark resistant as plain cotton,but it dries a bit faster than pure cotton.
Well in any case, i am now rubbing in a heavy layer of this wax, and i am pretty sure i wont be disappointed, after using this wax for years. I dont expect any 100% water proof at all, as i rather have a breathing and wet clothing than non-breathing totally waterproof clothing that will get wet inside anyway due to my heavy sweatting:).
I am pretty happy tell that the Fjällräven trousers that i got some time ago, are working like clock. I was bit suspicious for some reason but i havent disapponted at all. The size and form are just in the spot, i havent breaked any zippers nor lost any buttons. The only small fails are the breakage of seam under front zipper, the 5 cm long one. But i got it sorted out, with stronger seam. The other was my own fault,kind of. The other backpocket,has a zippered pocket covered by flap with pressbutton. I got the zipper puller somehow stuck between boards while sitting,and when i got up from bench, the puller snapped off. It was only bent and opened,nothing had breaked,and i just put the puller cord back, pressed the zippers opened loop close with multitool and its been working well after that. G-1000 fabric i have found earlier to be awesome stuff, its very rugged, but not that heavy and its spark resistant as plain cotton,but it dries a bit faster than pure cotton.
Few mods to "old" Mil-Tec camouflage anorak.
an Iǘe had this old worn cheapish anorak made by Mil-Tec, hanging un-used in my closet for some over 2 years. I found it again when i was gathering stuff for flea market and decided not to throw it away. It serviced me adequetely(?) but i think i kinda forgot it, when the stretchy adjustment cords gave up at winter,as all the rubber does. the camouflage in it never had a strong colours nor contrast, and now when its worn its even more calm. May that be good or bad, i donno.
So, i started by ripping and cutting away all the fleece lining it had. Ive never been the biggest fan of fleece, although i understand that this garment was designed so that the outer nylon layer protects from light rain and blocks the wind, and the fleece jacket inside is to keep user warm. But as i am a sweatty pig, and i rarely feel cold no matter the time of year, i sure would like to have an anorak and a freedom to choose, whats under it,may it be separate fleece shirt, or just a t-shirt or what ever. I left fleece only to the hood,not so much for keeping my head warm at winter if i lose my cap,but to keep the damn hood silent. I cant stand the noise that bare nylon hood keeps while moving.
Next thing i got to do, was to modify the chest pocket a bit. It was originally just one big space,but i stitched it more, making one slot for small knife sized object,one small for pen and then i made the rest of the pocket smaller too,i mean more shallow as it was so deep. So,now it has some organized space. I dont need to have a one major pocket in anorak as i dont stuff my canteen nor axe in it,maybe just a compass,folded map,firesteel,keys too. For keeping the vitals secured , like method of fire making and keys, i made a simple paracord lanyard with a stainless clip in it. I stitched it into the end where the zipper is in closed position, so i can easily have the lanyard hanging out and have the pocket closed, if i need to hand a flashlight outside the pocket or similar.
After that, iCut open the sideseams under the armpits, and thought that id add a few pieces of mesh cloth to have more sweat ventilation under arms but i ended up opening the entire sideseams. This was to make the anorak bit bigger, so i can use woolshirt and other thicker stuff under it. I didnt have any camo cloth anywhere but i remembered that i had a small piece of PU coated blaze orange Cordura somewhere, found it as used it to make these bit under 2" wide side strips. They dont even look so stupid dont they ? and those give a bit of needed visibility especially during hunting season, and such. I think they wont be so nasty in eyes of game either as they are visible from sidewiev mainly, dont if you look straight towards me.
At the nd of orange pieces i added these mesh cloth pieces to make triangular shaped ventilation thingys. yep, my seams are what thet are but i think they will last anyway, may they look ugly or not. I admire few individuals that have the skills to make cool sewing projects that look like made in factory but i cant and my fleamarket sewing machine aint the most professionally working either :).
Then i added two simple loops. One per sleeve end, so i can attach my mittens or gloves to the sleeves so they dont fall in to snow while taking a piss while ski'ing or drop em to river while paddling etc. Its far easier to have the gloves hanging from sleeves that trying to pick em up from deep snow if the ski´ s are on your feet, trust me.
To the right hand sideseam i decided to add onerotating plastic clip with stainless gate spring, so i can maybe hang something light if i need to. Like my furhat if its in the way or kuksa etc. I ended the seams lower end with strips of nylon webbing to reinforce them...and yes,to make em bit easier to look :).
I switched the dead elastic cords with coyote tan paracord piece. That lives thru winter im sure.
To backside i stitches a small piece of velcro and made an removable "see me if needed" patch from reflective cloth and blaze orange Cordura.
