Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => The Knowledge => Camping It Up => Topic started by: rogerzilla on 17 August, 2010, 06:39:22 pm
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Lifeventure Knife Fork Spoon Set Titanium Only £13.49
(http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Lifeventure_Knife_Fork_Spoon_Set_Titanium/5360023566/)
About six quid cheaper than fleaBay and stunning reviews. FWIW, my stainless steel set weighs 110g, so this is a full 2oz lighter. That's not why your finger is hovering over the "Add to basket" button, though, is it?
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Well, thats not a thread title you see every day ;D
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I'm a great fan of the 'light my fire' spork. A design classic!
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The Alpkit titanium cutlery set is cheaper and lighter.
- Alpkit Outdoor Gear Shop
(http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16409&category_id=283)
I've got an older design of titanium cutlery set from them, and it does the job nicely.
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Their titanium cooking pot is also nice, but frankly unnecessary since aluminium does the job better (teflon-coated if you think alu is toxic).
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I'm a great fan of the 'light my fire' spork. A design classic!
I kept mine in my bar bag, handy for pots of yoghurt and tubs of couscous-y stuff. It eventually snapped when I was washing it :(
They now do a titanium (http://www.expeditionhardware.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=133) one...
Alpkit (http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16378&category_id=283) do some nice stuff, I've now got the folding spork
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We have sporks, titanium spork and mini-sporks.
And, of course, the ultralight bamboo sporks.
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The Ti sporks look to have a matte finish...is it not like dragging a bit of emery paper across you teeth?
:-X
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My name is Charlotte and I'm a Snow Peak (http://www.snowpeak.com/) Ti camping cookware addict.
I've got their Trek 700, 900 and 1400 Ti billycans to go with my Clikstand lightweight Trangia-style kit, I also have their spoon and fork set (http://www.snowpeak.com/tableware/cutlery/ti-backpacker-fork-and-spoon-sct-005.html) as I've never seen the need for a separate, blunt eating knife when I'm camping.
I also have their cut-down "racing" spork (http://www.snowpeak.com/tableware/cutlery/titanium-short-spork-sct-006.html), which is one of those little objects of desire which, despite being considerably less practical than most other pieces of cutlery, nonetheless makes me unaccountably happy.
Yes, I really am that sad.
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I also have their cut-down "racing" spork (http://www.snowpeak.com/tableware/cutlery/titanium-short-spork-sct-006.html), which is one of those little objects of desire which, despite being considerably less practical than most other pieces of cutlery, nonetheless makes me unaccountably happy.
My bamboo spork is smaller, and possibly lighter ;) :-*
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*doesn't care*
*strokes spork*
Precioussssssssss :D
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I have two, you know... ;)
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I've just got a set of the Lifeventure folding cutlery, since small volume seems more useful to me than ultralightweight.
If you really want to go the route of lightness, isn't a set of titanium folding chopsticks (http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16303&category_id=283) the way?
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I usually carry some of the lifeventure folding cutlery in my saddlebag (even on my commute ::-)) but I don't like the fork very much - it's too narrow. The knives aren't bad if you want something less stabby than a SAK though :). I like that short ti spork :P.
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Yes, the folding fork is a bit hopeless. The knife isn't bad, and the spoon is OK (although mines not quite straight when unfolded).
I suspect a better combination may be a spork and decent sharp "kitchen" knife (with a cover on the blade). The trouble with that is that I suspect things like soup and cereal don't play well with a spork.
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Yes, the folding fork is a bit hopeless. The knife isn't bad, and the spoon is OK (although mines not quite straight when unfolded).
I suspect a better combination may be a spork and decent sharp "kitchen" knife (with a cover on the blade). The trouble with that is that I suspect things like soup and cereal don't play well with a spork.
We eat a fair amount of soup with no problems :)
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I use the kids old "soft" spoons when I'm cooking solo. They also do a reasonable job of cleaning muck off the crockery if you're in a hurry, saving you the hassle of washing it.
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I'm a great fan of the 'light my fire' spork. A design classic!
+1!
Except we managed to throw two away along with the rubbish bag on one campsite. :'(
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I'm a great fan of the 'light my fire' spork. A design classic!
...and it comes in Titanium. ;D
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*Spork envy*
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Lifeventure Knife Fork Spoon Set Titanium Only £13.49
(http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Lifeventure_Knife_Fork_Spoon_Set_Titanium/5360023566/)
About six quid cheaper than fleaBay and stunning reviews. FWIW, my stainless steel set weighs 110g, so this is a full 2oz lighter. That's not why your finger is hovering over the "Add to basket" button, though, is it?
I had one of those sets but didn't like it, so gave it away. The fork was the wrong shape for my mouth ??? so I went back to a Ti Spork and my trusted Swiss Army knife (which I always carry anyway). I find I can eat anything with that combination and my fingers.
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When I go camping, the only cutlery I take is called a "wallet"
As soon as the nearest cafe opens - bacon! Disco! At the end of the day, a wallet and the nearest pub are all you need for sustenance.
I really have no clue what you lot are talking about. Odd people :P
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I just take liquified food and a folding titanium straw.
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Plastic spoons and forks are widely available FoC
But that is not the purpose of this thread
It is to explore the existential nature of camping cutlery, ergonomics and desire
10,000 years from now a titanium spork could be discovered and not fully understood. We wish to explore that very understanding
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Does it worry you that, 100 years hence, the triumphal dolphins will laugh at our heavy titanium cutlery as they tuck into man fillet with unobtanium 5g chopsticks?
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Yes. Such a terrible waste of unobtanium that would be far better used to manufacture quantum accelerators. >:(
I'd quite like to see a dolphin using chopsticks, though...
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I'd quite like to see a dolphin using chopsticks, though...
(http://www.anthonares.net/narwhal1.jpg)
RAAAAWWWWWR!
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Does it worry you that, 100 years hence, the triumphal dolphins will laugh at our heavy titanium cutlery as they tuck into man fillet with unobtanium 5g chopsticks?
Only 5g? Given that most of the Titanium chopsticks on the market are between 18g and 22g, a factor of four improvement isn't much, pretty crummy unobtanium.
Wouldn't we have some sort of force field tech by then, that'll give us weightless tools and cutlery?
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Wouldn't we have some sort of force field tech by then, that'll give us weightless tools and cutlery?
They eventually got a working prototype, went to the pub to celebrate, and when they came back it had floated off and everyone was too hung over to remember what made it work.
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Does it worry you that, 100 years hence, the triumphal dolphins will laugh at our heavy titanium cutlery as they tuck into man fillet with unobtanium 5g chopsticks?
Only 5g? Given that most of the Titanium chopsticks on the market are between 18g and 22g, a factor of four improvement isn't much, pretty crummy unobtanium.
Wouldn't we have some sort of force field tech by then, that'll give us weightless tools and cutlery?
Don't be silly Tim, we'll just be swallowing food pills by then, no need for cutlery... it was on Tomorrows World a while back....
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pills? don't be daft.
Genetically modified trees with liquid food just under the bark. Take a Ti straw, stick it in tree and suck.
We are the tree vampires :thumbsup:
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If you really want to go the route of lightness, isn't a set of titanium folding chopsticks (http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16303&category_id=283) the way?
Wibble
:)
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I'm really sorry to do this to the spork enthusiasts, but...
(http://www.heinnie.com/uploads/images_products_large/5368.jpg)
CRKT Cookware: Eat N` Tool --- Heinnie Haynes - Knives, Pocket Tools and Accessories (http://www.heinnie.com/Survival/Field-Cookware/CRKT/CRKT-Cookware-Eat-N%60-Tool/p-484-508-804-5368/)
:D
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You'll get messy fingers using that for soup !
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I like a spoon to be a proper spoon.
When it comes to shoveling scoff down my neck on the go I prefer the full sized shovel and not the crappy fold up entrenching tool.
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I'm really sorry to do this to the spork enthusiasts, but...
CRKT Cookware: Eat N` Tool --- Heinnie Haynes - Knives, Pocket Tools and Accessories (http://www.heinnie.com/Survival/Field-Cookware/CRKT/CRKT-Cookware-Eat-N%60-Tool/p-484-508-804-5368/)
:D
Things are just getting silly now
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That one's just not doing it for me. Seems like a case of doing several tools badly and none of them particularly well. Unless perhaps you're after a spork that could double as a tyre lever in an emergency. And it's not even gratuitous titanium.
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Just imagine riding through a thick, slimy, green stream emanating from a slurry pit, then finding you have a flat, and dream of eating later in the day.
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Damnit the short ti spork is only $9 but the shipping to the UK is $14 :'(
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Damnit the short ti spork is only $9 but the shipping to the UK is $14 :'(
*waves fairy sporkmother wand*
Or on eBay, $8.95 and $2.96 USPS First Class Mail International :D
Clicky (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-Snow-Peak-Titanium-SPORK-SHORT-SCT-006-/200509098373?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0)
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Damnit the short ti spork is only $9 but the shipping to the UK is $14 :'(
*waves fairy sporkmother wand*
Or on eBay, $8.95 and $2.96 USPS First Class Mail International :D
Clicky (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-Snow-Peak-Titanium-SPORK-SHORT-SCT-006-/200509098373?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0)
Way too short for burying your poo. Or isn't it truly multi-purpose?
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Damnit the short ti spork is only $9 but the shipping to the UK is $14 :'(
*waves fairy sporkmother wand*
Or on eBay, $8.95 and $2.96 USPS First Class Mail International :D
Clicky (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-Snow-Peak-Titanium-SPORK-SHORT-SCT-006-/200509098373?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0)
Congratulations, you just bought this item. :thumbsup:
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My name is Charlotte and I'm a Snow Peak (http://www.snowpeak.com/) Ti camping cookware addict.
I also have their cut-down "racing" spork (http://www.snowpeak.com/tableware/cutlery/titanium-short-spork-sct-006.html), which is one of those little objects of desire which, despite being considerably less practical than most other pieces of cutlery, nonetheless makes me unaccountably happy.
Yes, I really am that sad.
I just weighed my plastic Tellytubby spoon, the one I usually take with me on long rides. 11g and it says "all gone" in the bowl so you know when you've finished! Free on the front of some parenting magazine many years ago.
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Yeah, but can you sharpen the tines to a wicked edge and use it in single combat? Is it hypoallergenic, non-stick and anti-bacterial all at the same time? Could it work as your primary tool to tunnel out of a prison camp? Will it withstand boiling heat and vicious cold, without bending, breaking or otherwise deforming? If push came to shove, would you be able to perform an emergency tracheotomy with it, whilst knowing all the time that it was, without doubt the most stylish combined fork/spoon utensil in the entire improvised triage area?
I thought not ::-)
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The Fairy Sporkmother has been sniffing her glittery sparklestars again, hasn't she?
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Charlotte, all I can say is God help anyone who gets between you and the chocolate sponge in the works canteen.
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Yeah, but can you sharpen the tines to a wicked edge and use it in single combat? Is it hypoallergenic, non-stick and anti-bacterial all at the same time? Could it work as your primary tool to tunnel out of a prison camp? Will it withstand boiling heat and vicious cold, without bending, breaking or otherwise deforming? If push came to shove, would you be able to perform an emergency tracheotomy with it, whilst knowing all the time that it was, without doubt the most stylish combined fork/spoon utensil in the entire improvised triage area?
I thought not ::-)
You should work in marketing! :demon:
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Yeah, but can you sharpen the tines to a wicked edge and use it in single combat? Is it hypoallergenic, non-stick and anti-bacterial all at the same time? Could it work as your primary tool to tunnel out of a prison camp? Will it withstand boiling heat and vicious cold, without bending, breaking or otherwise deforming? If push came to shove, would you be able to perform an emergency tracheotomy with it, whilst knowing all the time that it was, without doubt the most stylish combined fork/spoon utensil in the entire improvised triage area?
I thought not ::-)
Nope. But it's got tellytubbies on it, which means no-one will ever think "that looks cool" and steal it and if you do spot someone else using it...what are the chances it's not your spoon!
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Barakta with her new toy:
(http://www.ductilebiscuit.net/gallery_albums/random/IMG_2497.sized.jpg)
:thumbsup:
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For maximum effect that needs to be worn on a gold chain around the neck..... :D
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Not entirely clear in the photo, but she's wearing it on a black leather cord around the neck...
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Squints closely at picture, ah yes.
Waves Hi to Barakta :thumbsup:
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Cool :D :thumbsup:
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Waves Hi to Barakta :thumbsup:
*waves back* :D
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oooooooooh nice spork!
I am awaiting delivery of my eBay one, it should be on its way from US at the moment :)
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Yes, I took am awaiting spork delivery, but mine is being held up by other items on the order, which needed ordering in. :-\
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Crikey - a whole regiment of sporkers.
Perhaps we should form the YACF Irregulars? Armed to the teeth with viciously sharp hybrid eating utensils and ready to fight crime and injustice wherever we find it (as well as eating any spare cake that happens to be lying around).
Come on, it's a winner :D
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I was using my Alpkit folding spork at the weekend. The spoon function works well, I didn't get a chance to try the stabbity prongs though. The wire handle is OK, but can collapse if you stir your couscous the wrong way.
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Perhaps we should form the YACF Irregulars? Armed to the teeth with viciously sharp hybrid eating utensils and ready to fight crime and injustice wherever we find it (as well as eating any spare cake that happens to be lying around).
Yebbut, you've already begged a cool name as the Sporkmother, the rest of us are just sidekicks, sporketeers as it were.
We should go for a group shot at the YACF Camping thingy (if my spork ever turns up...)
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Will those of us with plastic sporks be allowed to join?
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Yes. But don't expect to make the commissioned ranks. A plastic spork is not the weapon of a gentleman...
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I don't get this spork stuff. Proper spoon for me. If you want to save weight, take a kiddy's plastic one, as has been said. Fork is rarely necessary - anything you can eat with a fork usually tastes better eaten with fingers.
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If it needs stabbing, you need a knife, it it needs scooping, you need a spoon.
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You just don’t seem to get it, chaps. We’re not talking about a mere piece of disposable cutlery here. The spork is an ancient weapon of a gentleman traveller. Not as clumsy or random as a fork, nor as lumpen or inaccurate as a spoon; an elegant weapon for a more civilized age. For over a thousand generations, spork bearers were the guardians of peace and justice whilst eating their dinner.
Before the dark times...
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One of the most important items a travelling Japanese warrior (or, for that matter, a monk) would carry was his chopsticks. Miyamoto Musashi describes how to use chopsticks as weapons.
Sporks are just a Western version.
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I've put it in the really terrible jokes thread, because that's where it belongs
spork history (http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=403.msg708895#msg708895)
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*grone*
*hands Ham his coat*
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Yes. But don't expect to make the commissioned ranks. A plastic spork is not the weapon of a gentleman...
I'm willing to stay in the ranks. Cannon fodder, that's me. As long as I get cake.
I have got two sporks - a small one for eating with, and a big one for cooking with, courtesy of my sister last Christmas. Does that count for anything?
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One of the most important items a travelling Japanese warrior (or, for that matter, a monk) would carry was his chopsticks. Miyamoto Musashi describes how to use chopsticks as weapons.
Takeshi Kitano's Hana Bi has an gruesome depiction of this. A Yakuza heavy is hassling Our Hero during his lunch, and ends up with a chopstick through his eyeball..... :o
I hate to think what Charlotte would do to a similarly rude chap with a sharpened spork....
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Yes. But don't expect to make the commissioned ranks. A plastic spork is not the weapon of a gentleman...
I'm willing to stay in the ranks. Cannon fodder, that's me. As long as I get cake.
I have got two sporks - a small one for eating with, and a big one for cooking with, courtesy of my sister last Christmas. Does that count for anything?
