About this topic
Long-form woodcraft writing: fire lays that work in the wet, tarp and lean-to shelters, axe and knife work, cordage, and the slow skills that make a camp feel like home.
84 articles
Splitting Large Logs With a Small Hatchet: Wedges, Clubs, and Grain Reading
Learn how to process 14-inch rounds using a small camp hatchet, carved hardwood gluts, and smart grain reading without ruining your tool.
· 7 min read
Cold Smoke and Wet Air: Preserving Fish Yields in Coastal Wilderness
Coastal wilderness presents unique challenges for preserving fish. High humidity and ever-present insects can spoil a hard-won catch quickly. This guide breaks down the critical factors for successful cold smoking and air drying.
· 7 min read
Coastal Rainforest Firecraft: Finding Dry Fuel When All Seems Lost
When the coastal rainforest has absorbed weeks of rain, finding dry fuel for a fire can feel impossible. This guide cuts through the wet to show you where to look, what to use, and how to process materials for a successful blaze, even in the soggiest conditions.
· 6 min read
How to Customize an Axe or Hatchet: Handles, Edges, and Sheaths That Earn Their Weight
A stock axe is a starting point. Rehanging, re-profiling the bit, tuning the grip, and building a better sheath turn a factory head into a tool that fits your hands and your woods.
· 10 min read
How to Customize a Camp Saw: Blades, Handles, and Carry Systems That Actually Work
A folding or bucksaw is one of the highest-leverage tools in a camp kit, and it responds well to smart modification. Here is how to tune blades, handles, tension, and carry so your saw cuts faster and rides better.
· 9 min read
How to Customize a Multitool: From Factory Fresh to Field-Ready
A multitool is already versatile out of the box, but a few thoughtful mods can turn it into a purpose-built companion. Here is how to personalize, upgrade, and field-proof your multi-tool without ruining it.
· 8 min read
Build a Bombproof Tarp Shelter in Under 10 Minutes: Five Configurations
Learn how to pitch a reliable tarp shelter quickly, using five versatile configurations for various terrains and weather. This guide focuses on practical, field-tested methods to ensure a secure and dry night in the backcountry, even when conditions turn sour.
· 11 min read
Knife Steel Types: A Field Guide to What Each Alloy Is Good For
From soft, tough carbon steels that spark a ferro rod to super-hard powder metallurgy blades that hold an edge for a week of processing. Here is what every common knife steel is actually good for.
· 12 min read
Knife Grinds Explained: Flat, Hollow, Convex, Scandi, Chisel and Serrated
The grind of a blade — how it tapers from spine to edge — decides how the knife cuts more than the steel does. Here is every grind, what it looks like, and what it is good for.
· 10 min read
How to Sharpen Every Knife Grind: Whetstone, Diamond Plate, Strop and Rod
Convex grinds get a strop. Scandi grinds get a flat stone. Serrations get a round file. Here is the right tool and technique for every grind, plus the exact sharpeners to buy from Amazon.
· 11 min read
Knife Steel Guide: 100+ Blade Steels Ranked by Edge Retention, Toughness and Corrosion Resistance
MagnaCut wins overall, MagnaMax leads edge retention, 14C28N wins value, 3V rules hard use, Vanax and LC200N own saltwater. A ranked, comparative guide to 100+ knife steels with T/E/C data.
· 22 min read
Axe Handle Finishes Compared: Linseed, Tung, Beeswax, and Bare Wood
Every finish trades grip for protection. Here's how raw linseed, tung oil, beeswax, and no finish at all actually behave on a hickory handle over a full season.
· 5 min read
