Ray Mears - How to make a container from birch bark, Bushcraft Survival

www.raymears.com
Ray Mears manufactures a traditional container using sheets of birch bark.
This clip was taken from the DVD extras of Ray Mears Bushcraft Survival Series 2.

[@aliceinmadseason2319]

as a fellow craftsman ( i made a knife from a toothbrush in jail) i must say u did a great job

[@larss337]

You made me laugh, you go girl :-)

[@breakfast917]

Not very crafty if you got nicked

[@Alabaster245]

I've learned a lot from watching Ray. In our country you are presented with a picture of a rough tuff guy who can and should kick ass to proved his manhood. With Ray you have an extremely polite well mannered man that is truly amazing at what he has chosen to do. Young men from around the world could learn much from watching him. I like his style..

[@PaulStilgrove]

i enjoyed that, cheers ray, i think i will have a go and try and make one

[@artemturist]

thank you.

[@RobinJay52]

I wonder how sap glue would work and look

[@BushcraftQuebec]

you can too

[@LeatherCladVegan]

Round-eye is not good at this sort of thing.

[@stevens5541]

You lost me when you used glue.....you should have used a natural glue from nature

[@edro3838]

Nice to listen to a craftsman explain his technique using proper English. No wasted words, stall tactics, just pleasant well spoken English. I admire the talent!

[@BobbyLaurel]

:-) Ray, not only you made a practical thing, but also you you created a real object of art, a piece of beauty. Thank you very much for the video. Actually, thank you very much for all your videos and especially for this one.

[@debbiehenri345]

When I finally cut down my old Birch tree for firewood (don't worry, guys, I'm a tree-planter too! What's been felled has been replaced in kind over the course of every Autumn/Winter planting season) - I know exactly what I'm going to do with the best bits of the Birch bark. What a great way to both disguise the odd assortment of glass jam jars on my shelves - and - protect the contents from the light. (I keep them in rather less attractive paper bags atm, but these birch boxes are much better, and have the advantage of being a lovely way to present jams and jellies as gifts too). I'll also buy a few more species of Birch for future projects too!

[@IngeniousOutdoors]

for those of you who are whining about there not being glue in nature so this isnt really bushcraft, anything that puts out white sap, the white sap is a form of latex its about as strong as elmers glue when dried. make pine pitch. its basicly a really strong hot melt glue. learn how to make hide glue. just bring glue with you.

[@volcanic1818]

how do you harvest the bark. I can never get it in one solid sheet like you do

[@aaronfrank85]

Actually the people that are saying there isnt glue in nature are wrong. Pine sap and ash mix together when heated up make an excellent survival glue.

[@michaelpena9560]

or honey

[@MannyXVIII]

+Michel van Hartingsveldt you're right. It was used to glue arrow points together with their shaft, so if the enemy tries to reuse the arrows you shot at him the point will get off the shaft and stay stuck in whatever you shot it into

[@nonyadamnbusiness9887]

There's glue everywhere is nature. Collagen is the glue that holds all animal life together. Plants are full of glues, latex is present in many plants. Most conifers and many deciduous trees literally drip sap, which makes a good resin. Starch is a glue present in seeds and tubers. Egg white is a decent glue, so is blood.

[@n0comply668]

And Hooves from Deer, Horses, elk, etc can be melted down and becomes a very strong glue

[@Menkalo]

N0Comply When I read your comment, I skipped the words “hooves from”, so I though you talked about melting down different animals

[@NorthSurvival]

This is like when Ray did a matchbox from birch bark but bigger, always making it look so easy, great job. /NorthSurvival.

[@CircmcisionIsChi1dAbus3]

would have been nice if he used pine pitch as glue :p

[@iseeolly9959]

Ray could make a laptop out of mud, love him.

[@jenocean824]

Beautiful container but I would like to have seen a more detailed cutout diagram of how the cutouts are done and how they are put together.

[@timothylongmore7325]

Yeah Ray , how about some details?

[@patrickj8984]

make your own.........

[@cumorahwatson1967]

Just so amazing, to listen and watch. 👍 He's so entertaining, and a joy to watch. The way he teaches is amazing! If we had teaches like him at school, ld never would of wanted to leave! hahaha l left school, awhile ago now😉 But ld go back, at any time just to have the privilege, to learn from this guy👍👏 All the best to you Sir.

[@BushcraftQuebec]

learning nature , bushcraft , is therapeutic .

[@SamuelitoRubio]

I can't find a resource showing how to lay out the triangles on the ends. could you explain this process?

[@nerblebun]

I forgot to add, the rabbit or deer pellets should be fairly dry, then crushed to a powder. Heat the pine sap (don't overheat it) then mix in the crushed pellets to the desired consistency. It thickens the sap and helps in the bonding. I imagine goat droppings would work also. They have the same kind of turd. lol Dave Canterbury has videos on YT titled "Journal of the Yurt". In one of those, he make glue with pine sap and rabbit pellets. Good stuff to know brother.

[@nacholibre1962]

I'm no flake and certainly not the touchy-feely type, but here's a certain grace to what Ray does. A man of great "poise"!