Me too. We have 3 (one each) Light My Fire plastic sporks and they're just fine. I am tempted by a Ti spork but it's becoming a bit like following the herd. Ti sporks are getting too cool and I ain't cool, nor do I want to be.
If something needs cutting, poking or stabbing I've got my Frosts knife, failing that I've also got my Leatherman Surge. With this selection if some chump needed to endure death by cutlery I reckon I'd cope.
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Everything is a weapon in skillful hands Grasshopper
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Me too. We have 3 (one each) Light My Fire plastic sporks and they're just fine. I am tempted by a Ti spork but it's becoming a bit like following the herd. Ti sporks are getting too cool and I ain't cool, nor do I want to be.
If something needs cutting, poking or stabbing I've got my Frosts knife, failing that I've also got my Leatherman Surge. With this selection if some chump needed to endure death by cutlery I reckon I'd cope.
On holiday in France this year, one of our group spotted some Opinel stainless steel knives in a box at a supermarket checkout, at a good price. Until then, about half the group (of eight), had one. After that, we all did!
For the next few days, every lunchtime, when the cheese and bread and tomatoes were unpacked and needed slicing, there was a rush of people getting thier new knives out to play with....
Seamus, over on the Velo Vision forum, was telling us that he thought he'd mislaid his tent pegs on a recent trip, and had to make do with forks. I thought of this thread...
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Just got an email saying that my Ti Spork is delayed, so I won't have it in time for the YACF Camping Weekend. :(
I may have to go and find a cheap plastic one, so I won't be amongst the unsporked.
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I am also sporkless, and the Barbie cannon is out of action, so if we're anticipating a zombie attack I might have to borrow barakta's.
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I'll remain Sporkless and continue eating with my hands whilst lovingly fondling and warming my Spyderco Harpy in my pocket. :smug:
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Even John MacGregor, famous for the 'Rob Roy' canoe journeys in the 19th Century, gentleman traveller, patent lawyer and all-round-good-guy, was armed with an ancestor of the Spork as he journeyed.
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Jean Little Library: Spork by Kyo Maclear, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault (http://jeanlittlelibrary.blogspot.com/2010/09/spork-by-kyo-maclear-illustrated-by.html)
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After just over a month, my Ti Spork was delivered yesterday when I was out WARTYing. I am now fully ensporked, but I've not got any camping planned, so it won't get it's proper christening for a while.
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After just over a month, my Ti Spork was delivered yesterday when I was out WARTYing. I am now fully ensporked, but I've not got any camping planned, so it won't get it's proper christening for a while.
There is an opportunity next weekend (http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=36639.0). I know you like a bit of the rough stuff.
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Personally, my experience is that unobtanium sporks and carbon chop sticks are largely a waste of money. Too easily mislaid or taken by other envious travellers from a hostel or campsite washup.
They are also mainly bought by those who never actually travel
since they would find a regular knife, fork and spoon serves far better.
I'd like to see a steak being delt with using a plastic spork or do you lot only eat lentils when traveling..? Har har! ;D
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I'd like to see a steak being delt with using a plastic spork ...
I'm willing to bet my Ti Spork can happily cut through a properly cooked steak, but on the other hand I can count the number of times I've cooked a steak whilst camping on the fingers of one foot.
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Personally, my experience is that unobtanium sporks and carbon chop sticks are largely a waste of money. Too easily mislaid or taken by other envious travellers from a hostel or campsite washup.
They are also mainly bought by those who never actually travel
since they would find a regular knife, fork and spoon serves far better.
I'd like to see a steak being delt with using a plastic spork or do you lot only eat lentils when traveling..? Har har! ;D
Kind of a rude tone for your 4th post - maybe you need to re-read the forum rules and imbibe some spirit.
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Personally, my experience is that unobtanium sporks and carbon chop sticks are largely a waste of money. Too easily mislaid or taken by other envious travellers from a hostel or campsite washup.
They are also mainly bought by those who never actually travel
since they would find a regular knife, fork and spoon serves far better.
I'd like to see a steak being delt with using a plastic spork or do you lot only eat lentils when traveling..? Har har! ;D
Kind of a rude tone for your 4th post - maybe you need to re-read the forum rules and imbibe some spirit.
Give him a break, he was expressing an opinion that he doesn't like sporks, he's entitled to that.
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Rude tone? Sorry mate, I forget my table manners. Would it help if I used more smiley faces? Feels like a girl guide sticking stars in her homework book though...
As for taking on foods that need more than a spork to deal with try south american steaks or camel in morroco or red snapper off queensland.
Try preparing a pumpkin given to you at the road side in quebec.
A spork is just an expensive second rate spoon.
Hope that wasn't too direct or rude for you.
I could always spork off
;D
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making jokes is fine, including ones about rudolf-consumption (we've even discussed the consumption of cats somewhere).
It's the "..you lot .." bit combined with 'most people who buy these don't even go travelling"; this seemed a bit like baiting, not actually constructive.
If you enjoy baiting, there is Politics and Other Business. Abandon all hope ye who enter there.
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I've never wanted to cook anything on camp I can't eat with a spork, sometimes supplemented by a SAK.
I am prepared to bet, even not knowing who they are, that I camp more than Flint catcher.
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Personally I would think twice before casting nasturtiums on the spork lovers of this parish, but then I quite enjoy living.
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Nasturtiums can be eaten with a spork, and of course make an extremely attractive table centrepiece.
Personally, I aspire to a set of hand-carved wooden sporks. The project is merely awaiting sourcing suitable wood - the previous versions, carved from yew, were not a success.
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We'll just send the Sporkmother after him. ;D
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I like lentils :). I rarely eat them whilst camping, except on the first or second day when we usually have some leftovers from home, sometimes as a fajita. What we do eat whilst camping, mostly pasta, rice, soup and noodles are easily managed with a spork. We mostly use the titanium one for cooking and as a spare. :D
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Chopsticks and a spoon. I use exactly the same utensils I do at home, as I do when camping.
In the past I've had a camping cutlery tool that was useless. It had a knife, fork and spoon, but as they all folded into the same handle, you could only use one at a time.
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I agree that a spork is a good idea, but not anything new. My wife and I got a set of "Splades" for a wedding present 35 years ago. There are a spork. I do feel, though, that a titanium spork is a bit "because It's there"ish. No offense meant to those of a sporkish disposition.
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... I do feel, though, that a titanium spork is a bit "because It's there"ish. ...
It's not a bit "because it's there"-ish, it's quite a lot "because it's there"-ish. ;D
Then again, so are lots of things I like, recumbents, silly gadgets, probably half my bikes. I don't claim they are all necessarily useful, and quite possibly are not sensible. :-[
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I do like the Ti spork, though. Not to eat with - like the Ti mug, it seems to 'taste', but I've broken plastic sporks by using them to cook with. The Ti one isn't affected.
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... I do feel, though, that a titanium spork is a bit "because It's there"ish. ...
It's not a bit "because it's there"-ish, it's quite a lot "because it's there"-ish. ;D
Quite.
It's about the only titanium thing many of us are likely to get (cyborg girlfriend components don't count), and titanium is cool (http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=38781.0).
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Cripes! What a hot potato spork fetishism is...
Although you'd have a tough time cutting through the skin of a jacket spud with one of those plastic sporks eh?
I done some time in an outdoor suppliers and watched the customers cooing over the spork display like kids in a fisher price store.
I'll bet almost none get used in anger just as those goretex matching his and her outfits never do more than car coat duty.
I even tried sporks myself, they all broke even just squeezing out a tea bag.
The sole survivor of all my years of tramping and traveling have been the humble knife fork and spoon brought from home, second hand stores or pinched from tea houses.
I'll not rise to your bait mrcharly and start a boys own debate comparing nights under canvas. Alot of those places I've slept have not needed anything more than a swag or mozzie net.
I don't know about baiting but I like to tease when I make a point and if you get this emotional over a spork then jeepers...
Sporking out!
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Ur uzin it rong.
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Who eats baked potatoes when camping unless with their fingers and a scarf? ??? Bit posh aren't you?
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The butler delivers it in the Bentley.
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I do !! The inside of the potato gets all mashed up with whatever I have to add and then scooped out (cripes, sometimes with a spork, sometimes not) and then the skins are gobbled up (yes, using fingers). The scarf I presume just stops you having to play keepy uppy with the spud for the first two minutes.
I am definitely not posh.
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I tend to eat from my trangia or from my hotpot (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_pot) when camping, so I don't like using metal implements on a metal cooking pots, etc. so wood or heat resistant plastic implements for me.
The teeth of sporks also make it hard to get all the baked bean sauce out of a can/chocolate mousse from a pot, resulting in use of the tongue for licking clean purposes.
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Goodness, you've a long tongue if it can reach to the bottom of a chocolate mousse pot, I have to use my finger.
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You're obviously so posh that you buy your chocolate mousse from the chiller cabinet, rather than the multipacks in tubs/short pots from the freezer section!
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The butler delivers it in the Bentley.
Isn't that your chauffeur's job?
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Well, yes, obvously the chauffeur drives, but he can't serve the food, can he? ::-)
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I prefer burning my potatoes in the ashes of a campfire, then scooping the insides out with a charred stick.
But seeing as most campsites won't allow this, I have to settle for the local pub. Not tried eating chips with a spork.
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Ah! gotcha mrcharly. Who said anything about campsites now?
Sure don't I buy a spud or few from a local azerbakanzy farmer and roll it in me cinders until pret a porter or even ready to eat.
I tried the same with a hedgehog but the giblet and spines issue got the better of me ole spork...
I may camp but I'm not camp...
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You are supposed to bake hedgehogs in mud, then the spines and furry bits come off with the baked mud when it's cooked. I think I would gut it first though but not strictly necessary. If roadkill, guts have probably already been snaffled.
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I lied about the hedgehog ;)
O.K... just to make peace and fit in around here I shall go and order a titanium spork...
But from where?
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Don't do it! Baaaa..
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But from where?
Snowpeak via eBay, or Alpkit are the best titanium sporks, IMHO.
I don't rate those LightMyFire imposters.
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I have decided to be controversial, and henceforth refer to my Spork as a Runcible Spoon. Wikipedia suggests that there are precedents for this, but that it's open to interpretation.
Runcible - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runcible)
Since I like both mince, and quince, I feel it is appropriate.
Of course, I've had the things (one small, one large) nearly a year and not used them in anger yet, so what do I know...?
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Although I have a titanium spork, I was in a camping shop today and saw one of those plastic sporks which have been mentioned above. But surely a spork is a combination of a spoon and a fork, these have a knife edge aswell so in my book are not sporks but something completely different? I didn't reckon much to these knorksps though.
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I have decided to be controversial, and henceforth refer to my Spork as a Runcible Spoon. Wikipedia suggests that there are precedents for this, but that it's open to interpretation.
Runcible - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runcible)
Since I like both mince, and quince, I feel it is appropriate.
Of course, I've had the things (one small, one large) nearly a year and not used them in anger yet, so what do I know...?
That's what my south African friend calls them :D.
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Or did I just drink too much beer tonight...?
Probably
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The smart money's following Adrian's tip...
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Yeah, I have a feeling you might want to edit that post once you are sober.
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Yeah, I have a feeling you might want to edit that post once you are sober.
No he is right, but obviously it is not for everyone.
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Here's another reader who is deeply offended by your post, FC.
Not acceptable.
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I owe you people an apology.
Yet allow me to explain that I merely laugh at my own people.
Both native and white Antipodeans.
My mother and all the female line of my family have been named after Truganinini Queen of Tasmania.
Therefore known as Truganina.
Recently our remarkably white saxon/celtic family collaborated with a dna study.
This showed a major matriacal ( cant spell for toffee) lineage leading back to Truganina as we have always known her as.
My grand x X mother was no beauty to be sure and probally raped by the scottish ancestor. Never the less it has given me a freedom to laugh at both ancient and modern Antipodeans.
Some of these mongerals sailed to colonise N.Z and can be found not using sporks along the west coast further combining their dna with willing maori females.
(I thank mrs davidson of hokitika junction for her family history and piece of greenstone.)
I'll just go I think. Clearly theres no laughs to be had around here.
Just poking fun at my own kind which clearly you guys aint.
REPORT TO MODERATOR...
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That's a great story, flint. We have plenty of laughs round here, but we are more sensitive when it comes to prose that could be taken as politically racist, our sense of humour dries up. Don't run off now, just because of one miss step
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or three...
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or three...
Beat me to it ...
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I owe you people an apology.
Yet allow me to explain that I merely laugh at my own people.
Both native and white Antipodeans.
My mother and all the female line of my family have been named after Truganinini Queen of Tasmania.
Therefore known as Truganina.
Recently our remarkably white saxon/celtic family collaborated with a dna study.
This showed a major matriacal ( cant spell for toffee) lineage leading back to Truganina as we have always known her as.
My grand x X mother was no beauty to be sure and probally raped by the scottish ancestor. Never the less it has given me a freedom to laugh at both ancient and modern Antipodeans.
Some of these mongerals sailed to colonise N.Z and can be found not using sporks along the west coast further combining their dna with willing maori females.
(I thank mrs davidson of hokitika junction for her family history and piece of greenstone.)
I'll just go I think. Clearly theres no laughs to be had around here.
Just poking fun at my own kind which clearly you guys aint.
REPORT TO MODERATOR...
No apology needed. Your posts are the most original on this forum for a long time. Refreshingly honest and funny at the same time. More required. Deffo want more of this :thumbsup:
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I may camp but I'm not camp...
yes you are, mon vieux ami, as a row of tents ;)
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I wood imagine you're pulling his leg, Mal...
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Very perceptive, Charlotte ;)
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Spork SCIENCE breakthrough!
While idly fiddling with Random Objects Stolen From Barakta's Desk, I found myself playing with the ball from her Logitech trackball, balanced in the cup of the now legendary Snowpeak Short Spork.
Initial experimentation demonstrated a remarkable level of stability from this arrangement. In fact, it appeared that the ball would remain securely balanced within the spork at lean angles approaching almost 45 degrees. More careful experimentation was thwarted by the lack of any obvious apparatus for precision angle measurement, and it's a bit late at night to go molishing something for the purpose, so I had to make do with the compass display on my eTrex in lieu of a clinometer. Neverthless, preliminary results demonstrate ball-in-spork stability at angles of at least 40 degrees to the horizontal.
This could have vital implications for cheating-in-egg-and-spoon-races technology!
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Random Spork aquirance...
My Lufthansa flight last night from Rome to Munich was operated by Dolmiti Airlines, amongst the snack-package duly delivered for in-flight sustenance (of the most rudimentary kind) lay a small turquise plastic spork.
Hooray, I now am member of tribe...
BTW I have a thing given to me for eating Kiwi fruit which is a knife at one end and a spoon at the other. One assumes this is a 'Spife'?
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Random Spork aquirance...
My Lufthansa flight last night from Rome to Munich was operated by Dolmiti Airlines, amongst the snack-package duly delivered for in-flight sustenance (of the most rudimentary kind) lay a small turquise plastic spork.
Hooray, I now am member of tribe...
BTW I have a thing given to me for eating Kiwi fruit which is a knife at one end and a spoon at the other. One assumes this is a 'Spife'?
No that is an eye removal device for clumsy eaters
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Random Spork aquirance...
My Lufthansa flight last night from Rome to Munich was operated by Dolmiti Airlines, amongst the snack-package duly delivered for in-flight sustenance (of the most rudimentary kind) lay a small turquise plastic spork.
Hooray, I now am member of tribe...
BTW I have a thing given to me for eating Kiwi fruit which is a knife at one end and a spoon at the other. One assumes this is a 'Spife'?
No that is an eye removal device for clumsy eaters
Ah, Speyefe then.
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Listening to Round the Horne on BBC7 on Monday evening, Kenneth Horne ended with the 'results' of the previous week's 'limerick competition', the last word of which was 'spork'! :o
Approx 1967, I would guess.