And a similar to chest too. These are removable so i can camouflage me a bit better or have me seen if i want to. It doesnt make me unvisible sadly !. These patches might be at their best in dark winters especially when its pouring snow. We have reflective patches and all, with head lamps, and it sure makes a difference when you ski or walk with others in fog etc, and these patches flash when you scan for them with a flashlight. In heavy snow you easily get lost you know if you go to fast or slow and lose the others. And on hunting, its way cool to have a visible small patch in your back so others may shoot you so easily :).
To left side sleeve i stitched a small used subdued Finnish flag to cover small hole and i think it looks pretty neat.
For this time, i was ready. I am pretty sure ill be trying to make an water resistant venting to backside too and adding a hidden backside pocket for seat pad. But now, i just sprayed the whole anorak with Holmenkol hightec proof that i am testing to see if it works. Ive heard it does but i want to see it myself too.
Thats about it for now, il be using this tomorrow and over the weekend and then i know was it worth the effort at all.
So, i started by ripping and cutting away all the fleece lining it had. Ive never been the biggest fan of fleece, although i understand that this garment was designed so that the outer nylon layer protects from light rain and blocks the wind, and the fleece jacket inside is to keep user warm. But as i am a sweatty pig, and i rarely feel cold no matter the time of year, i sure would like to have an anorak and a freedom to choose, whats under it,may it be separate fleece shirt, or just a t-shirt or what ever. I left fleece only to the hood,not so much for keeping my head warm at winter if i lose my cap,but to keep the damn hood silent. I cant stand the noise that bare nylon hood keeps while moving.
Next thing i got to do, was to modify the chest pocket a bit. It was originally just one big space,but i stitched it more, making one slot for small knife sized object,one small for pen and then i made the rest of the pocket smaller too,i mean more shallow as it was so deep. So,now it has some organized space. I dont need to have a one major pocket in anorak as i dont stuff my canteen nor axe in it,maybe just a compass,folded map,firesteel,keys too. For keeping the vitals secured , like method of fire making and keys, i made a simple paracord lanyard with a stainless clip in it. I stitched it into the end where the zipper is in closed position, so i can easily have the lanyard hanging out and have the pocket closed, if i need to hand a flashlight outside the pocket or similar.
After that, iCut open the sideseams under the armpits, and thought that id add a few pieces of mesh cloth to have more sweat ventilation under arms but i ended up opening the entire sideseams. This was to make the anorak bit bigger, so i can use woolshirt and other thicker stuff under it. I didnt have any camo cloth anywhere but i remembered that i had a small piece of PU coated blaze orange Cordura somewhere, found it as used it to make these bit under 2" wide side strips. They dont even look so stupid dont they ? and those give a bit of needed visibility especially during hunting season, and such. I think they wont be so nasty in eyes of game either as they are visible from sidewiev mainly, dont if you look straight towards me.
At the nd of orange pieces i added these mesh cloth pieces to make triangular shaped ventilation thingys. yep, my seams are what thet are but i think they will last anyway, may they look ugly or not. I admire few individuals that have the skills to make cool sewing projects that look like made in factory but i cant and my fleamarket sewing machine aint the most professionally working either :).
Then i added two simple loops. One per sleeve end, so i can attach my mittens or gloves to the sleeves so they dont fall in to snow while taking a piss while ski'ing or drop em to river while paddling etc. Its far easier to have the gloves hanging from sleeves that trying to pick em up from deep snow if the ski´ s are on your feet, trust me.
To the right hand sideseam i decided to add onerotating plastic clip with stainless gate spring, so i can maybe hang something light if i need to. Like my furhat if its in the way or kuksa etc. I ended the seams lower end with strips of nylon webbing to reinforce them...and yes,to make em bit easier to look :).
I switched the dead elastic cords with coyote tan paracord piece. That lives thru winter im sure.
To backside i stitches a small piece of velcro and made an removable "see me if needed" patch from reflective cloth and blaze orange Cordura.
And a similar to chest too. These are removable so i can camouflage me a bit better or have me seen if i want to. It doesnt make me unvisible sadly !. These patches might be at their best in dark winters especially when its pouring snow. We have reflective patches and all, with head lamps, and it sure makes a difference when you ski or walk with others in fog etc, and these patches flash when you scan for them with a flashlight. In heavy snow you easily get lost you know if you go to fast or slow and lose the others. And on hunting, its way cool to have a visible small patch in your back so others may shoot you so easily :).
To left side sleeve i stitched a small used subdued Finnish flag to cover small hole and i think it looks pretty neat.
For this time, i was ready. I am pretty sure ill be trying to make an water resistant venting to backside too and adding a hidden backside pocket for seat pad. But now, i just sprayed the whole anorak with Holmenkol hightec proof that i am testing to see if it works. Ive heard it does but i want to see it myself too.
Thats about it for now, il be using this tomorrow and over the weekend and then i know was it worth the effort at all.
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