From Bass Tree to Backpack [Full Length Bark Pack Tutorial]

Are you making a backpack from the bark of a bass tree? Watch this full length episode for a step by step guide. A trusty pack is a valuable tool. You can make one from the bark of a bass tree, also known as an American Linden.
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Brian Stockman is a master carver with a deep knowledge of traditional wood, stone, bone, and ivory carving.
#stockmanoriginal #barkbackpack

[@StockmanOriginal]

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[@jackreeves3001]

You are my favorite channel. I hope there are other guys like you out there. Thanks for sharing your time and talent! KANSAS

[@StockmanOriginal]

Gosh Jack, we appreciate that! We love putting this stuff together for you and everyone out there interested, thank you!

[@OpalDragon24]

YES! I like it too and just found it a few days ago! There's something about Brian. Comfortable.

[@user-il9gn7dw9h]

Спасибо огромное за ваши труды, всё очень интересно и полезно! Киров.

[@kayscanningacademy]

That unique tool for starting the bark is so amazing!! Some of my favorite things about handcrafts is seeing the unique tools people create and customize for the things they do and the way they work.

[@StockmanOriginal]

Thank you Kay, and thank you for watching. Necessity is the mother of invention, as they say, and l wanted to be able to slice the bark with out scoring the wood. I think it’s a lot of fun figuring out little dilemmas like that. I got my engineering degree from Gilligan’s lsland.

[@kayscanningacademy]

You do good justice to an inventor's education! I send you and yours sincerest wishes for health, happiness and success.

[@LucasRichardStephens]

excellent!

[@marksparkplug7758]

Thanks for sharing, Basswood is a very useful tree.

[@StockmanOriginal]

It is! For instance: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4C2aJVqodOlpNE

[@Sheepdog1314]

I live in NH as well...no bass trees here....I'll keep looking...thank you !!

[@StockmanOriginal]

They’re around!

[@silentstryker1590]

Real knowledge and skill. Thank you for showing us this.

[@StockmanOriginal]

Hey Silent Stryker, thank you for checking us out. We have a lot of fun stuff coming.

[@robertbissett]

This is amazing and very functional. Otzi the iceman had two birch-bark containers - cylindrical pots measuring 15 to 18 cm in diameter and approx. 20 cm high - found near the mummy. Much simpler.

[@StockmanOriginal]

Hello Robert, thanks for checking us out. That’s interesting about Otzi’s birch bark containers, Max and I are putting together a new video on making birch bark containers. Was Otzi’s sewn up or simply folded, do you know?

[@Sheepdog1314]

excellent - thank you

[@StockmanOriginal]

Thanks for watching. We'd appreciate it if you'd take the time to hit the like button and watch one of our other videos. For instance, How to Hew a Beam: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZu6lpuBodycm5Y

[@nomadichunter2818]

Done and done! Amazing videos!

[@sandraboyle5993]

So appreciate the detail of your teaching. The description of the tools you are using and have fashioned yourself for a specific purpose. Thank you 🙏

[@StockmanOriginal]

Sandra, you are so welcome! It’s folks like you that make this so much fun, thanks for being there.

[@Peter-od7op]

Just love these vdo. Great job

[@StockmanOriginal]

Thank you Peter, it means a lot to us!

[@__seeker__]

Absolutely incredible. Thank you for sharing your skills and knowledge with us. And with such an affable nature.

[@StockmanOriginal]

Thank you MANZO, I love what I do but it wouldn’t be as much fun with out folks like you to share it with.

[@nomadichunter2818]

Wow! Love those baskets! I found a fsllen basswood tree, i must try to salvage some of the bark and make one of these wonderful backpacks! Thanks a bunch for showing. Basswood has so many uses!

[@Arthurian.]

Most fallen trees, if not harvested quickly, the bark becomes useless for structuruses.

[@chantalrochon3566]

What an amazing artist/craftsman! A natural man👍🏽👍🏿👍👍🏻🌻

[@StockmanOriginal]

Thank you Chantal, we’re so happy you have found our channel!

[@trspriyadarshini2468]

Awesome

[@StockmanOriginal]

Thank you my friend!

[@HaggardOutdoors]

Love these types. I’ve made several packs but never one like that. I’m def gonna have to give it a try.

[@StockmanOriginal]

Hey Haggard Outdoors, thanks. You know an other cool thing is the wonderful piece of carving wood you get out of the deal.

[@HaggardOutdoors]

@@StockmanOriginal yep, amazing work. I’ll be posting video soon, if some projects I’m doing and have done. Keep up the great work.

[@elund408]

I would bet that bark would make beautiful stacked puko handles. thicker than traditional birch park.

[@StockmanOriginal]

You are probably right, it has a beautiful pattern on the edge, like flames. The only problem might be that it is more susceptible to swelling from moisture than birch. I could send you some if you want to try it.

[@elund408]

@@StockmanOriginal That is very generous of you but I will have to decline at this time, thank you for the offer.

[@user-nm9kf3we7b]

I love your your style snd your techniques i going to try this out. I'm kinda crafty too.i ll let you know how it goes. Ps i love the shot glass too lol .thanks for the teaching buddy.