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Kim Jong was a frisky old Nork
Who hated that people would talk
During his films
So he wishéd them ill
And jabbed at their knees with a spork.
Ithangyew....
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It was about two chaps eating soup with a fork, as it happens.
Btw, we live quite near Nork...
*fnarrr*
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Norks and sporks, you say...?
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Norks and sporks, you say...?
Like the egg and spoon race, with more jubblies. :thumbsup:
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What could possibly go wrong? :facepalm:
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Ooh, shiny, chunky, and ... hmm, there needs to be a word, like "tacticool", for life-saving kit in the hands of we plebs.
Gerber Hinderer Rescue | Knives | RockWaterAir.co.uk (http://www.rockwaterair.co.uk/category/knives/hinderer-rescue)
Also... a classic Bowie. That's as illegal as a plutonium buttplug in the UK, right?
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Perfectly legal - in context.
I've carried a hatchet past some cops & walked off along a public street with it a few times recently & not been challenged. It was packed away, but I'd been openly brandishing it in their sight shortly before. The just-collected firewood I was also carrying & which they'd seen me trimming (with the hatchet) to ease carriage established the context.
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Just so long as it's not on the same "special bad" list with butterfly knives and such...
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Ooh, shiny, chunky, and ... hmm, there needs to be a word, like "tacticool", for life-saving kit in the hands of we plebs.
Gerber Hinderer Rescue | Knives | RockWaterAir.co.uk (http://www.rockwaterair.co.uk/category/knives/hinderer-rescue)
Also... a classic Bowie. That's as illegal as a plutonium buttplug in the UK, right?
Tacticool is already a word, innit?
There's a sea kayaking guru on UKRivers that carries a SOG SEAL Pup like this (http://www.heinnie.com/Knives/Sog-Knives/SOG-Seal-Pup-Elite/p-92-103-1648/) one in a crossdraw chest harness, on the grounds that when you need it, you probably going to really need it. That appears to count as 'good reason.'
The Hinderer's ok, but I would also look at the Eickhorn ones as they're slightly less expensive.
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That's a lot of knife. Does he anticipate attack by hungry polar bears, clinging to a melting bergy bit as it drifts south? Or narwhals?
(I know, I know, "a lot of knife" can mean "enough knife for any drama" too)
Coming from inflatable (to skin-on-frame, eventually) I'm a bit less pointy when aboat.
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Here's the post (http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=52714#p399232) in which he mentions it. I think it may count as the 'voice of experience.'
As for pointy, I did hear (kayaking myth?) of a white water rescue that failed because the pointed knife used to cut through the spraydeck damaged the leg of the trapped party, who then bled out during the rescue. I haven't been able to confirm that, but it's feasible. I do know of a confirmed case where someone died whilst pinned on a rock, possibly by their spraydeck, which could not be released.
I blunted the tip of the folding knife I carry in my BA. The serrated edge can still cut a line or a spraydeck.
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When your username is a knife, I guess you count as a knife nut. :)
I use a blunt-point serrated dive knife in my BA pocket. Cheap and cheerful stainless jobbie, plastic sheath fairly packed with vaseline. One transient entanglement was enough to scare the necessity into me.
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My daily carry (http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=3974.0) :)
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(http://thereifixedit.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/white-trash-repairs-welders-utensils.jpg) (http://thereifixedit.failblog.org/2011/01/19/white-trash-repairs-frankly-i-prefer-spork-2-0/)
What it lacks in True Sporkiness it makes up for in sheddi points.
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Everyone knows butterfly knives are naughty and bad and very, very illegal.
Therefore they are cool, but a bit sad.
Therefore, there is a need in the world for these:
Balisong Trainer (http://www.assistedknife.com/index.cfm/fa/subcategories.main/parentcat/24999/subcatid/62913)
Yes, that's a balisong bottle opener, and just for Charlotte, a balisong EMT rescue tool.
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Ooh, shiny, chunky, and ... hmm, there needs to be a word, like "tacticool", for life-saving kit in the hands of we plebs.
Gerber Hinderer Rescue | Knives | RockWaterAir.co.uk (http://www.rockwaterair.co.uk/category/knives/hinderer-rescue)
Also... a classic Bowie. That's as illegal as a plutonium buttplug in the UK, right?
Are you mad £100 for a penknife strewth............I would want at least a kings set of silver plated for that. Next you will be asking me to pay £5 for an inner tube.
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This is not mine. No sirree, not at all, oh no. This is for a friend. Absolutely.
(http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff128/shifty176/IMG_0032.jpg)
Until unless I find/make something more suitable...
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Yes, that's a balisong bottle opener, and just for Charlotte, a balisong EMT rescue tool.
Oh you swine...
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Mmm in shark infested waters here. Decent beginners camping knife (not one of those swiss things)?
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All purpose little sheath jobbie? The Frost Mora is cheap, sharp, all-round good. It's the sort of thing I'd buy a box of to give to scouts, if they let me near scouts.
Frosts Mora Bushcraft Training Knife - High Carbon Clipper - Greenman Bushcraft (http://www.greenmanbushcraft.co.uk/cutting-tools/knives/frosts-mora-bushcraft-training-knife-high-carbon-clipper.htm)
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I keep wondering why my life doesn't seem as incomplete as it really ought to given my general lack of stabby implements? I'm obviously not doing the right kind of camping, as the swiss thing I've had since I was about 14 has always proven to be perfectly adequate for the sort of things I generally find myself needing a knife for (cutting cord, hacking through bike locks, felling very small trees, minor foot surgery, stripping wire, that sort of thing), plus the much more frequently useful screwdriver and tin-opener functions. While I'd quite like a more optimal multitool (I often pine for pliers, wire cutters and a posidrive bit), and I'm sure I'm going to lose a ton of YACF points for it, I can't shake the feeling that if it's good enough for MacGyver, it's good enough for me.
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All purpose little sheath jobbie? The Frost Mora is cheap, sharp, all-round good. It's the sort of thing I'd buy a box of to give to scouts, if they let me near scouts.
Frosts Mora Bushcraft Training Knife - High Carbon Clipper - Greenman Bushcraft (http://www.greenmanbushcraft.co.uk/cutting-tools/knives/frosts-mora-bushcraft-training-knife-high-carbon-clipper.htm)
Just the job.. thanks duly bookmarked. The only reason I mention swiss things is don't want to be caught by the touroglam spend a fortune on branding thing.
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For a fixed blade camping knife, the Mora can't really be beat for price/utility. Carbon takes a better edge, but needs a little more management to stop it corroding. Stainless versions are easy-manage, but slightly less good in the edge. If you want something a little more flash, then Brusletto, Helle and Karesuando are all good. I don't think there's actually a bad knife on the site Andy linked.
If you're going adventuring in the real wilds then something sturdy like the Fallkniven F1 will do just about everything, and then some.
Folding locker? Opinel or Buck are admirable.
Folding non-locker? My personal preference is the Fallkniven U1, but it's expensive. Chambriard do a 'compact' Le Thiers design which I haven't got around to ordering yet, but I think it's an elegant (and UK legal) pocket folder. Of course if you want non-locking folder with tools then Victorinox/Wenger or Leatherman are hard to beat.
Kim: It's not about utility, it's about yumminess... ;)
Habitually I carry a U1, and usually I have at least my Leatherman Xe6 with me. I hardly ever go anywhere without tools and a torch.
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I hardly ever go anywhere without tools and a torch.
Last time I did that the door lock malfunctioned and I was locked out. Without tools. In the dark.
Never again.
Yummy knives don't really do it for me. Shocking, I know.
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Ordered the Mora thanks all.
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Yay, another Mora clone stalks the Earth.
Utility, it must be said, has been addressed by my Opinel since I were a teenager. Folding knives aren't that good for whittling, though. And of course a general-purpose blade is much better for prying once you've pried first-time and snapped the point off. (ssh, don't tell)
Going all Ray Mears and whittling your own birch-bark canoe and tent-pegs made from boar shins, a rigid knife with a bit of heft is good.
I do suffer Kim's disease: like a non-wine drinker unable to tell the difference between a £6 bottle and a £30 bottle, I can't really tell the difference between $nice_knife and $very_nice_knife; the artisan mystique does nothing for me (unlike, say, Mercian). After losing my Leatherman, though, I am reminded of the advice given here: "Buy a knife you can afford to replace when you lose it" -- I still haven't, and probably won't. Sigh. One day that malfunctioning cubicle lock will remind me why I bought it in the first place...
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Yummy knives don't really do it for me. Shocking, I know.
I think 'yummy' is a bit of a variable. I like clean lines, simple mechanisms, good steels, good engineering. I don't like sparkly spangly scales, overblown Damascus, kerambits, tactical tantos, etc., etc. Utility is part of it, but not all of it.
With a Mora or even the Karesuando kit I made a couple of years ago, I can cover all the bases I'm ever going to need camping or fishing in the UK. The Russell White knife I posted the other day is a (significant birthday) present for someone who really does go hunting, and really does need a serious knife. If I kept it, it would go in a drawer and never be used, whereas its recipient will actually use it in the field, in the manner for which it was designed - that's part of its intrinsic yumminess for me, that it will be used properly.
Andy: $nice_knife: you cut your finger, and it bleeds. $very_nice_knife: you cut your finger, and you don't notice until you start to wonder where all that red stuff came from... ;D
...Oh, and you're not alone in losing a Leatherman. >:(
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Andy: $nice_knife: you cut your finger, and it bleeds. $very_nice_knife: you cut your finger, and you don't notice until you start to wonder where all that red stuff came from... ;D
Interestingly, the same sort of thing can be said for chainrings ;D
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Andy: $nice_knife: you cut your finger, and it bleeds. $very_nice_knife: you cut your finger, and you don't notice until you start to wonder where all that red stuff came from... ;D
Interestingly, the same sort of thing can be said for chainrings ;D
Ouch. :)
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Ouch. :)
Well no, that's the point. It was all "Erm, Kim. Your leg's leaking!"
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I'm just wondering if someone can give a clear, concise update of the current UK law on knives? It seems to change from time to time. I'm wondering specifically about a SA knife with locking blades - I seem to remember that locking blades = bad britain ? I didn't have to consider such a thing till know as I bought it when living in India. Thanks.
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IIRC it has to be less than three inches and non-locking, for general purpose use, but most things go if carried sensibly for a reasonable purpose (so a non-folding blade in your pannier with camping kit is fine, as is taking a big scary carving knife home from the shops). A 'legal' knife ceases to be when carried unfolded, or carried with intent to use it as a weapon.
Though this is a culture where letting teenagers babysit or taking photographs in public are criminalised, so by the time someone in authority is questioning your carrying of a knife, you're lucky if they merely confiscate it.
Someone who actually knows what they're talking about will be along in a minute to correct this.
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3 inches and folding/non-locking is correct.
There was a case of a chap who got done for carrying a dangerous fixed blade - the one in a Victorinox Swisscard, all of 1", with 1" of handle. He must have seriously failed the attitude test.
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So if a folding blade locks it's illegal regardless of the length. Oh well, as it shall be in the bottom of a pannier, rucksack or saddlebag, it's unlikely anyone will know it's there, and if it does questioned, well I am a polite and articulate person. Apparently now middle aged, too! :o
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All this talk made me realise that my old camping knife hadn't seen the light of day at all for 10 years or thereabouts, not for serious camping in 25 years, so was probably in need of some TLC
How right I was.
(http://lh4.googleusercontent.com/__5EyI8Ck-Lw/TVJa7JWJpvI/AAAAAAAAb70/CKBGFJ5TGc8/s640/Photo0048.jpg)
Still needs a bit more, but this is after.
(http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/__5EyI8Ck-Lw/TVJa8ShP5xI/AAAAAAAAb78/ExeUMbdnTNk/s640/Photo0050.jpg)
Something tells me I couldn't get away with wearing this in plain view on my belt these days.
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There was a case of a chap who got done for carrying a dangerous fixed blade - the one in a Victorinox Swisscard, all of 1", with 1" of handle. He must have seriously failed the attitude test.
If it's the same case that I heard about the knife wielding swiss card bearer was the epitome of respectability (he was someone high up in the Institution of Civil Engineers - President, I think). It happened at the Eurostar terminal in London as he was waiting to board the train - probably something to do with the stiff upper lip interacting with the jobsworth...
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Oh bugger. How can I resist much longer?
(http://www.americankami.com/AKspork3.jpg)
Tired of wussie little eating utensils? I got you.
Want flat wear that will last you through the apocalypse? This is it.
Want something that you can ram through a zombie skull? Here you go, baby.
And while this is a man-sized spork, the ladies dig 'em too.
This is the last eating utensil you'll ever need.
...AMERICAN KAMI... ...SWAG... (http://www.americankami.com/swag.html)
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So if a folding blade locks it's illegal regardless of the length. Oh well, as it shall be in the bottom of a pannier, rucksack or saddlebag, it's unlikely anyone will know it's there, and if it does questioned, well I am a polite and articulate person. Apparently now middle aged, too! :o
So is this gentleman (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13426069) apparently! ;D
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Did I really describe myself as polite and articulate? Seems inaccurate at the least.
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Replacing my slicing knife made me realise that it was probably about time I had the rest of the knives resharpened. Then I thought about something like this Dick Rapid Steel Action Sharpening Set
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DL340 |
Dick Knife Sharpeners |
Steels and Knife Sharpeners |
Chefs Knives |
Nisbets Next Day Catering Equipment
(http://www.nisbets.co.uk/products/productdetail.asp?productCode=DL340) from the people who make my knives and stuff like this Dick Regrinding Machine
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DL341 |
Dick Knife Sharpeners |
Steels and Knife Sharpeners |
Chefs Knives |
Nisbets Next Day Catering Equipment
(http://www.nisbets.co.uk/products/productdetail.asp?productCode=DL341) Of course looking at their website makes it even more confusing Friedr. DICK - Tools for Chefs and Butchers (http://www.dick.de/en/tools-for-chefs-and-butchers/sharpening-steels/) without wasting x minutes of your life looking at a dodgy video about knife sharpening and use Friedr. DICK - RS 75 / RS-150 DUO / SM-111 (http://www.dick.de/en/service_videos_rs75rs-150duosm-111.php)
Does anyone use this sort of gadget on decent knives? Any good?
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Worst branding since King Dick spanners (which are apparently very good despite the name).
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Does anyone use this sort of gadget on decent knives? Any good?
For preference? No, and no.
I sharpen and strop using the same kit I use for all my knives and chisels. This is either water stones or a diamond stone with water lubricant, followed by stropping with a rouge compound on a wood-backed leather strop.
If you have no sharpening-fu, then one of those X-shaped or twin-disc sharpeners will get a knife vaguely sharp, but the edge wear is huge - and the angle isn't necessarily correct. Use one on a Global Deba and you're cocking the edge up. A traditional steel as in the later link is better, but you need good technique. If you look at most butchers they don't use posh knives, they use cheaper 'catering' standard ones with plastic handles, use a steel every few cuts, and then throw the knives away when they wear out.
What kind of knives do you have?
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Does anyone use this sort of gadget on decent knives? Any good?
For preference? No, and no.
I sharpen and strop using the same kit I use for all my knives and chisels. This is either water stones or a diamond stone with water lubricant, followed by stropping with a rouge compound on a wood-backed leather strop.
If you have no sharpening-fu, then one of those X-shaped or twin-disc sharpeners will get a knife vaguely sharp, but the edge wear is huge - and the angle isn't necessarily correct. Use one on a Global Deba and you're cocking the edge up. A traditional steel as in the later link is better, but you need good technique. If you look at most butchers they don't use posh knives, they use cheaper 'catering' standard ones with plastic handles, use a steel every few cuts, and then throw the knives away when they wear out.