[@Taxandrya]

He still should've used pitch-glue if it's bushcraft. Otherwise this is just art-crafts with a forest background to cover it up...

[@Sam_kirky]

''This may take a while so look at something ells''......... no thanks i'm good!

[@michaelrawson6261]

...ELSE...

[@tqft]

2:50 ray mears asmr..... awww that’s the good stuff right there

[@BushcraftQuebec]

skills go a long way the man has more then 30 years experience and work alot to accomplish what looks so simple , its the results of his study his work his passion and that dose not take 5 minutes to master those skills , it makes me happy to see a skilled craftsman to show me , but some people are just not fortunate to be as blessed with his hands and other things , but that is a pleasure for me sir

[@Claude-Eckel]

Instead of using the chemical industry's glue in the wild, you could (and should) have used resin as a natural glue. Would fit much better with the whole piece. Chemical glue and all unnatural products used for bushcraft (even when it's survival, where you need to make the best of what you have on hand and use whatever you can) always leave me with this bad aftertaste of cheating when I see things like this. But granted it would have worked without any glue, but it makes me wonder even more why you end up ruining it with industrial chemical products. I wouldn't pay for it if you sold it and admitted you used glue to make it last longer. Then I can just buy the whole thing from the manufacturers. They also make "natural" products.

[@Kyle900t]

I made one of these yesterday, it's different (not as good!) but it was still a lot of fun and a good experiene! Cheers Ray.

[@bigsuchy1]

A beutiful yet functional item thanks for sharing.

[@Nativesurvival]

Indeed, Pine Sap and Charcoal heated up together on a rock near a fire.. check out the vid showing this called "Primitive Pine Glue!", this glue makes an air tight and water proof glue!

[@CircmcisionIsChi1dAbus3]

yeah i was disappointed to see him using carpenters glue instead of pine pitch. imagine how nicely smelling the pine pitch glue would make it :)

[@tatlises51]

Hi Ray. I love to watch you and learn from your extraordinary skills. One thing i miss in your videos. You have sometimes hiking sticks with you. Can you show how YOU make these ?? Thanks for the tipps and trick. Greetings from germany.

[@InLakech_AlaKin]

New subscriber. Glad to have found this. Thanks!

[@1jatube]

in Russian container no glue. and not leaking

[@earlshatter2195]

You must have missed the part where he talks about not needing glue but using it to make it last much longer.

[@1jatube]

Earl Shatter in Russian container without adhesive and waterproof. and long-lived. it's true. vintage technology.

[@universeu7289]

Jatube in russia that container would had been three times bigger and weight 20kg

[@1jatube]

Marius U Yes , because in Russia the biggest trees . But we do not raise the containers . Containers are transferred Yeti ,bigfoot.

[@timothylongmore7325]

I saw that video! no adhesives and totaly water tight. He took quite a while and had some special tools but really clever design.

[@TheLordArion]

I'd like to learn how to gather bark pieces like this and how to prepare them for crafting with. Does anyone here know? Love watching him make things!

[@breakfast917]

Hi Ray, you would be much better off with those little plastic tubs from Poundland, pack of three. Plastic is so much more useful than tree bark Raymond 🙄 what's wrong with you ?

[@Sgtassburgler]

How god damn sharp is that knife?!?!?!

[@AmNotHere911]

Does anyone know what season of 'Ray Mears Bushcraft survival' this episode on birch bark container is from? Is it Season 1 or Season 2?

[@MrJohnMainwaring]

Beautiful, got a pattern or a measurement guide for the cut outs?

[@jeffg4686]

should have used birch tar for glue (made without a metal container), and made the twine by hand. Then it would be survival skills.

[@jimwalsh1958space]

hold it, commercial wood glue from a plastic bottle ? amyone could do that i think the glue brand is 'evostick'

[@Skogsguden]

Just like they make them here in Norway. I got one with a deviding piece of wood in the middle, and a cover in each end. That makes it perfect for cofee and sugar.

[@wuddayaat]

Ray, you are an excellent craftsman! I have been a huge fan for a lot of years now and always look forward for something new! You are well admired here in Canada!!

[@Knifee93]

I made a matchbox from birch bark, and it worked exellent when it was dry. But when I went out by boat and it got wet, the lid was impossible to open and the container broke in two pieces.

[@Maddawwg45]

ahhhhhh okay i got some mora knifes and i was affraid to sharpen em cause i really wasnt sure tyvm im gonna buy a real good sbuh craft type knife for my next purchase and didnt wanna drop that kinnda money on something i chouldnt take care of properly

[@Maddawwg45]

i hav a question i am so in need of answering i have a couple scandi ground kifes and im not used to sharpening that style of grind do u sharpen along the whole bevel when u sharpen on a stone or at a angle like on a sabre or hollow ground blade

[@42Bamboo]

Hi I like your Birch Bark container. But I need a pattern form the way you put it to gather I watch your video more than 50 times, try to make my own, but NO LUCK, HELP. Bamboo Jim, Lake Orion Michigan

[@BrewMonkey1]

Simply wonderful.