[@StockmanOriginal]

Thank you Ashley, so nice to have you with us! Please do let us know how it works out.

[@user-nm9kf3we7b]

Lol that was my dad ,he still talking about it

[@tuathadesidhe1530]

Oh wow I love your channel, my son and I are homeschooling and going to start traveling through history from Ancient times - I can see we will be visiting your channel often to learn how things were traditionally made - and hopefully attempt some of your projects.

[@StockmanOriginal]

Tuatha De Sidhe, that’s the coolest thing I have heard yet. Thank you so much, that’s exactly why we are doing this. Please keep in touch.

[@tuathadesidhe1530]

Yes I will - we are in FNQ Australia, some of our trees over here have bark that looks similar to this Bass Tree, can you use any trees bark for these cool bags ? We are currently doing a year of Viking/Norse studies and will be starting a year of Ancients in June - we can't wait, I'm still in the planning and prepping stage at the moment. How long do you think a piece of antler would survive if it was buried in the ground (moist, volcanic, tropical rainforest soil) - before it started to deteriorate ?

[@StockmanOriginal]

Hey Tuatha, it’s so nice to hear from Australia! No, you can’t use any tree bark, the thing about bass bark is the strong inner bark that holds everything together. Bass has other names depending upon where you are- England it’s called Lime and in Europe it’s called linden( my favorite). I’ve seen packs made from elm and cedar as well, both have strong inner bark. This could be a great research project for you guys. As for deer antler buried under the conditions you described, it probably wouldn’t last very long. The moisture is the culprit in that case, in drier conditions antler can last hundreds of years. I have some examples that were dug up in Alaska that are very old. Don’t forget to check out the video on Thor’s hammer.

[@leeburke4060]

I'm new here. also i was born in Claremont NH. i left in 75 and came back in 78. then gone again in 81 love what i'm seeing in your scrimshaw and also in learning more in your carving. also. I do carving myself and leather work along with 30 other hobbies... all way's willing to learn more. what the heck im only 67....lol got along ways to go lmao.

[@StockmanOriginal]

Hello Lee, so happy to have you with us! Where did you settle down? The old saying goes “ live every day like it was your last, and learn every day as if you would live forever “😀

[@leeburke4060]

@@StockmanOriginal i now live in Augusta GA. it's ok here ..i do miss NH. last time i was there was 2007 my mom passed and then 2008 my dad passed.

[@rebeccabense6800]

I remember making flutes with you once- can you show us again sometime next spring? HUGS!

[@rebeccabense6800]

Or maybe it was a slide whistle? LONG_G_G_G time ago! ;)

[@StockmanOriginal]

Hey Lady,I’m going to be making a bone flute soon, that’ll be fun. We do have a video on the slide whistle if you dig around a bit you’ll find it.👍🏼

[@rebeccabense6800]

@@StockmanOriginal yes it was!

[@glennwilck5459]

Very cool basket idea...I was aware of the ash woven back packs but this is really cool and durable! Why not use hickory bark to lash the sides together..I'm sure raw hide is stronger but all bark would be neat!

[@StockmanOriginal]

Thank you Glenn!! I’ve never messed around with hickory bark for we have very little of it around here but I have used roots before. The roots dried up and became too brittle and didn’t match the durability of the bark. My first pack( the one I still use after 30+ years) l sewed up with cordage l made from the inner bark of bass. Strong enough but takes a lot longer to produce and cramps my fingers in the process.🥴

[@glennwilck5459]

@@StockmanOriginal I see well if you have the raw hide I'm sure that's the strongest! Thanks for the idea I'll be trying my hand at making one this spring!

[@user-lg2zb2el5i]

Супер Мастер-класс!!

[@StockmanOriginal]

Thanks 🤔😀

[@OpalDragon24]

That is really cool! Do you use it? Comfortable? What would you charge for something like that?

[@StockmanOriginal]

Hello Opal Dragon. Yes it actually is rather comfortable and I use a lot. It’s great for gathering anything from mushrooms to stones. They are as rugged as the dickens, you can flip them upside down and sit on them even.

[@kendunn7330]

Hi Brian, I assume you make and sell your backpacks. My question is how much do you sell them for? I think that there very awesome looking.

[@StockmanOriginal]

Hi Ken, yes I do. I have three on hand right now. They do take a bit of work to make and l get 300 for them. You seemed interested in a smaller version which could happen next spring. That could be a little less. Let me know what you think.

[@sandralth]

I think it’s called the cambian layer.

[@StockmanOriginal]

Hi Sandra, l think you’re right.

[@Arthurian.]

I heard rope can be made from the inner side of basswood. Have you had experience with that?

[@StockmanOriginal]

Hello Jessica, thank you for checking us out! Yes, I have made cordage from the inner bark and it’s very strong, in fact you can make fishing line and even a bow string from it. I have a video on cordage you might enjoy.

[@Arthurian.]

@@StockmanOriginal oh that's cool. Thank you, will look it up!