What kind of knives do you have?
Urrrrmmmm.... F. Dick? At least for the last 20 years. The reason I bought a new one was that I had uggered up the end of my slicing knife. Twice. So much so that I couldn't grind it out.
Their knives are exceptional in that the stainless steel is harder than any other, and hold an edge rather more like a high carbon steel knife than normal. You may trust me: my knives are sharp. However, the new knife is noticeably sharper and I'd like to get the others back to that place. Yes, a whetstone would do the job, but the Dick sharpening equipment (fnarw fnarw) looks rather good. Their version of the simple sharpener that I linked to at the very bottom end of their range looks actually quite interesting, but for £70 I'd have to be convinced that it does a better job than I will.
Professional chefs, regardless that they keep a knife honed will regularly sharpen it, too.
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For £70 you could have a DMT 1200 grit diamond stone (http://www.axminster.co.uk/dmt-bench-whetstone-prod21932/) (and a few quid in change), or even the Axminster 3-stone waterbath (http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-axminster-stone-pond-with-3-waterstones-prod783413/) complete with stones. No contest as far as I'm concerned. If you need a mirror polished edge then one of those plus a strop or a 6000 grit (ceramic?) stone - Spyderco do a 10,000 grit ceramic, but it's more than £70. For the average tomato or piece of steak I find that 1200 grit + strop is perfectly adequate. ;D
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Question to the floor . . .
I have dinged my ceramic knife [<<<arsebuggershitbagknobbollocks!>>>] and am wondering if I can somehow re-edge it. (A tiny chip from the leading edge - 150mm veg knife)
Do I need a diamond stone?
Is it possible or am I - once again - weeing into a force 9?
Should I await the reappearance of said untensils in Aldi?
What, if any, are the options?
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Does anyone use this sort of gadget on decent knives? Any good?
For preference? No, and no.
I sharpen and strop using the same kit I use for all my knives and chisels. This is either water stones or a diamond stone with water lubricant, followed by stropping with a rouge compound on a wood-backed leather strop.
Same here :thumbsup:
I think the next best thing if you can't get the hang of it is the Lansky Sharpening System (http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000B8IEA4/ref=asc_df_B000B8IEA43064621?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&tag=googlecouk06-21&linkCode=asn&creative=22206&creativeASIN=B000B8IEA4), this will ensure you always get the correct angle and a pretty sharp knife to boot.
Steels aren't for sharpening, they're for maintaining the edge so I wouldn't bother wasting a lot of money on an expensive steel. Either a proper whetstone and hone or something like the Lansky would be ideal, anything you have to drag the knife through is poor attempt at getting a blade sharp.
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http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/product549.asp?PageID=1 (http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/product549.asp?PageID=1)
More lightweight cutlery....
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What's this obsession with knives. Do I need to lock my door at night? :o
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Hammer, wheel, fire and knife. Four fundamental tools.
Only the tabloids and idiots are obsessed with the idea that knife == weapon. ::-)
Anyway, most of the posts in this thread are about sporks.
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I have lost my spork :(
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Has it run away with a dish?
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Your spork has run away with a fish.
That's a fork-dish.
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Since it was a Ti Lifesystems spork, I'm afraid I have no sense of humour about this.
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Broken chain? Well now you know what you can do with it:
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b176/Riggers_1956/Bikechainknives.jpg)
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Spinosaur teeth!
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Oooh, they are nice!
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Any yacfers read Jasper Fforde's 'Shades of Grey' (Hodder, 2011)?
The plot is too complex to explain but the relevant bit to this thread is that manufacture of spoons (but not knives and forks) is illegal. Over hundreds of years spoons wear out, resulting in scarcity and high prices. Discovery of an antique fork-spoon hybrid carrying the brand-name 'Spork' offers a profitable solution without breaking the rule forbidding manufacture of spoons.
A highly recommended read. Dip into the Shades of Grey part of his website for a taster: http://www.jasperfforde.com/grey/grey1.html
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Get a load of this ... ;D
(http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l160/stevenr_01/utf-8BQnJhaW50cmVlLTIwMTIwMTAzLTAwMzY4LmpwZw.jpg)
I am not ashamed to reveal I am something of a Pot Noodle fanatic. So, imagine my delight when I found this piece of cutlery under the Christmas tree! It is battery operated (therefore suitable for camping) and one presses the red button to get the forky bit rotating thus making the eating of one's Pot Noodle more efficient!
Also in the pack was an uncamping friendly ceramic Pot Noodle pot into which one can empty one's Pot Noodle thus adding sophistication AND efficiency!
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OD, you are such a noodle! ;D
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I've been playing with spoon carving after a course with this chap: http://barnthespoon.blogspot.com/
I'll post some pics once I have something that looks even half-decent
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How did you find the course? It looks fascinating!
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Did you scroll down?
He has courses in London. Next one is in March, then another in May.
You get everything you need, wood, loan of tools, plasters... etc
Highly recommended.
Pop over one day and I'll show you my spoons, I've only done 3 so far though!
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Did you scroll down?
I did indeed. It looks quite fun - Julian and I are considering going...
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I quite fancy the spoon course.
I was also rather taken with the pointy on offer at the Outdoors Show via this chap: http://www.jamesnobleknives.com/
I need something that will <looks sideways at cohab> gut a courgette </sideways look> effectively, and he had some which fitted my miniature hands rather well. :)
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My most recent spoon, about 6" long. I'm not too good at getting them symmetrical at the moment, but I'm getting there.
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g111/2daves/Picture001-1.jpg)
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g111/2daves/Picture002-2.jpg)
Butter knife
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g111/2daves/Picture004-2.jpg)
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They're really fabulous, Alex! What wood did you use?
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The wood is Poplar, but only because it was what we were using on the course.
The tools of the trade are nice and cheap too, the main carving was done with a Mora 120, or Mora 106, both £12 and the spoon bowl was done with a long handled Ben Orford spoon knife, which Barn sells for £29, about £30 cheaper than retail.
I'd absolutely recommend it, the centre where it's done is just down the road in Mile End from where I met Phil when he was doing his stick fighting course. You could bike there and leave the bikes in the centre. The course cost me £50 and included a basic, but very tasty, veggie lunch.
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A present for a friend:
(http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff128/shifty176/IMG_0107.jpg)
The knife is the one by Russell White from earlier in this thread. I've finally got round to making the sheath, and the leather-covered presentation box for it.
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A wonderful piece of work!
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Ohshiny :D
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My most recent spoon, about 6" long. I'm not too good at getting them symmetrical at the moment, but I'm getting there.
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g111/2daves/Picture001-1.jpg)
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g111/2daves/Picture002-2.jpg)
Butter knife
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g111/2daves/Picture004-2.jpg)
Asymetric spoonage! Come on, if it's good enough for spinnakers, it's got to be fine for custom built spoons!!
They look great.
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Via Gizmodo: (http://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2012/04/this-camping-spork-will-come-to-the-rescue-in-chopstick-only-restaurants/)
The only thing more embarrassing than not knowing how to use a set of chopsticks is your secret being found out in a restaurant that doesn’t provide an alternative. Which is where this emergency Kung Foon spork will be worth its weight in titanium.
(http://media.gizmodo.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/17iv5do0gfkeijpg.jpg)
Titanium Kung Foon (http://www.gsioutdoors.com/products/pdp/titanium_kung_foon/)
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... and you could use that Spork/Chopstick hybrid for serving up nosh, thus justifying it's existence (since after all, chopsticks are pretty easy to use).
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... and you could use that Spork/Chopstick hybrid for serving up nosh, thus justifying it's existence (since after all, chopsticks are pretty easy to use).
I considered myself fairly competent with chopsticks, and then found out I wasn't supposed to use them lefthanded, so I had to learn all over again!
I'm not bad now, although I struggle with some of the slippier rounder stuff, and my hand gets tired by the end of a meal....
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Via Gizmodo: (http://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2012/04/this-camping-spork-will-come-to-the-rescue-in-chopstick-only-restaurants/)
The only thing more embarrassing than not knowing how to use a set of chopsticks is your secret being found out in a restaurant that doesn’t provide an alternative. Which is where this emergency Kung Foon spork will be worth its weight in titanium.
(http://media.gizmodo.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/17iv5do0gfkeijpg.jpg)
Titanium Kung Foon (http://www.gsioutdoors.com/products/pdp/titanium_kung_foon/)
And it can double up as a back scratcher :thumbsup:
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And it can double up as a back scratcher :thumbsup:
If it's a spoon, a fork, and a back scratcher, doesn't it need a new name, like Spratcher or something? ;D
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I considered myself fairly competent with chopsticks, and then found out I wasn't supposed to use them lefthanded, so I had to learn all over again!
If that's just someone's opinion, then you've basically put yourself through a process that most of us deem to be abusive when it's done to children in schools. ???
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A collegue of mine has just got a stainless steel "spork" - shiny 8)
(http://www.biggrassfield.com/products/CE-FSP37S-Z.jpg)
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I considered myself fairly competent with chopsticks, and then found out I wasn't supposed to use them lefthanded, so I had to learn all over again!
If that's just someone's opinion, then you've basically put yourself through a process that most of us deem to be abusive when it's done to children in schools. ???
I gathered it was polite, like not eating with your left hand when you eat out of a communal dish.
I wasn't beaten into it or anything. Anyway, I enjoyed the challenge.
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Surely the polite thing would be for lefties not to eat with their right hand from a communal dish? Or am I applying common sense to etiquette again? My mother always told me I shouldn't do that...
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If you sit on around a round table, the one person who's left handed, will bang arms/chopsticks with the person on their left hand side. When chopsticks clash, food gets dropped.
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Ah, there's an algorithm for that (well it's for philosophers' forks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dining_philosophers_problem), but I assume it works equally well with chopsticks). Put a single chopstick between each plate, and have a stern waiter on standby to prevent deadlock.
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Eating with chopsticks means elbows further out.
Sadly, I can only do it left-handed.
I did learn to eat curry with chapatis right handed.
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I am left handed. I can use chopsticks and I use them left handed. Deal with it!
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I think the answer is careful seating at oblong tables. Or division of diners by handedness.
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I always try to sit at a corner where my left elbow can wave in the breeze with impunity!
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Just all use sporks
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I am left handed. I can use chopsticks and I use them left handed. Deal with it!
Well, I can now use chopsticks in either hand, so I've gained a skill, and been polite....
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You have gained a skill but only by being pressured into it by others with prejudices. I was not being impolite. I was merely asserting my right to be left handed. If I was being singled out because I is black, or fat, or handicapped in any way I would have rights. It seems that left handed people have no such rights but are constantly being discriminated against.
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I read somewhere (ages ago) that the German Army, in WW2, had rifles with the bolt on the left. If this is correct, it puts us in the bizarre position of being a minority that the Nazis didn't pick on.
I agree about the difficulty of coping in a world set up by an uncaring majority. Right handers don't realise that some things are handed!
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Surely the polite thing would be for lefties not to eat with their right hand from a communal dish? Or am I applying common sense to etiquette again? My mother always told me I shouldn't do that...
But that only works when everyone knows who is and is not a lefty. If, as is quite likely, you don't know everyone sharing the dish, it's more acceptable for everyone to follow the left-dirty, right-clean scheme. Otherwise people either are or seem to be putting their shitty hands in the food. It's not really the same as forcing left-handers to use their right hands for writing, tools, etc.
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Surely the polite thing would be for lefties not to eat with their right hand from a communal dish? Or am I applying common sense to etiquette again? My mother always told me I shouldn't do that...
But that only works when everyone knows who is and is not a lefty. If, as is quite likely, you don't know everyone sharing the dish, it's more acceptable for everyone to follow the left-dirty, right-clean scheme. Otherwise people either are or seem to be putting their shitty hands in the food. It's not really the same as forcing left-handers to use their right hands for writing, tools, etc.
All reminds me of the trivia question: Q:What job is not open to a left-handed person? A:Playing violin in an orchestra
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Surely the polite thing would be for lefties not to eat with their right hand from a communal dish? Or am I applying common sense to etiquette again? My mother always told me I shouldn't do that...
But that only works when everyone knows who is and is not a lefty. If, as is quite likely, you don't know everyone sharing the dish, it's more acceptable for everyone to follow the left-dirty, right-clean scheme. Otherwise people either are or seem to be putting their shitty hands in the food. It's not really the same as forcing left-handers to use their right hands for writing, tools, etc.
But that way whilst everyone may think it's cleaner in reality it would actually be dirtier (well, not actually dirtier provided sufficiently cleaned hands).
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Surely the polite thing would be for lefties not to eat with their right hand from a communal dish? Or am I applying common sense to etiquette again? My mother always told me I shouldn't do that...
But that only works when everyone knows who is and is not a lefty. If, as is quite likely, you don't know everyone sharing the dish, it's more acceptable for everyone to follow the left-dirty, right-clean scheme. Otherwise people either are or seem to be putting their shitty hands in the food. It's not really the same as forcing left-handers to use their right hands for writing, tools, etc.
All reminds me of the trivia question: Q:What job is not open to a left-handed person? A:Playing violin in an orchestra
Although when I played violin*, I did it the same way as everyone does - left hand does the notes, right hand does the bowing.
Thinking about it, this seems to favour a left hander, as the left hand does the intricate fiddly bits (pun intended), while the right hand just goes back and forth.
*I stopped eventually, for the good of humanity.
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Thinking about it, this seems to favour a left hander, as the left hand does the intricate fiddly bits (pun intended), while the right hand just goes back and forth.
This and batting at cricket
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I don't think you're allowed to be a left handed hockey player.
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Yes you are and they always play on the left side and are bloody annoyingly good at tackling right-handed opposition because reverse sticking is natural to them.
Or at least that's how it was when I played hockey.
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Oh good. I was never allowed to play left handed, and it was very frustrating. But I managed to confuse opponents effectively.
ETA: Wikipedia and other sources on the web suggest that lefthanded sticks are not allowed. :(
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We wouldn't be allowed to play Polo left-handed. I think that I can just about cope with the loss. ;D
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I just bought myself a titanium knife to go with my Ti spork. I found cutting up Camembert and continental sausage quite hard with only a spork and Simon was unimpressed with me using his bike multi-tool for this purpose in Paris!
(http://www.alpkit.com/shop/images/pi_16378.jpeg)
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I've got one of those for camping. Combined with the spork, it's 98% of the cutlery you're ever going to need. The serrations are sharp enough to do a decent job on bread, cheese and so on, while being blunt enough to be pan and mouth friendly. :thumbsup:
As you say, it saves having to clean food off the sharp blade on your multi-tool of choice.
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Surely the polite thing would be for lefties not to eat with their right hand from a communal dish? Or am I applying common sense to etiquette again? My mother always told me I shouldn't do that...
But that only works when everyone knows who is and is not a lefty. If, as is quite likely, you don't know everyone sharing the dish, it's more acceptable for everyone to follow the left-dirty, right-clean scheme. Otherwise people either are or seem to be putting their shitty hands in the food. It's not really the same as forcing left-handers to use their right hands for writing, tools, etc.
But that way whilst everyone may think it's cleaner in reality it would actually be dirtier (well, not actually dirtier provided sufficiently cleaned hands).
That depends whether the left-handers follow convention in privacy - which they may do, as it's probably been engrained in them since infanthood, and because arse-wiping really doesn't take much manual dexterity. But you're not going to know, so don't worry about it!
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I read somewhere (ages ago) that the German Army, in WW2, had rifles with the bolt on the left. If this is correct, it puts us in the bizarre position of being a minority that the Nazis didn't pick on.
I agree about the difficulty of coping in a world set up by an uncaring majority. Right handers don't realise that some things are handed!
The Nazi thing could be something to do with the general statistic that the average intelligence of left handed people is greater than that of right handed people. Don't ask me for a link to that stat but I am sure you can find it if you want to disprove it enough.