[@UrwahK]

Yes i'm serious, i mean for example the way he made the cut outs that he put together on the outside of the container, it isn't really clear on how its done

[@pilevad]

Hi Ray Very nice work and craftmanship. You are a fine ambassador for the art of scandinavian craftmanship. Yours truly Roar

[@UrwahK]

well id rather watch a video with in depth detail then get it wrong and have to do it all over... maybe u have alot of free time to trial and error

[@Downeastwaves]

Lovely job!

[@BeardedBushman71]

Nice work Ray, you certainly inspire a lot of us with your skills.

[@richardhall3896]

Completely cut out the hard bit of preparing the birch bark :(

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you .

[@Gnasherism]

Does anyone know what flick knife Ray is using? Looks really nice

[@outsidein3206]

Im guessing if youre stuck without glue, you could use tree sap?

[@alanriley8693]

That was good all that time doing a base he put a bit of wood in it an base fell out an thats as much as I can take lol

[@alessandrofirmani700]

So, if you see him do it you automaticaly learn the measures apparently

[@Enderwiggan1]

Is there any nautral materials that can be found in the woods that would suffice as glue? Like sap or something?

[@susanp.collins7834]

Could you not make glue from birch bark tar, Ray?

[@arffarff]

some knife

[@GlennMileyOutdoors]

FANTASTIC!!! I know Jmalbran just said that, but what else can you say? Fantastic!!

[@WildManFrizzell]

This is a great video, I recently added a video to my channel on finding and extracting large pieces of birch bark in the hope to eventually make a container. I’ll also be extracting the oil from the bark in the near future. Brilliant video, Ray.

[@Antipodean33]

There was an old timer fishing boat builder here in Australia and he worked with jarrah (which is a particularly hard wood from Australia) and he was renowned for measuring once cutting once and was very quick.

[@Danishbushcrafter]

That looks great... i hope to be like Ray, he's so skillful... Of course i'm practicing...

[@nerblebun]

Sap from a pine tree mixed with rabbit or deer pellets makes a great glue.

[@jakeabake11]

If you were to store birch syrup in one of these, would the glue contaminate it in any way?

[@BL00DSETTAKINOVA]

Also you should show how to make containers that you can use and carry on your survival journey and how you would use them

[@shortlegoman]

some people say its not for perfection its for fun... screw it i neeeeeeeed perfection!

[@robdurant7944]

How soon must birch bark be used after harvested?

[@imfasa]

Same moment/place he made the matchbox: /watch?v=mYUqDSxBOAs&t=2m57s

[@hi-q2261]

This is like how to make Tupperware 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 COOL

[@boxman09]

I think he's finished filming a new series of wild Britain in the Isle of White.

[@DrTommyGouranga]

certain wood saps would replace the glue. nice chestnut pouch.

[@humblebean957]

Did he use shaved down birch splinters as nails?

[@DD-kc5pw]

I needed this. Thank you very much!

[@Wintertrekker]

As always, a pleasure to watch, and you give us ideas to work on our own bush skills with the materials at hand. Thanks again Mr. Mears.

[@micwell2247]

Now Ray...go get pitch pine sap and make pitch instead of glue.....

[@Sheepdog1314]

this isn't a survival video. Good grief.

[@ekhaat]

Thing is, when you make it a thing of beauty, you are more inclined to take care of it, than when you make it in a more sloppy sort of way. Cheers

[@windmag22]

that realty cool are there any books out on working with birch bark

[@annalog88]

Awesome work!!!! Really facinating :)

[@UnrealDifficulty]

You could make one without glue, or use a natural charcoal-sap glue

[@WoWanate]

Such a beautiful thing

[@d0nt5h00t]

i sharpen my mora along the whole bevel an it stays razor sharp

[@lonewoodsman]

Fantastic.

[@Skogsguden]

Well... You could allways come to Norway. We have tons of it.

[@mrbig891]

I can safely say that this was everyone’s childhood tv show. They sure as hall don’t make them like they used to now.

[@BeastieG13]

wow. that was awesome. i dont think i would have the patients

[@maxdecphoenix]

What I feel like after watching Ray Mears: watch?v=JXGN7ir7Hts

[@mathewdonovan5040]

9 years late.... But .... "Food stuffs"....?? 🤔

[@gurublooper207]

Marc cotedas, you can use tree resin/ sap miked with charcoal melted on a fire to make natural glue

[@madcombeel]

I want to make one of these for Christmas for my mum and dad-it is soooo cool and beautiful!! Do you have a pattern for the birch bark where you weave the ends together? I would really appreciate it !!! (so would my mum and da!) :)

[@Xelbiuj]

Just sitting here, watching a Brit do arts n crafts . . .

[@shantelfullerton9865]

Plans from the Stodoys site perfect for beginners and advanced people will find something for themselves.

[@MuskratJim]

Beautiful, a thing of quality which could last a lifetime.

[@williamquilitzsch4174]

The first thing you made was a birchbark zipper. How cool is that!

[@12gaugeTim]

It pisses me off how good he is at this

[@Ronniegodfrey67]

Beautiful work!!

[@theyesofthedevil]

That's it R Ray, get the PVA out mate

[@ImTheBatchMan]

He put got dang nails in it. This guy's my hero