[@OpalDragon24]

Okay, one more comment from me and you're going to get suspicious!😅 Hey, I love youtube. I can learn just about anything. There's probably a video to teach ladies how to pee over a fence. Anyway, I'm back to go over adding the straps. I've been hopping from channel to channel and I keep coming back to yours. There's something different about you. 🤔 😊.. You leave out the stuff that others use to fill space. I'm old and i don't have patience for musicals and bull 💩. So thanks! Thanks for being good at what you do and NOT be boring.

[@StockmanOriginal]

Thank you so much Opal Dragon, your comments are always appreciated. Best of luck with your project, love to see how it turns out.

[@snapperpetta9145]

Wondering if you know the diameter of the tree you got the bark from? Also, I know you used a length of wood for your measuring but can you give us an idea of how long the pack is when finished? I'm thinking of trying this and have never done anything like it before. I don't want to be mindlessly sacrificing trees so I'm looking to get it right the first time. Thanks for any help you can give me. Until next time...be well.

[@StockmanOriginal]

Hello Snapper Petta, thank you for checking us out! Those Basswood poles were roughly six inches in diameter , give or take. The packs vary in height but the last batch came out to be about 24” tall so you would need a nice straight piece roughly 48” long. I will do a little video on these points soon, plus show some of the things I make from the wood after the packs are done.

[@snapperpetta9145]

@@StockmanOriginal Thanks for the additional information. I'm attending a bark container workshop next week so I'm hoping to get a feel for things before heading into the woods to find a decent basswood tree. We have some around us but too many so I want to get this as right as I can. Truly appreciate your help and all your videos. Take care and until next time...be well.

[@stevenrivinius1484]

I was wondering does a 18 pack fit in there ?

[@StockmanOriginal]

Hey Steven, what do you think, of course you can if you stack em just right.🤪Thanks so much for checking us out, we appreciate it.

[@user-il9gn7dw9h]

Это осиновое дерево, я правильно понимаю?

[@StockmanOriginal]

I’m sorry I don’t know how to translate but I’m glad you’re watching.

[@OpalDragon24]

Oh man! I cut my bark but it split on me. It's about 4 feet long. I did my fold at the bottom. It went well. Soooo...( like you say, lol) I guess I'll have to rethink this. Can't have a curved bottom on a basket sooooo, I just made up my mind. I'll make a backpack and just stitch together the splitting. Okay, watching this again before I proceed. BTW, I know why it split. My fault. I went too fast and didn't cut my verticals deep enough in places.

[@StockmanOriginal]

That’s too bad it split. I saw someone put his log in a steamer once and the bark came off like a piece of leather. I haven’t tried that yet but it looked good.

[@OpalDragon24]

@@StockmanOriginal I'm going to carve them out a little and weave something dream-catcher-esk. Wabi Sabi and all that jazz. Embrace the perfect imperfections. I'm still trying to figure out what to use for the inside brace. I wasn't thinking this out. I just got up, grabbed my knife and chisel and away I went. Mimosa bark is thin and soft. Folding was easy but I didn't have a support band. I was getting nervous because it was trying to curl so I grabbed a lid to a big pot and clamped it in there upside down. I put a stick in there eventually but I don't know what I'm going to use. I don't have a lot of tools. Anyway, I'll think of something. Having so much fun with this. I'm learning a lot.

[@StockmanOriginal]

For a rim l used white oak, l put it inside to begin with so it helps hold the form and then once it’s dry l take it out and apply it to the outside to be stitched in place. Though I have used pots and buckets to hold the form in a pinch. Necessity is the mother of invention, as they say. One of the best things about jumping into a project like this is learning what works and what doesn’t it’s an education you won’t get in the system. Drive on!😁

[@OpalDragon24]

@@StockmanOriginal Well said! Thank you!

[@OpalDragon24]

What's that necklace?

[@StockmanOriginal]

Hello OpalDragon, thanks for checking us out. The necklace is my glasses case, I think that’s the one you’re thinking about. There is a slate pendant hanging also.

[@OpalDragon24]

@@StockmanOriginal Yes, the case. Great idea! I'm working on a small pouch necklace with mimosa bark. Too short for glasses but I can make another. Will try your back pack soon! Oh, do you have a video for the glasses case?

[@StockmanOriginal]

Good morning Opal Dragon, thank you for your interest. I don’t have a video on that yet but I can tell you a little about it. It’s carved out of walnut and once I got the size and shape figured out I split the wood into two pieces so I could carve out the cavity. I split it rather than sawing it because when I glued it together again the seam disappeared completely. My glasses are antique and have telescopic bows which makes for a very small package. You can find those in antique shops quite often, then you can have lenses made for them. Maybe I’ll do a little video on them soon for you.

[@OpalDragon24]

@@StockmanOriginal OH! I see. Well, I'm going to make a minny backpack with bark. Should do the trick. Thanks of the inspiration. Too bad we can't comment with a picture, too.

[@StockmanOriginal]

@@OpalDragon24 kzbin.info/www/bejne/jn6yZK2ke5d2apo

[@TheHuntercamper]

Cracks me up with trying to act like nature's friend and past woodsmen skills, yet uses a chain saw Baha

[@StockmanOriginal]

Hey Mic Well, l may be dumb but l ain’t stupid!😁Thanks so much for checking us out!!