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I'm comfortable with that statistic :smug:
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I read somewhere (ages ago) that the German Army, in WW2, had rifles with the bolt on the left. If this is correct, it puts us in the bizarre position of being a minority that the Nazis didn't pick on.
Dunno where you read that, but it is nonsense.
Standard german WWII rifle had bolt on right-hand side
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karabiner_98k (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karabiner_98k)
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Is there any connection between that Karabiner and the clip used by climbers (and everybody who wants a trendy, chunky keyring)?
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carabiner Karabinerhake = carbine hook. I've read that German (or Bavarian) fire departments started using carabiners to attach ropes to litters to lower them out of buildings sometime before WWI. Not sure how true that is, though.
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I don't really like sporks.
There, I've said it. Now shoot me.
I have recently aquired This (http://www.saltandpepper.co.uk/cms_images/product/large_Small_Spatula_Spoon.jpg) which in conjunction with That (http://www.raygrahams.com/catalog/images/1361371.jpg) is all the cutlery you'll ever need.
Eat yoghurt and couscous with your sporks if you must, but *I* will be enjoying every last drop.
:smug:
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Burn her!
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Dear girl, are you sure you didn't get a bang on the head when you fell down the stairs? I mean, not liking sporks? It's just not natural.
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I have to admit sporks might becoming a bit yesterday and uncool. You can get them everywhere now, I even saw them in a National Trust shop the other weekend. I bet you can even get them in Tesco. Any day now my mum and dad will buy a matching set and that will be that.
Perhaps we need to be looking for the next item of cool cutlery to lust over.
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Perhaps we need to be looking for the next item of cool cutlery to lust over.
(http://www.saltandpepper.co.uk/cms_images/product/large_Small_Spatula_Spoon.jpg)
Mouth shaped, heat resistant, flexible.
Scrape every last drop of yoghurt, clean out your peanut butter jar, proggle your bacon around the pan.
Lovely.
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...and a purple option. Hmmm...
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I've never used a spork.
While you pick yourselves up off the floor and give me a hand into the 21st century, I'll say from my position of happy ignorance that I'm inclined to agree with boab. They look like something to spike your tongue with. A spoon is useful-to-essential for soup, yogurt, couscous and custard, as well as mixing ingredients, fishing out teabags and stirring coffee; a knife is essential for cutting; a fork is useful but not essential for solid items - they can always be eaten with either a spoon or fingers, possibly aided by some sort of flat bread. So if you want 'dining' take individual cutlery; if you want utility and weight-saving, take a knife of some sort, which you'll doubtless have anyway, and a spoon.
No I really ought to go and try a spork before being burnt at the steak with a stake to a crisp (ready salted). I'm counting on boab putting up a good fight to delay you all in the East, giving me time to cross the Bridge and hide in the... oh, but that would tell you which Bridge I'm crossing!
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I read somewhere (ages ago) that the German Army, in WW2, had rifles with the bolt on the left. If this is correct, it puts us in the bizarre position of being a minority that the Nazis didn't pick on.
Dunno where you read that, but it is nonsense.
Standard german WWII rifle had bolt on right-hand side
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karabiner_98k (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karabiner_98k)
Thank you for the clarification. My post was a bit sloppy; I should have stated that the allegation was somewhat surprising.
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Any day now my mum and dad will buy a matching set and that will be that.
Kids these days . . . .
Sporks are 1970s. They were invented by a company call 'Splayd', sold as 'splayds' in Australia. My parents had a set of 6 in stainless steel, which I brought back to the uk with me after my mother's funeral. My wife thinks they are naff, I use one to eat my lunch every day.
Give me 5 min and I'll get you a photo
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BlTO_jSFpSQ/T5E3NAHbGpI/AAAAAAAAAn8/rMfvgoZRra4/s474/2012+-+1)
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I just bought myself a titanium knife to go with my Ti spork. I found cutting up Camembert and continental sausage quite hard with only a spork and Simon was unimpressed with me using his bike multi-tool for this purpose in Paris!
Oh my, oh my, oh my. I've had an idea.
A superlight, unobtanium, retractable, built-into-a-spork-or-swiss-army-knife cheesewire....
A level of ponciness equalled only by my idea for a folding-umbrella-style three tiered cake tray for refined camping afternoon teas.
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If Maplins have failed to restock their unobtainium shelves after Kim's last shopping trip, I could imagine 0.5mm-ish Ti wire (http://wires.co.uk/acatalog/titanium.html) doing the job reasonably well.
Edit: that's a curiously compelling idea. Hard bit would seem to be the retract mechanism -- if you're not careful, that'll weigh enough to make the wire itself negligible (although Ti still seems like a good choice -- strong, corrosion-resistent, non-toxic...). Hmmm, Ti springs exist. Will have to take a look at how retracting spool thingies really work...
Edit 2: probably a simple spool'n'torsion-spring affair would to. Suitable Ti springs appear to be available...
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Why not use kevlar?
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Don't need a retract mechanism. The length of wire required is not long enough to need more than a simple stow space. Besides, the thought of a camembert-heavy wire winding back inside something is a bit yuk.
You would just need stops like gear nipples on each end and it could sit down a groove in a large SAK.
*having a Ti wire moment*
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Besides, the thought of a camembert-heavy wire winding back inside something is a bit yuk.
Teflon coated for easy cleaning, innit.
Anyway, if you think anything will retain a coating of cheese in my presence, you need to think again.... ;)
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A superlight, unobtanium, retractable, built-into-a-spork-or-swiss-army-knife cheesewire....
Hmm, a swiss army knife with a built in cheese wire.
Handy as a garrotte, I suppose.
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Chez Gears has acquired its first sporks, enclosed in two Light My Fire 'Meal Kits' [= Swedish plastic equivelents of mess tins] that the two smaller Gears were given whilst attending American Boy Scouts camp in Wisconsin last week. The compamny website, www.lightmyfire.com seems to claim that they invented sporks. The meal kits look like they have some good features but also seem to have missed one or two elementary tricks - such as having the plate/lid snap onto the bowl so that they could make a liquid proof seal: instead they are a loose and non-liquid proof.
Any yacfers got experience of this company's products?
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Chez Gears has acquired its first sporks, enclosed in two Light My Fire 'Meal Kits' [= Swedish plastic equivelents of mess tins] that the two smaller Gears were given whilst attending American Boy Scouts camp in Wisconsin last week. The compamny website, www.lightmyfire.com seems to claim that they invented sporks. The meal kits look like they have some good features but also seem to have missed one or two elementary tricks - such as having the plate/lid snap onto the bowl so that they could make a liquid proof seal: instead they are a loose and non-liquid proof.
Any yacfers got experience of this company's products?
I've got a meal kit and a few sporks. I quite like their stuff but some complain that the sporks can be a bit fragile.
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LightMyFire titanium sporks. :thumbsup:
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Anyone used a SOG?
I'm jonesing for a new multitool, and the main sadness my old Skeletool gave me was slithering nuts. This looks like a right gripper.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/SOG-Specialty-Knives-Tools-S60-N/dp/B00004U9IW/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1AKMQNONNBIU1&coliid=I2W6UKEM0SK5YV
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I used to have a nice SOG power plier. It was very well made, much better than Gerber and current leatherman kit. It was nice to hold and use, didn't dig into any fingers etc. I've gone off leatherman, they are becoming rust magnets and the quality is dropping, I do however carry a black oxide Wave everyday and use it daily without issue.
Unfortunately the SOG got swiped from my van so didn't get a long term use. The best multi tools I've used to date are the Victorinox Swiss tools. They are the Rolls Royce of multi tools, check out the spirits and swisstools on Allloutdoor.co.uk.
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I know at least one chap with a SOG multitool, who rates it pretty well. You've also just reminded me that I was going to make a leather pouch for it... :-[
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Yet another take on the folding spork:
(http://d13z1xw8270sfc.cloudfront.net/resize/49837/sporknife.jpg/241/241/0/)
http://www.survivaldepot.co.uk/product/tu_sporknife
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Yet another take on the folding spork:
(http://d13z1xw8270sfc.cloudfront.net/resize/49837/sporknife.jpg/241/241/0/)
http://www.survivaldepot.co.uk/product/tu_sporknife
E Minor doesn't know whether to laugh or cry (Mrs E and I agree. Ours is an anti-spork household).
It does look a bit reminiscent of a solution looking for a problem.
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That looks completely rubbish.
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But but but, it clearly has quite a high gadget rating. :thumbsup:
That website has far too many things which look to have a high gadget rating. Must resist ...
(Wonders what the gadget rating levels would be ... MacGyver and A-Team are possible levels ... hmm).
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But but but, it clearly has quite a high gadget rating. :thumbsup:
That website has far too many things which look to have a high gadget rating. Must resist ...
(Wonders what the gadget rating levels would be ... MacGyver and A-Team are possible levels ... hmm).
Surely the SI unit of gadgetness is the Bond?
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Is that a base unit, or derived?
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Pah. Forget that. Axe lust…
http://www.heinnie.com/Axes-&-Saws/SOG-/Hand-Axe/p-523-920-6942/
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Surely the SI unit of gadgetness is the Bond?
What would the scale be? Actors?
None, Connery, Lazenby, Moore, Dalton, Brosnan, Craig ...
That doesn't really seem to be an increasing measure.
... Characters?
Moneypenny, M, Bond, Q ...
I'm not sure there are enough elements (feel free to suggest others).
<Ponders>
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That website has far too many things which look to have a high gadget rating. Must resist ...
That outfit sells Chargers (as mentioned in "Papillon" and NSFW...). Very easy to resist buying.
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Folding eating irons usually sit horribly in the hand; 0.1Q from the Devon judge.
If it had a second real blade, that'd boost it. As would lasers, of course.
The site does remind me, though, I need some more tritium glow-dongles. Mine have actually dulled enough through radioactive decay to be a bit weak now. Science!
(bonus: tritium glow-spork!)
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Yet another take on the folding spork:
(http://d13z1xw8270sfc.cloudfront.net/resize/49837/sporknife.jpg/241/241/0/)
http://www.survivaldepot.co.uk/product/tu_sporknife
OK, so why put tiny, blunt tines into a spoon bowl? A fork needs long, sharp tines in order to pick stuff up. Short, blunt tines a) won't stick into things and would thus be useless for picking up stuff and b) make the spoon rubbish for scraping stuff out of bowls because the gaps would leave stuff behind.
Totally rubbish.
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I found coloured titanium sporks (http://www.vargooutdoors.com/Titanium-Spork)! ;D
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Back to proper cutlery for a minute - how about an EDC legal slipjoint bushcraft folder with a scandi grind and curly birch scales?
(http://www.thebushcraftstore.co.uk/ekmps/shops/bduimportsltd/images/coming-soon-tbs-boar-folding-pocket-knife-curly-birch-perfect-every-day-carry-knife-[4]-12802-p.jpg)
http://www.thebushcraftstore.co.uk/coming-soon---tbs-boar-folding-pocket-knife---curly-birch---perfect-every-day-carry-knife-12802-p.asp
*WANT*
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No thanks.
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Well that's rather pretty.
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Charlotte, also have a look at the Enzo scandi folder that Dennis at Brisa came up with a couple of years ago. The PK70 is designed to be acceptable EDC, and can be had in carbon or birch - or make-your-own kit form.
https://www.brisa.fi/portal/index.php?option=com_oscommerce&osMod=index&cPath=119_316
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Now that *is* nice. Really classy looking and useful...
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Get yourself to itsu (tarty takeaway sushi chain, probably only in London). You can get a free spork ...
(http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l160/stevenr_01/utf-8BSU1HLTIwMTMwNjA2LTAwMTgxLmpwZw_zps936db679.jpg)
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I just bought a Stellar Colourtone 9cm Utility Knife. £5 from a hardware store (but I think I saw them in John Lewis)
It's just about the perfect camping "kitchen" knife imo. I just don't like gumming-up my Victorinox/Leathman with bits of bacon and/or sausage.
The sheath means you can store it safely among your camping gear and it's very light.
http://www.stellarcookware.co.uk/Products/Knives/Stellar-Colourtone.html (http://www.stellarcookware.co.uk/Products/Knives/Stellar-Colourtone.html)
(http://www.kitchengoddess.co.uk/images/Stellar_Colourtone_Knife_Set-620x500.jpg)
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Don't get the green one, you'll lose it in the grass! Get the red one, the blood won't show!
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Don't get the green one, you'll lose it in the grass! Get the red one, the blood won't show!
The green one, in my case, is bright orange. I guess they changed the colours.
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Great minds must think alike - I have the small one in red in my camping kit!
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Strange - I'd have thought that if anyone needed the red one, it'd be Nutty. :D
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I received my 'Light My Fire' ti spork at the weekend and its better than I thought.
Not just a hybrid fork and spoon, but a hybrid cake fork and spoon! :)
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Nisbet special offer
http://www.nisbets.co.uk/dick-1905-3-piece-knife-set-presentation-box/GH652/ProductDetail.raction
My knives are Dick, I've had some for about 30 years; their stainless can take a carbon edge, I (obv, personally) don't think there's a better brand. If you are in the market for anything like this, it's a pretty good deal.
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Gaze upon the Semi-Horned Oblong Versatile Eating Ladle (or as its makers like to call it (https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11763), the S.H.O.V.E.L.) and weep tears of cutlery-based joy:
(https://dlnmh9ip6v2uc.cloudfront.net//images/products/1/1/7/6/3/11763-01.jpg)
If that weren't enough on its own, it's an open-source design with the CAD files available to download.
Now you may die happy :D
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Oh that's nice. What does the bit right on the end do? I can see the opening next to it is bottle opener.
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Oh that's nice. What does the bit right on the end do? I can see the opening next to it is bottle opener.
I don't know, but it looks like it could function like the cam and lever device barakta has for opening ring-pull tins.
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Oh that's nice. What does the bit right on the end do? I can see the opening next to it is bottle opener.
I don't know, but it looks like it could function like the cam and lever device barakta has for opening ring-pull tins.
Perhaps it is for removing stones from horses hooves.
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Can opener?
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Looks similar to a SAK can opener, catch hook under the outer lip of the can push the start of the serations through the lid.
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I need a Swiss Army Knife. I've owned one for 20 years but it now lives in my wife's bag for baby food prep duties. I have been using a Leatherman Skeletool but that's found its way into my bike tool kit so want something to live in my pocket.
Trouble is, I can't find exactly what I want - the Explorer (http://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Explorer) is the closest current model but I don't need the scissors and would like pliers and the metal file for fettling stuff. The discontinued Modeler (http://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Modeler) is closer but hard to find and expensive if you can get one. So I bought a monster Swiss Champ (http://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=SwissChamp) in stealthy black and plan to strip it down and build my own. That way I can get the tools I want where I want in the colour I want.
Custom Swiss Army knives: geekier than bikes. 8)
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I _don't_ need another knife.... but these look pretty & they're legal carry. I'm resisting temptation.....
(http://www.thebushcraftstore.co.uk/ekmps/shops/bduimportsltd/images/tbs-boar-folding-pocket-knife-tiger-stripe-perfect-edc-knife-limited-edition--%5B2%5D-16354-p.jpg)
http://www.thebushcraftstore.co.uk/tbs-knives---exclusive-to-the-bushcraft-store-283-c.asp (http://www.thebushcraftstore.co.uk/tbs-knives---exclusive-to-the-bushcraft-store-283-c.asp)
more pics & reviews (http://www.thebushcraftstore.co.uk/tbs-knives---exclusive-to-the-bushcraft-store-283-c.asp)
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Shiny new knife arrived this morning. :thumbsup:
Within half an hour I'd got the side plates off:
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7359/12610336575_86e66b0bb5_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26008756@N08/12610336575/)
Drilled out the rivets, removed the pins and now it looks like this:(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5485/12610330355_4af31a3a72_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26008756@N08/12610330355/)
Just need to put most of it back together now.
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There must be a market for custom SAKs.
I have a Swiss Champ, btw. It's very useful, but sits in my toolbox. The bulk of it can make accessing screws difficult.
I carry a different model. Not sure which, but it has the longer, locking blade.
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I have a SAK as well. Trouble is I am prone to chewing my finger nails so keep them filed very short. Consequently I don't have a decent thumb nail with which to open the majority of the tools.
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I have a SAK as well. Trouble is I am prone to chewing my finger nails so keep them filed very short. Consequently I don't have a decent thumb nail with which to open the majority of the tools.
Just get a second SAK with the special tool for opening tools on a SAK fitted.
Oh, wait...
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Or just apply enough self-discipline to your fingernail chewing that you've always got one nail that's long enough for nail-picky tasks (on rotation, so you don't miss out on the chewability). Works for me.
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It lives:
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7445/12611228615_9c3799d63e_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26008756@N08/12611228615/)
Not that difficult in the end, but a little fiddly. Had to cut down the rivets and re-peen which was probably the hardest part. Would definitely do it again.
There must be a market for custom SAKs.
There is. Quite a few people seem to make them to order - lots of tool options but also custom tools and side plates (scales) in different materials. There are also a couple of authorised resellers who get custom runs direct from Victorinox.
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Oh, that's rather a splendid job Chris! How's the general tightness and lockup, post-surgery? Is it all still as firm as ever it was?
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It lives:
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7445/12611228615_9c3799d63e_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26008756@N08/12611228615/)
Not that difficult in the end, but a little fiddly. Had to cut down the rivets and re-peen which was probably the hardest part. Would definitely do it again.
Rather liking that combination of tools...
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Oh, that's rather a splendid job Chris! How's the general tightness and lockup, post-surgery? Is it all still as firm as ever it was?
Thanks. Feels good to me. I did bend one of the pins slightly whilst taking it apart and wondered if that might affect the feel of the tools but it's fine. They're only 2.5mm diameter brass rods so pretty easy to tweak.
If i was going to get really geeky about it I'd be tempted to drill out the holes in all the tools to 3mm to take larger bushes and use M2 screws to hold the side plates on rather than rivets.
Rather liking that combination of tools...
Hopefully be very useful at work and for bike fettling.
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So what is the purpose of the mid mounted blade with a hole in?
It looks tempting for making/widening holes, but in my experience this leads to bleeding knuckles when the blade folds closed.
Just answered my own question from the font of more information on SAKs than you evah wanted: http://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Reamer
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So what is the purpose of the mid mounted blade with a hole in?
That's the thing for removing boy scouts from horses' hooves.
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So what was it and what did you get rid of?
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Or just apply enough self-discipline to your fingernail chewing that you've always got one nail that's long enough for nail-picky tasks (on rotation, so you don't miss out on the chewability). Works for me.
That's not going to happen. Just like taking sugar in tea is my only vice, biting my finger nails is my only bad habit.
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So what is the purpose of the mid mounted blade with a hole in?
It looks tempting for making/widening holes, but in my experience this leads to bleeding knuckles when the blade folds closed
Swiss army knives are quite robust and can be used for lots of things but you do need to be careful and understand the limitations of your tools. Virtually everything can be done faster, more effectively or more safely with proper tools but for convenience and portability they're hard to beat.
So what was it and what did you get rid of?
It was a Swiss champ: http://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=SwissChamp
I took out the wood saw, scissors, fish scaler, parcel hook and fine screw driver.
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I can't say I've ever used the fish scaler! ;D
But my wood saw*, parcel hook and fine screwdriver have come in handy.
I'm impressed by your skill in rebuilding this. What tools did you use for the disassembly and assembly?
* not as good as that on the Mauser, my favourite ever penknife.
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Ftr, I was using my Aubert & Duval penknife last night and this morning. It's only an executive type knife, made as a present by a specialists steels manufacturer, but it is fantastic quality, and has lasted over thirty years as good as new.
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I can't say I've ever used the fish scaler! ;D
But my wood saw*, parcel hook and fine screwdriver have come in handy.
It's for work and bike fettling really, so no need for scissors or woodworking tools. Mostly metal and fiddly little components. The parcel hook is part of the scissors layer and is a funny shape, so is difficult to fit to other layers. The fine screwdriver blade is the same size as the one on the can opener so that went when I got rid of the fish scaler.
I'm impressed by your skill in rebuilding this. What tools did you use for the disassembly and assembly?
It's really quite easy. I followed the steps here: http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?80325-A-quot-how-to-quot-guide-for-basic-SAK-mods but didn't have to form the rivet heads on one end of the pins as I was reusing longer pins from the Swiss Champ.
I used a small knife, centre punch, 2mm and 2.5mm drills, needle files, side cutters, a ball pein hammer, vice and a block of wood (for supporting the knife - with holes drilled to clear the rivet heads).
Oh, and a Leatherman. ;D
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Crumbs.
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Hmmm, it's addictive. :facepalm:
A bit of prep for the next one:
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2887/12832161993_305620ae77_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26008756@N08/12832161993/)
Used the machine tools at work to make a clamp block for pivot pins, cut a sheet of ABS to support the knives (I'll drill the holes to clear the rivets when I get home), turned a centre punch from a steel dowel and found some 2 mm dowels to use as pin punches. Also ordered some 2.2 and 2.5 mm brass rod for the rivets and I'll pick up a smaller ball pein hammer over the weekend. :thumbsup:
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Are you going to start taking orders then, Chris?
:D
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I have a Gerber 2 ½” blade ‘thumb action’ lock knife and a LifeVenture titanium forkoon.
Both for less than £20.
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Oh that's nice. What does the bit right on the end do? I can see the opening next to it is bottle opener.
In my hands, it would be a user laceration device.
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Are you going to start taking orders then, Chris?
:D
Maybe. What were you thinking?
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Right, here's the beginnings of the next knife:
(https://v4s2.yimg.com/sk/3716/12931097413_90fc5a69f0_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26008756@N08/12931097413/)
Machining some aluminium plate down to 4mm thick. I've been ordering tooling and parts too - 2mm ball nose end mill, 3mm TiN coated stub drill, 3mm brass rod, stainless M2 CSK torx screws and a pair of donor knives - a Compact (http://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Compact) and an Explorer (http://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Explorer).
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Maybe. What were you thinking?
Just idle speculation - combined with a predilection for new pointy things ::-)
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If you need an enabler, let me know. ;D I'd be glad of the practice.
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If you replaced the rivets with bolts and matching sleeved nuts you could assemble your SAK with the best selection of tools for the day.
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Like this, you mean?
(https://v4s2.yimg.com/sk/3693/12952082313_d5274e2d45.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26008756@N08/12952082313/)
Making my own pivots out of 3mm brass rod. Tapped for M2 screws to hold the whole thing together.
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:thumbsup:
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Oh that is a special thing! :thumbsup:
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Ball nose cutter arrived today, so I started on the milled side plates
This:
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2322/12988601743_65d4b869ee.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26008756@N08/12988601743/)
Then this:
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2108/12988867534_48abaee31f.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26008756@N08/12988867534/)
45 minutes later, this:
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7428/12988864544_8885293a05.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26008756@N08/12988864544/)
Enough to do both sides.
Also tested a 3mm carbide cutter for enlarging the pivots on an unwanted fish scaler - went through like butter. 8)
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Thanks Chris. Gorgeous pictures of Real Stuff doing Real Things!
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It's good fun making stuff. Filing gets a bit tedious though:
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7387/13018746205_f2d3032f5d.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26008756@N08/13018746205/)
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Bit more progress today. Drilled all the tools and back springs out to 3mm for the pivots with a carbide end mill. Drilled the scales to 3mm too, using the outer liners as templates. Now that they were lined up properly I was able to finish shaping and sanding the scales, and countersunk the screw holes:
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3124/13068916873_958120a4d3_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26008756@N08/13068916873/)
They're a bit thick though, so I'll skim a millimetre off the back on the mill tomorrow.
Tested the fit of all the parts (except the tools on the back) on the 3mm pins:
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2851/13069135564_c64961d8d3_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26008756@N08/13069135564/)
Couldn't resist putting the scales on to see what it looks like:
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3640/13068788825_668d0dcd86_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26008756@N08/13068788825/)
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Slow, slow progress but I've cut the grooves for the toothpick and tweezers, sanded and polished the edges and they're ready to send to the anodizer (who will slip them into his next run of black for a very reasonable sum):
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3799/13226455324_50977d76ae.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26008756@N08/13226455324/)
Slots for toothpick and tweezers:
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7185/13226038715_4b1462f6b3.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26008756@N08/13226038715/)
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Scales came back from the anodiser this morning:
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7401/13484319663_27b0f4e8fb_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/mxyEs4)
A nice deep matt black.
Finished knife:
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7091/13484828914_254f38eb1a_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/mxBgQf)
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7034/13484831684_1b068d35a3_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/mxBhE1)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3820/13484477095_b8d6cb1886_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/mxztfp)
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Oh yes! Very nice :thumbsup:
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Very nice... impressive looking machine to cut the metal as well. Just what is it?
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*Swoon*
Now that I like. Chapeau Chris! :thumbsup:
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Thanks! Was a lot of effort (at least 8 hours work)and I
made a bunch of mistakes learnt lots of new stuff but I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out.
The metal cutting was down on a Bridgeport turret mill, like this: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sharp_3_Axis_Vertical_Mill_Full_View.jpg
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That's a beautiful thing.
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Yeah. The knife's not bad either.
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Yeah. The knife's not bad either.
:thumbsup:
I need to think of something else to make so I can get a bit more time on the mill.
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If anyone's interested, the knife above is now for sale: https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=81432.0
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Thanks! Was a lot of effort (at least 8 hours work)and I made a bunch of mistakes learnt lots of new stuff but I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out.
The metal cutting was down on a Bridgeport turret mill, like this: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sharp_3_Axis_Vertical_Mill_Full_View.jpg
Wow, just when I was thinking it might be something I could fit into my (currently very limited) workshop...
Presumably a mill that isn't the size of Derbyshire would also work, on small pieces of metal? I've got an 8mm engineer's lathe and periodically wonder if a mill (or milling attachments to the lathe) might have some interesting uses.
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Yes, smaller mills are ok. The main advantage to a big mill is stability but what I've made would be achievable on smaller equipment. Milling attachments look like a good idea to me, but having a dedicated setup can't be beaten. I'd love something like the Bridgeport and a decent at home but they're expensive - best part of £3.5k for the mill.
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Great to see engineering skills alive and well.
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When I got back from work today, a package was waiting for me. In it was a Mora 120.
It's rather sharp.
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I am now the proud owner of Naniwa water stones in 1000 and 3000 grit. My Normark folder and Sabattier chefs knife are now ****ing sharp!
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I am thinking of filling the gap in my kitchen knives that I haven't been worried about up to now, although it has been a thought for quite some years.
That is, to add a Santokyu or Usuba. I've never actually used one, but it seems clear that they are going to be useful, wonder what others think?
As far as manufacturer, Masahiro or Hattori are the Japanese names I'm thinking of (probably Masahiro for value) but I am likely to tend towards the same as the rest of my knives, F Dick. Their knives have a Rockwell of 61, so combine best of stainless and carbon in a way that others just don't. Their Santoku/Usuba re on this page http://www.dick.de/en/tools-for-chefs-and-butchers/chef-s-knives/premier-plus-the-forged-series/eurasia-asian-style-knives/ which matches my existing ones, but they also do a damascus one http://www.dick.de/en/tools-for-chefs-and-butchers/chef-s-knives/1893-the-innovative-damascus-knife-series/
What thoughts?
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I am thinking of filling the gap in my kitchen knives that I haven't been worried about up to now, although it has been a thought for quite some years.
That is, to add a Santokyu or Usuba. I've never actually used one, but it seems clear that they are going to be useful, wonder what others think?
As far as manufacturer, Masahiro or Hattori are the Japanese names I'm thinking of (probably Masahiro for value) but I am likely to tend towards the same as the rest of my knives, F Dick. Their knives have a Rockwell of 61, so combine best of stainless and carbon in a way that others just don't. Their Santoku/Usuba re on this page http://www.dick.de/en/tools-for-chefs-and-butchers/chef-s-knives/premier-plus-the-forged-series/eurasia-asian-style-knives/ which matches my existing ones, but they also do a damascus one http://www.dick.de/en/tools-for-chefs-and-butchers/chef-s-knives/1893-the-innovative-damascus-knife-series/
What thoughts?
Dick has a wonderful range of knives. I haven't yet summoned up the money to buy such tools, so I'll restrict my comment to the blade shapes.
The usuba is a vegetable slicing knife that's good for fine cutting.
I use two cheap santoku shape knives, large and small. This shape is a general purpose blade, that I use mostly for preparing vegetables. It's good for dicing and chopping, and reasonable for slicing.
As you are filling a gap, the more specialised usuba might suit you better.
As this is the camping board, I'll confess to my lust for Dick's folding santoku and usuba.
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More fun in the shed this afternoon. :D
I got a couple of standard Victorinox Alox knives as part of a swap but wanted to add scissors to one of them - for some reason, Vic don't offer this as standard on the Alox range. You need to pull apart a couple of other knives to get the bits. Started with a black Pioneer, silver Solo and 91mm scissors (drilled to 3mm pivot). Bit fiddly dismantling the Solo, but drilling the pins then using a diamond burr to remove the peened bit from the inside worked ok:
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2902/14032785561_a3c169861e_n.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/no2GfD) (https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5116/14012845876_5be7e3620b_n.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/nmguSY)
Test fit of scissors on the Solo back spring:
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2931/14036410994_e506ffa668_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/nomgY7)
Looks ok to me when open:
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5268/14036407944_e759d48760_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/nomg4w)
Doesn't close smoothly though. Need to remove the corner of the spring marked in black:
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5038/14036403824_40d3a54482_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/nomeQu)
Nerve wracking taking the Pioneer apart as I want to keep the scales in good condition but it came apart easily in the end:
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5454/14012831366_d0cafb5ff6_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/nmgqyN)
Can you see what's missing?
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2935/14036394904_b9813c2cb0_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/nomcbG)
I wasn't going to buy another knife just for the liner, so the next step is to make some from brass. I'm waiting for some 0.7mm sheet to arrive, so I thought I'd practice on some 0.4mm stuff. This might be too thin, but if it works it'll be good:
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5342/14032729432_2cc96d8731_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/no2pyU)
Making the liners went well - the material is thin enough to cut with scissors and I used a cut off disc on the Dremel for some of it too. Once I'd got them roughed out I stacked them with the liner from the pioneer as a template and used the belt sander to do the outside and most of the insides. Then used a sanding drum on the Dremel to finish the insides. A quick rub with 800 grit wet and dry later:
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5451/14035913042_07ab84af01_z.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/26008756@N08/14035913042/)
They're perhaps a little thin - I bent one sanding it and one has marks from the pliers where I was holding it to sand it.
I'll finish polishing them tomorrow and see what the knife looks like together.
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The thin liners work pretty well, I reckon. Shame there are some marks on the shield scale.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5072/14031173126_86e6ed2bce_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/nnTqW3)
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7325/14051109692_de0de2f0f1_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/npDBnW)
Need to polish the edges, make the brass barrel pins and drill and countersink the scales. And work on my macro photography.
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More splendid work.
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Finished:
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7204/13889627668_a46b30ebb2_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/nanYp7)
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7417/14073075332_3e48be6aa0_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/nrAbZS)
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5181/13889609589_b52bed6209_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/nanT2p)
Very happy with this one. I love the brass liners - they're very thin but I'll see how well it stands up over time. I've got some thicker material that I can replace it with if I need to.
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Gorgeous work!
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Beautiful.
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mmmm!
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Thanks. :thumbsup:
What should I do next?
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Make something out of all the spare parts you have? Can you put 4 reamers in one knife?
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This arrived in the post today :thumbsup:
(http://photos-f.ak.instagram.com/hphotos-ak-xpf1/10413245_1541427812751621_1145144796_n.jpg)
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Very nice. I quite fancy an Enzo PK70 but can't justify the cost, yet.
(http://www.casstrom.se/shop/21183/art83/h8942/17408942-origpic-58e347.jpg)
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I have an Elver, and may at some point upgrade to a Trapper. Mind you, neither of those is EDC in the UK, so I'll have to get a PK as well. Of course you can justify the cost...* :D
*Is Dennis still doing them as kits? That would allow it to become your next project, as well as the next knife!
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Seriously, I can't justify the cost. I seem to have acquired a bit of a SAK habit - currently I have a more than a dozen Swiss army knives, five pliers based multi tools and four custom builds on the go... ;D
My latest delivery of mod-fodder:
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5562/14805735024_840526a0e4_z.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/26008756@N08/14805735024/)
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I may have to buy one off you, then!
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I'd be happy to make you something - do get in touch and we'll work something out.
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I found a second hand PK70. ;D
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5559/15055835745_ce7785c444_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oWr6qV)
This thing is nuts. Unbelievably good quality fit and finish and a wonderful action with a wickedly sharp edge. UK legal!
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Bought a new SAK. Victorinox Spartan. Red, where I prefer black, but it was a very good price, and a bit easier to explain away as an EDC than my locking blade one.
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:thumbsup:
If you want a black one, I've got some scales I can send you to swap over.
I took a pic of my 'collection' the other day:
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5591/14884959108_4ae56b7671_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oFkiL1)
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Crumbs! That's a good collection.
How hard is it to replace the scales, Chris?
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Pretty easy. Remove the toothpick and tweezers and gently warm them up with a hairdryer or fan heater to soften the plastic a little. Then slide a knife under the scales, starting from the holes left by the toothpick and tweezers and twist the knife to pop the scales off the rivets - there are three of these - one at each end and one in the middle. They should come off quite easily. Then press the new scales on - they normally go on by hand, if you lean on them hard enough.
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Hmm...sounds pretty straightforward. I'll have a think about that, thanks :)
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Or post it to me and I'll do it for you. :thumbsup:
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Paging Charlotte:
Behold the multi-ax.
(http://cdn1.bigcommerce.com/server1900/8550t/products/106/images/428/Ti_KLAX_E_Angled_Close_Up_LR__91779.1437808803.1280.1280.jpg?c=2)
http://www.kleckerknives.com/ti-klax/
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Doesn't have a corkscrew. :o
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I'm disappointed that it needs a specially fashioned shaft. It would be better if it could be attached to any chair leg or similar.
and it needs a corkscrew, though I guess chopping the neck of a bottle could work in extremis.
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Ew, that's horrid. It would last about five minutes before the torque of using it took the head off.
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$550 too. Bollocks to that.
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$550 too. Bollocks to that.
That is the Ti version. The other two versions available on that site are $115 and $160, which is more reasonable.
However, it does rather look like the solution to a non-existent problem. Any number of small axes and multi-tools would be more practical, barely take up any more space, and be cheaper.
It only provides a couple of additional tools, which would probably more sensibly provided by a small hand multi-tool, not a damned big axe blade which would be a nuisance to disassemble.
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Titanium for a blade?
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I wanted to have a UK legal knife to carry around in my bag (mainly to cut up fruit on the go for fussy toddlers). Even though my Opinel has lost its lockring it's still a bit big to be legal, so that will stay in the saddlebag for day rides. I have resisted the lure of the EnZo PK70 (which I first heard about on here, you bad bad people), and gone for a Victorinox Waiter. I'd forgotten how handy Swiss Army Knives are - I must have a couple kicking around lost in drawers, but it's a great little tool, and cheap enough not to mind too much if it does get lost or damaged.
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Oh, and something I've been meaning to ask - anyone got experience of the Lansky sharpening system? I gather it's a lot better than the pull-through types, but easier to use than a trad whetstone.
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/old joke
The Swiss Army must have been pretty confident of victory, since they included a corkscrew in their knife.
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But only for officers!
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Titanium for a blade?
Just to revisit this while I have time. Titanium may be trendy and a bit blingy, but there is no way you can keep a decent edge on a Ti axe head. Just not gonna happen. But, sure, you can brag about your swag in the bar.
It won't corrode. It's stronger than steel. It won't become magnetised. But it will still be a shit axe.
Unless there's a Tungsten carbide edge bonded to it, which, to an extent, negates some of the benefits.
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Oh, and something I've been meaning to ask - anyone got experience of the Lansky sharpening system? I gather it's a lot better than the pull-through types, but easier to use than a trad whetstone.
I've got the 3 stone standard kit. It's good but a little fiddly for small blades like those on a Swiss army knife. Easy to get a consistent edge and works very well on deeper blades. Most of the time I use a Lansky Turnbox - as long as you can keep the blade vertical it's good enough for most blades.
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Thanks - was thinking of getting one mainly for my kitchen knives, but it'd be nice if I could sharpen pocket blades as well. Does it handle serrated edges?
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Not unless you buy the universal or professional versions. For serrations I use a Victorinox pocket sharpener, which has an elliptical stone.
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I've sharpened lots of tools, including axes and billhooks, and I keep it simple by using a file (carefully) then finishing with emery paper over a block of wood. For a knife I would miss out the file and just use the emery paper. The finer grades give a polish, allowing you to go as sharp as you want. I tend to hold the knife still and draw the emery block over it slowly, keeping the chosen angle.
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I've got a Lansky system with the triangular blades for serrated knives, coz I likes gadgets. In fact, the reason I bought it was for one of these http://www.nisbets.co.uk/Victorinox-Slicer-30.5cm/C631/ProductDetail.raction which was losing its edge through being sharpened on a stone. It works very well, needs a bit of intelligent application to get consistent results but I'm please with mine.
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Picked up an Enzo Elver D2 flat grind kit. Includes a finished blade, machined (but oversize) scales with liners already glued in place, bolts for attaching the scales and a rather nice leather sheath. I chose green linen micarta for the handles.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1506/23695835333_f1acbd6078_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/C6Vmi4)
Keyed the tang and the inside of the liners for gluing. I also sanded the blade end of the handle scales as they're hard to get to once the handles are bonded on.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1522/24027074970_65c63e2b49_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/CBc3ih)
Only had 5 minute epoxy and it was rather cold in the shed so no pics of the gluing. Here's the knife clamped up for the glue to set.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1675/24322668275_47e5bd8442_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/D4j2Tz)
Next step is to trim the bolts down nearly flush with the scales, then sand the edges of the handle back to the tang and finish with oil, varnish or similar.
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Finished the Elver the other night.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1519/24413441755_10388a590a_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/DckgFz)
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1582/24117822850_9741929330_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/CKd9tU)
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1607/24413439985_c7fd610390_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Dckga4)
Decided just to sand the handle and leave it un-waxed/oiled. Went to 800 grit wet and dry and it's lovely and smooth in the hand. Great shape to the handles and the blade's not too big. Lovely sheath too.
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How do those bolts work out? Do you screw them up tight then cut/file the heads down until they are flush with the scales?
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Yep. I made sure there was plenty of glue in the threads and around the bolt heads so they don't some undone, tightened them up then hacksawed the ends off before sanding flush.
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That is just lovely, Chris. I normally much prefer a Scandi grind, but that looks so... *right*...
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Ah, but scandi grinds aren't any good for chopping carrots.
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Chris that is very nice indeed. That clamp, you got on the knife over the blue paper/cardboard. I made one just like it back in the day :)
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Thanks Charlotte. :thumbsup: They (www.brisa.fi - take a look, you'll like it ;D) make a bunch of different kits, including a slightly larger scandi knife called the Trapper which might be just right for you.
Ah, but scandi grinds aren't any good for chopping carrots.
Exactly. This isn't a bushcraft knife, it's just a knife. I've got a scandi Mora for hacking at bits of wood, but for general cutting duties a flat grind suits me better.
Chris that is very nice indeed. That clamp, you got on the knife over the blue paper/cardboard. I made one just like it back in the day :)
Thanks woolly. :thumbsup: I think I made one of those clamps too, years ago at school. No idea where it is now though - I bought that one. :-[
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I didn't make it, but I have a D2 flat grind Elver, which I find lovely. The Trapper is lovely too, but I have ickle hands and the Elver is a tiny bit smaller. Of course, for real choice, one should have both... :D
Dennis makes some nice knives.
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My hands aren't that small but the Elver fits nicely. I do like smaller knives though - my favourite pocket knife (other than SAKs) is my Spyderco Pingo.
Dennis makes some nice knives.
Yep. The finish on my PK70 is outstanding.
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That Elver knife looks lovely.
I normally much prefer a Scandi grind,
What does Scandi grind mean? Come to that, what does Elver mean, if anything – I'd assumed it was just a name? I presume it's not actually made specifically for chopping up, deboning or catching eels!
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scandi grind describes how the blade narrows to the edge.
With a scandi grind there is a single bevel from about 2/3rds of the way down the blade width, extending to the edge. Most 'grinds' have a general blade shape then a secondary bevel, just a mm or two wide, at the edge. Scandi grinds don't have a secondary bevel.
This produces a very narrow but strong edge, suitable for wood carving. It does rely on a fairly thick blade to start with.
The blade that chris has worked on is a 'full grind', where the blade narrows continuously to the edge, then there is a secondary bevel (which is visible in the pictures). This shape is good for general work, especially processing meat and slicing things - most kitchen knives have this grind for a good reason. To get a rigid blade with this grind you need quite a deep blade.
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This image shows some basic grinds:
(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll351/kitcarmart/grinds1.jpg)
Scandi[navian] grinds have a fairly shallow grind angle (10-15 degrees/side, IIRC) that can be fragile in super hard steels. They're easy to sharpen (as long as the steel isn't too hard) as you just need to lay the bevel flat on your sharpening stone and work from there - but you do have to remove the material from the entire bevel to sharpen.
The majority of knives have a full flat grind which is very shallow, and a secondary bevel right at the cutting edge which is steeper - 20-25 degrees/side. This is a bit more robust than a scandi but harder to get the angle right while sharpening. If you do it imprecisely you'll end up with a convex edge - in itself not a problem.
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Thanks.
And there was I thinking Scandi grind meant dancing to Swedish grunge. :D
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I've one Opinel that I use for building work - very handy for cutting sheets, insulating material or trimming plasterboard - and a pretty ordinary Victorinox that I found in the mud, it'd been covered in snow for weeks and was full of mud so must have have been there a long time but it cleaned up almost as new.
I've 2 hand axes, one Estwing(takes a lovely edge), t'other B&Q, a felling axe for cutting trees down and a very effective splitting axe I bought from Aldi for £10 for cutting trees up.
I also have a razor sharp adze (German) and know how to use it.
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Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner:
https://www.amazon.com/Ka-Bar-9909-Tactical-Spork-Tool/dp/B01FYJ6ICK
(HT BoingBoing (https://boingboing.net/2016/09/08/yes-this-is-a-tactical-spork.html))
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A fine example of the word 'tactical' being used in its alternate* meaning of 'for waltish twats' there. I suppose we don't have an 'cutlery immediate passion-killer' thread.
*Though in terms of applicability it's probably the primary meaning...
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When I was in Japan in the Autumn I bought a wooden spoon (shown below, telescoping camping chopsticks for scale).
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4681/39208825382_346061d99a_c.jpg)
After a few washes whatever surface treatment was on it before has come off and it's done that thing that pebbles do when you get them home and they dry out and don't look half as good as when you picked them up off the beach.
I'd like to be able to use this to eat with and assume it needs sealing of some sort.
1) what would be the proper way of going about this?
2) what would be an acceptable alternative given I only need to to a teaspoon's worth[1]?
I'm guessing linseed oil or something?
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4691/38361058455_049acf08d4_c.jpg)
Also, the surface of the wood is now quite rough, do you think it would be worth having at it with some sandpaper, or is that going to just make it fuzzy and what I really want to do is find some sharps instead?
[1] Although I'm half anticipating the wooden parts of the chopsticks will need doing at some point too.
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I reckon ordinary vegetable oil would be a good place to start. I also reckon you shouldn't do anything till you've got some answers from people who really know!
But... telescoping camping chopsticks! :D
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Hmm, to be honest I would say that the wood used for the spoon is not suitable for repeated use. Any decent wooden spoon is made from a wood where the grain doesn’t lift like that. If however you want to carry on using it I’d sand it down smooth and use a food safe lacquer to seal it. Wash only in warm water.
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I would say that vegetable oil would be the way to go. And not to use soap when washing it but then I have knives with various wooden handles that get washed in the sink with a liberal squirt of Fairy and a bit of olive oil and they are as good as new.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=635bXVTVMKo
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I'm a bit wary of vegetable oils as internet searches are coming up with warnings that they have a tendency to go rancid.
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As I say, I use olive oil but it regularly gets scrubbed (and dishwashered on occasion) off.
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Linseed oil will oxidise and polymerise to form an impervious film. It is imperative to use only cold-pressed food grade oil, "extracted solely by mechanical means". Anything else is likely to have been heated, therefore setting off down the slippery slope to rancidity. Oils for wood treatment often contain heavy metal dryers which are very bad news.
Other "drying" oils include walnut oil and poppy oil.
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It's been making me wonder what on earth it was sealed with before that it came off so easily.
Walnut oil currently looking like it might be the most readily available and rest-of-bottle-used-for-other-purposes-able.
Thanks all.
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It's been making me wonder what on earth it was sealed with before that it came off so easily.
Walnut oil currently looking like it might be the most readily available and rest-of-bottle-used-for-other-purposes-able.
Thanks all.
You won't go wrong with that. A lot of treen makers use it for finishing.
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IKEA sell a food-safe mineral oil for the treatment of their chopping boards, countertops, etc.; at a couple of quid for half a litre it may be worth a punt?
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Danish Oil is food safe
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There's a thread on Cyclechat at the moment where a spoon carving bod was giving away one of the many spoons he'd made. It was treated with flax oil, but where you get that I've no idea.
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Flaxseed / linseed oil is usually available at health food shops. Probably not cheap, but you shouldn't need much for a spoon, a small bottle would last a while.
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Tim has it, flax seed oil is used to seal carved bowls and spoons.
David Fisher has a nice blog on bowl carving for those of that particular persuasion.
https://davidffisherblog.wordpress.com/2017/07/11/barns-spon/
Robin Wood and Peter Follansbee have some decent information too.
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IKEA sell a food-safe mineral oil for the treatment of their chopping boards, countertops, etc.; at a couple of quid for half a litre it may be worth a punt?
Oh! I do need to go at some point to pick up a picture frame...
In the meantime, collating this information so you don't need to:
ليس هناك خطراً من الاشتعال الذاتي .يجب
Kendiliğinden yanma riski bulunmamaktadır
Ni nevarnosti samovžiga
Nema rizika od samopaljenja
Нет опасности самовозгорания материала
Δεν υπάρχει κίνδυνος αυτοανάφλεξης
Nema rizika od samozapaljenja
Няма риск от самозапалване
Nehrozí nebezpečenstvo samovznietenia
Nu există riscul de combustie
Não há risco de autocombustão
Nėra savaiminio užsidegimo pavojaus
Nepastāv pašaizdegšanās risks
Süttimisohtu pole
Nie ma ryzyka samozapłonu
Az öngyulladás kockázata kizárt
Non c’è rischio di autocombustione
No existe riesgo de autocombustión
Nehrozí riziko samovznícení
Det finns ingen risk för självantändning
Itsestään syttymisen vaaraa ei ole
Det er ikke fare for selvantenning
Ekki er hætta á sjálfíkveikju
Der er ingen risiko for selvantændelse
Er is geen risico voor zelfontbranding
Il n’y a pas de risque d’auto-combustion
Es besteht keine Gefahr der Selbstentzündung
Danish Oil is food safe
ooh! I think I might have some Danish oil - will have to dig it out and read the label!
Will have a mooch around those other things/links people have suggested too.
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Nikki,
I did some research into this before Christmas when I had a couple of hardwood cutting boaards to seal. I chose coconut oil after reading it doesn't moulder. I kind of like the idea that it's solid at room temperature, so behaves more like wax than liquid oil. Anyway, used it and am pleased with the results. I chop veg and bread on these boards every day and they are so easy to clean - stuff that would have stained a naked board just wipes off. Even better, it's inexpensive. 200g costs about a quid. I've used 50g.
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I ended up buying some cold pressed flax seed oil from the local deli, learning it's the same stuff as linseed oil in the process.
Cost a bit more than the coconut oil, haven't got around to trying it yet...
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Danish Oil is food safe
Do you get that by squeezing Danes?
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Have you not contacted the Queen of spoons of this parish?
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I ended up buying some cold pressed flax seed oil from the local deli, learning it's the same stuff as linseed oil in the process.
Cost a bit more than the coconut oil, haven't got around to trying it yet...
Well there you go, I didn't know they were the same.
As an aside, I might get my spoon carving tools out as I cut a few tonnes of lime yesterday.
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I have no idea what the Japanese carved spoon connoisseurs think of sanded spoons, but I think sanding would be a good way to smooth the surface. I'd start off gently with 250 grit wet and dry paper, then oil it. If it's still rough after that, you could try a finer sandpaper, maybe 320 grit.
The slight risk with linseed oil is it may go mouldy over time (e.g. if the spoon is left in a kitchen drawer). Not a problem if you'll use it every day though.
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I'm wondering if the surface of the spoon has been harmed by an application of too much elbow grease whilst being washed up ?
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Have you not contacted the Queen of spoons of this parish?
Heh! No - she doesn't seem to frequent this parish much any more. Figured everyone else could handle a questions about oil. Of course, if it turns out I need Specialist Sharps...
I have no idea what the Japanese carved spoon connoisseurs think of sanded spoons, but I think sanding would be a good way to smooth the surface. I'd start off gently with 250 grit wet and dry paper, then oil it. If it's still rough after that, you could try a finer sandpaper, maybe 320 grit.
I did a City & Guilds wood carving class once with a chap who often heads up cathedral restoration projects and the like. He always cautioned us against using sandpaper for reasons I can't quite remember the details of, encouraging us to get the final finish with the chisels instead. Thus I'm a bit reluctant to use sandpaper, but equally don't have a handy set of chisels to use instead! I'll have another critical look at it at some point. I do have some lino cutting tools, maybe a quick shave with one of those would work. It doesn't need to be perfect - it's just a teaspoon.
The slight risk with linseed oil is it may go mouldy over time (e.g. if the spoon is left in a kitchen drawer). Not a problem if you'll use it every day though.
Or if I don't have any kitchen drawers!
I'm wondering if the surface of the spoon has been harmed by an application of too much elbow grease whilst being washed up ?
Hah! No: would only have been used for yoghurt or hot chocolate a few times and wouldn't have required much in the way of scrubbing. (I also bought back some ceramics from my last couple of Japan trips and the wooden spoons get used with these in situations kept as non abrasive as possible. Naturally the two spoons I bought for about 35 pee each are going great guns!)
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The guru for this is Robin Wood
He uses flax oil (aka linseed oil).
Sandpaper is frowned on because it raises grain - you would normally use a scraper to finish fine wood. Sandpaper can be used to smooth the surface but then you normally would use a scraper to get a truly smooth surface (or just leave it with the tooled surface).
Your spoon looks like water/detergent has removed the oils and raised the grain. I suggest using fine wet and dry paper, maybe 400grit to smooth it, then applying linseed oil. An alternative, if you aren't allergic, is walnut oil (Robin Wood used to use this). Both oils have a curing time of over a week, don't get water on the spoon before this. Apply the oil until the surface is oily damp but not wet (a wipe off with lint-free cloth to ensure no 'wet' spots can be a good idea). Leave to cure, then apply another coat.
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Why don't you make one yourself, it's very easy, all you need is a yurt, a beard, a knife, a crook knife and some sandals.
Then you'll never have to worry about a bit of raised grain ever again.
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I don't currently have a beard, but the last time I had one someone took a picture of me climbing up a yurt roof to pull up the canvas. Was wearing hand-made leather sandals too.
I know, there is no hope for me.
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The guru for this is Robin Wood
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
And any discussion of his talent (http://www.robin-wood.co.uk/) would be incomplete without a link to that of his daughter who makes the most fantastic spoons (http://www.jojo-wood.co.uk/spoons/) (her FB page is here (https://www.facebook.com/jojowoodcraft/?hc_ref=ARTi6jI9k30RxHmws8FuzzzDMRV7F-lAJJwrRyN6ICsfRUOq6J84biILqh5S2ryi9d4&pnref=story))
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All together now.............. Kumbaya
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I think the last time I watched Charlotte carve a spoon she used some micromesh stuff to finish it off & get a smooth surface.
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Why don't you make one yourself, it's very easy, all you need is a yurt, a beard, a knife, a crook knife and some sandals.
Then you'll never have to worry about a bit of raised grain ever again.
I wholeheartedly approve of this as a suitable remedial course of action.
his daughter who makes the most fantastic spoons (http://www.jojo-wood.co.uk/spoons/)
Dammit. She's running a course in Birmingham in April.
400 grit wet & dry and the first coat of oil have been applied. (Who was it worried that other forumites were having wildly more exciting Friday nights than them?)
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Here you go nikki, enjoy.
https://vimeo.com/230401700
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Beeswax is good and it won't do your digestive system any harm - it is "food grade", after all.
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Here you go nikki, enjoy.
Thanks! I was a bit miffed at the power tools, but I suppose when you've waited 20 years for the bump to grow...
Spoon update: looking good!
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4678/28097179899_ebbd46069a_c.jpg)
How does one tell when the linseed has cured?
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If you applied the oil very thinly, when it's dry.
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I thought you might appreciate the inlay and the red powder made from birch bark. After making a few by hand, you might appreciate the odd power tool for curly grain.
You'll see what I mean when you get going.
Spoon looks nice.
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Want. Traditional Crafts of Finland - Episode 1 - Puukko Knife Making (https://youtu.be/BLnqr6IGVgs)
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If you applied the oil very thinly, when it's dry.
Cool - will have to pluck up the courage to use it soon then!
I thought you might appreciate the inlay and the red powder made from birch bark.
Yeah, that was nice - would have liked to have seen a bit more of that.
After making a few by hand, you might appreciate the odd power tool for curly grain.
Heh, yes! That's why I opted for sandpaper in the end rather than attempting anything with a blade!
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Ray Mears "Sweden" Season 2 Episode 4 shows more of the Sami reindeer antler carving and tells how to get the red powder from the underbars of Birch. I believe its Downy Birch Betula pubescens
If you want some of the inner bark, I have a coppice full of the stuff which I cut for firewood and other things.
Don't forget to put straw in yer boots.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-28X2ngDgE4
and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfiCZBw6ViE
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I had the crook knife out.
(http://i.imgur.com/Ij6YpJv.jpg?1) (https://imgur.com/Ij6YpJv)
(http://i.imgur.com/RvEXJ49.jpg?1) (https://imgur.com/RvEXJ49)
(http://i.imgur.com/hlD11Cm.jpg?1) (https://imgur.com/hlD11Cm)
(http://i.imgur.com/tdR61W1.jpg?2) (https://imgur.com/tdR61W1)
Rubbish to eat with, but fun to look at.
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That is indeed rather pleasing on the eye :)
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New proposals from the Home Office to further restrict the availability of knives are likely to impact more than just people stabbing each other.
The Offensive Weapons Bill (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/offensive-weapons-bill-2018-overarching-documents) covers a lot of ground, but the two items most likely to affect the general public are:
- stopping knives being sent to residential addresses after they are bought online
- updating the definition of a flick knife to reflect changing weapon designs
The first means you'll have to go to a PO or other parcel collection point and prove your age to collect the knife. The second may reclassify knives that are currently legal to own and carry with good reason as illegal, and put them in the same bracket as automatic/flick knives. Multitools such as the Leatherman Wave and other one-hand-opening knives may be affected and would become illegal to possess - and would have to be surrendered to the Police. Maybe you'll get compensation, maybe not...
There's a petition here to get the government to reconsider the shipping of knives: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/222776. Please sign.
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:(
(and I was expecting to see beautiful illustrations of excellent craftsmanship!)
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Signed.
They'll take my Leatherman Wave from my cold, dead.....
I was on the Ginger Line the other day, doing the Metro crossword when I happened across an article which took my fancy.
I reached into my bag, took out my retractable-bladed scalpel ( I have one in every bag) and cut a neat rectangle around the article.
By the time I'd folded the article into a square, I was aware that the eyes of everyone around me were upon me...... :D
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To be fair, that's because normal people would have taken a photo of it with their phone. :P
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To be fair, that's because normal people would have taken a photo of it with their phone. :P
I like your reference to 'normal people' and am happy to not be associated with such ;)
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The ban on residential delivery seems unenforceable. Obviously reputable sellers will abide by it but unless every single parcel gets scanned/inspected there's no way of knowing what's there. I suppose one way might be to make delivery agents responsible if illegal items are delivered, but a) they will probably deal with this by "terms and conditions" b) we come back to the problem of how anyone will know what's in the parcel.
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Agreed. It'll be cumbersome at best, and more than likely ineffective. If you look at the detail of the bill, it's all badly worded and open to misinterpretation. Just enforce the bloody laws we already have with an appropriate number of police officers.
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Essex Police Custody Suite spork specially designed so you can't hurt yourself or use it as a weapon...
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1945/44289794644_202f0fc9f5_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2atJLV3)
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Fess up, OD, what have the boys and girls from ACME been up to now? ;D
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Fess up, OD, what have the boys and girls from ACME been up to now? ;D
Nothing ;D. I’m an Appropriate Adult volunteer and spent a fair of yesterday in Colchester Custody Suite where I spotted the spork. Given where I was I resisted the temptation to pinch one.
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When I was in Vienna earlier in the year I was impressed with the several cutlery shops I saw. Haven't seen shops like that in the UK for decades. Sold Swiss Army knives, Opinel, carving knives, hairdressers scissors etc etc etc. Lovely.
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Saw Millets was having a decent sale and got a SAK Waiter to replace the one I've mislaid, and a Leatherman Micra. The latter really is weeny - it will probably mostly live in a bag pocket, but would happily fit on a keyring.
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Not being a fan of sporks, I have a set of stainless steel cutlery for camping that slots together into a holder that looks like it should double as a tin opener. I've never used the tin opener part so don't know how well it works – I'm unlikely to use tins on camp and in any case have a tin opener on my SAK. As cutlery it works every bit as well as anything you have at home, but it is quite heavy. So I was quite pleased to find a set of ultralight "aerospace alloy" aluminium cutlery, with no tin opener but a miniature carabiner to hold it all together. Upon opening the packet, I was slightly less impressed; everything's light and sharp but, of course, ultralight means a little bit flexy. Still an awful lot better than a spork though.
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I made these when I was an apprentice Blacksmith
[IMG-0115.jpg](https://postimg.cc/ZCVT3NNP)
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Fork facts.
http://www.eatingutensils.net/
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I have been trying to source some new but traditional pattern butter knives recently. Not an easy task. Someone now thinks that these knives should be tiny. presumably for use with biscuits etc rather than the traditional 8" or so English large flat bladed knife with 'bone' handle for walloping bread rounds. I eventually found a Viners set of full size knives but not the pattern I was seeking, but never mind. Opinel do something similar but with timber handle which has its disadvantages.
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Fork facts.
http://www.eatingutensils.net/
Fails to mention my favourite, the scrap of chapati or roti. But we can all be thankful for:
Spork - Hybrid of spoon and fork.
Knork - Hybrid of knife and fork.
Spife - Hybrid of knife and spoon.
Sporf - Hybrid of knife, fork and spoon.
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Titanium Spork arrived inna post today. Hope it's not too long before I can use it "In Situ".
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When I was in Vienna earlier in the year I was impressed with the several cutlery shops I saw. Haven't seen shops like that in the UK for decades. Sold Swiss Army knives, Opinel, carving knives, hairdressers scissors etc etc etc. Lovely.
Same in Switzerland last year, we came home with a small set of kitchen knives from Victorinox which are made small enough to fit into our camp kitchen.
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I have spent this afternoon at my very good pal Penelope's house preparing a large vat of curry for her freezer. Although I took my favourite kitchen knife with me, she had a very lovely ceramic one with the make "Ernesto"* engraved on the blade. Pen bought it in Lidl, apparently, a year or two ago, but hasn't used it since a small slip had her in A & E having her finger patched up.
It is beautifully sharp and has a protective sheath around the blade to prevent mishaps.
Does the panel have any recommendations for a similar product?
*I speculated that his surname might have been Vipers.
Edit: I've just realised that this thread is ostensibly camping-related, whereas I want a kitchen knife - which I suppose might come camping with me should I ever go camping again.
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I fear a knife in a provocative sheath
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Am proud owner of not one but two titanium sporks bought on eBay for less than £4 each, free postage from China, take six weeks to arrive. Very light. And sporks. Ok for what I want, which is carrying for 500 miles as I walk a pilgrim route in Spain again. Not as good as knife, fork and spoon set but much lighter.
One of the sporks folds, the other doesn't.
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I bought a Tramontina machete to attack the brambles with - works well enough, but need to spend some time on the edge with a stone. The question is, dare I take it with me in the Carradice when I go bridleway-bashing, or is that an invitation to getting nicked...?
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my understanding of the English law is that it is perfectly ok to carry an enormous cutting blade whereever you go providing that you have a good reason, so taking a machete into Tesco is probably not a good idea but hiding the blade and cycling to a bramble bashing place is perfectly legal.
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And the application of English law depends on things like your age, race, where you happen to be and whether you pass the attitude test.
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I'm aware of the letter of the law, and as a white middle-class middle-aged bloke I'm likely to be given a large slice of the benefit of the doubt, but on the other hand I'd rather not be arguing my legitimate case up before the beak. If I were just going to and from the allotments that would be one thing, but having it with me on a longer rough-stuff ride might be more dubious. I suppose the pragmatic response is either to use something that fits entirely in the saddlebag (folding saw, etc.), or to cover up the handle of the machete so that it's not obviously a BFO blade when poking out the side of the bag...
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This young man has no problems carrying a knife, a big kitchen knife in full view. We all know you need a knife to cook meals when camping. We have been stopped going onto a ferry to europe and they wanted to take the knifes , i said you may as well take all the camp cooking gear . They decided it was not worth the hassle. (https://i.imgur.com/Tud8T1h.jpg)
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On cycling in to the docks at Dover donkey's years ago I was sent into the customs examination shed where a perplexed jobsworth asked me, sitting on a bike festooned with camping kit, tent etc, if I had a knife. I lied and assured him that no I certainly didn't. So he let me cycle on to the ferry. Where I could have stolen one from the restaurant or bought one in the shop. What was I going to do? Hijack the bloody ferry and fly it into an office block?
Border Force isn't worth tuppence. I've been out of Portsmouth several times with a club and we're usually searched, I'm convinced this is because a bike counts as a vehicle but is easier to search than a car. A Labour former home secretary once said the Border Force was not fit for purpose. From the evidence of my own eyes, I'd agree.