Ray Mears - How to carve a needle and gauge for net making, Northern WIlderness

As taught on the Ray Mears Bushcraft course 'Traditional Living Skills':
www.raymears.co...
Ray Mears carves a traditional needle and gauge set, used for making fishing nets.
This exclusive clip was taken from the DVD extras of the 'Ray Mears Northern Wilderness' DVD.

[@AdventureArchives]

I could watch Ray Mears do anything and it would be entertaining.

[@TheGrayman1234]

Ray must have that music playing in his head all of the time. He is always so calm in his demeanor. This video shows true bushcraft no doubt. Make what you need

[@richlander5874]

Amazing, please come back and do more videos Ray.

[@stevenjenkins8655]

Ray Mears is awesome. His videos are like a man's version of Mr. Rogers.....I gain enough hair on my chest just watching his youtube videos that I quit using body wash and just use shampoo everywhere now.

[@souksalasith4535]

How has this comment not gotten the recognition it deserves

[@69Grunden]

Ray Mears is always amazing in his bush craft skills. I love watching and learning from him. Thanks for sharing..

[@paulie4x1]

Cheers M8, on a job well done, I will keep this video in my favorites, and practice making my own net needles, great job, Thank You Ray Mears.

[@theLUMBERINGGIANT]

Ray Mears is the man! Well spoken (well not in this video haha), informative, and has a contagious passion and love for bushcraft. I love watching these!

[@reason5591]

I learned how to weave netting by following instructions in a paperback book long before you tube even existed. This instruction you are watching is highly valuable to learn from.

[@JohnsBushcraft]

You are an amazing woodworker, by the way happy late birthday! Its people like you that inspire me to do this kind of stuff you actualy inspired me to make my own KZbin channel! Thanks.

[@yesgoogle3867]

I knew this was gonna be the video for me. . . mahalo for this beautiful video! :,)

[@120ThingsIn20Years]

It really doesn't matter. The main point is to load thread onto something you can easily push through a loop of twine. You can load the needle by just pressing with your thumb down into the gap between the inner spike and the pointy bit. Then you loop around the base and repeat. If you alternate around the two feet on the base, and/or the same on the other side you just get more thread between each refill I spent a summer loading plastic versions of this in PNG Thanks Ray, you're a legend :)

[@aaronthomas658]

Amazing. Thank you for sharing this video. I can't wait to make this and start my own net. Oh, and by the way. Great music. Love the guitar.

[@TizonaAmanthia]

I feel like if I had a rainy day, I could harvest up a whole bunch of plant fibers, and a piece of firewood, and spend the day just making a net for fishing. and all I'd need is a pocket knife. this was a good good video to watch.

[@danieljordannicol9937]

Ray needs to do more survival programmes guys a legend

[@jamesveccie]

Not sure about cotton wood, but bone is also a traditional material for these. It's gonna be a lot harder to cut though.

[@CommonManBrewing]

I love watching Ray do his thing, but I find it funny that he's sporting a Rolex while he does some fantastic carving. Good stuff.

[@fepowson]

The Master at work, great stuff. Respect.

[@MooInShades]

hi, i found your video great especially since i like tatting, which is a craft art that comes directly from fisherman's net making and the tool used for tatting ( a tatting shuttle) is very similar to the one you carved in this video. originaly fishermen and mariners used to craft necklaces, bracelets and other items for their ladies while spending many weeks at sea. nowadays this art is not popular anymore. there are very few tatters around the world. i was wondering if you could make a video on how to craft a tatting shuttle, i'd love to learn how to make one.

[@Nativesurvival]

Sharp bit of carving, thanks Ray appreciate it ; ) -Mitch

[@tyke471]

Ray makes a good job of that to say hes only got the knife, you dont actually need to go to all the trouble of carving a pin out, a straight peice with both ends hollowed out works just as good, quicker to load and holds more twine for a given length, still got a longnet i made with needles like that over 30 years ago.

[@Qopzeep]

So much better than those new, shouty idiots of survivalists on Discovery Channel. I love the calm, decisive manner of Ray Mears. If I ever get stuck in the wild, I'll be sure to remember his excellent explanations.

[@FishingHeritage]

You'll have to pay us a visit, Mr Mears, and we'll show you the proper way the trawlermen would use it! They were always known as Braiding Needles and the process of net making was known as braiding, although this seems to be disappearing.... Kind regards, GFHC

[@sigmabushcraft2637]

Why have you not got more subscribers?.... Love you content fam... Helped me out a lot and looking to come on your courses at some point... Take care and be well 👌😎

[@ClaireBEAUMARD]

Awesome ! Thank you so much for sharing !! Claire, France.

[@nevillepass]

no words needed simple is genius! knowledge is everything ahaaa! ta ray i enjoy!!

[@MrUgahcanada]

That knife must be kept in extremely good condition to do that- good job Mears!

[@Waldhandwerk]

Great and fine work. Thanks for showing. ATB Sepp

[@DrAdamSimmons]

It's designed by Ray himself. Check out his website and online shop.

[@RustyNail5856]

Thank you for sharing this video. very good.

[@Danfitz2010]

I'm using a piece of oak and have been carving it with a Mora Robust (very similar size knife and grinding profile as the knife Ray uses) I'll be carving the actual needle section tonight and i'm thinking my blade is too big, so I may use a sharp awl on my multi-tool to outline the needle itself and drill the initial hole through. Just had a quick read at the bushcraftuk forums and they recommend Juniper or Willow to make the needles so i may give that a go after.

[@Nitrisbot]

its a great video on content, im just saying seams that its the real ray mears ch now. Id have thought u would have had access to the 1080p versions of his things. I will watch the videos regardless of quality in the end.

[@dariodesu]

wish there were HD version of his old videos

[@UrwahK]

Oh wow... I'm top comment on a Ray Mears video...I feel so privileged :')

[@msnannapearl]

He sure makes that look easy...

[@tqft]

So calming

[@S3l33ngrab]

I literally sat 3 hours here, watching his vids :o

[@iwantosavemoney]

i have to say that is great peace i wish i was as skilled at carving nice build

[@gordenalbert]

Nice work mate.

[@jakkstakuna]

Grr. You win. Cant argue with you.

[@GetUrPhil]

Do you remember what wood you used for this project and did you use butchers twine?

[@queef3057]

Excellent video.

[@neilmorgan6010]

At 0.27 I thought he was pushing the knife towards his hand and I started to squirm. Rewatched and realised he was twisting the blade. Phew! lol

[@theknifemaker20]

i made one and it was fun. probably gonna need to make a new one to hold more string

[@amightyatom]

Amazing knife skills. True craftsmanship. Ray for Dickies' job when he retires. With all due respect, bugger of back to the lab Prof B

[@queef3057]

Neither really matter a great deal although a high carbon steel blade is better to smack around. To answer your question though, the knife looks to be his signature knife and the wood appears to be silver birch.

[@bonchonmaru]

I liked listening to the birds more than to the music.

[@BardofCornwall]

Very cool--thanks for sharing.

[@alzathoth]

Ray is the "MacGuyver" of bushcraft.

[@Danfitz2010]

The oak is like iron so I was a bit too aggressive with the awl and split the side down the grain :( Luckily I have the other half of the branch that I split so I've thinned that out to a small plank and am gonna try again. I can see why people recommend willow now, would be so much easier to carve.

[@Nitrisbot]

i wish the vid could be higher quality

[@keikuru1]

After sharpening you have to use a strop to get the most out of it tbh. Plus he has a lot of experience

[@stbube]

Well, I saw in person, 2 weeks ago, a guy in his 70s carve a needle faster than ray does it here. The guy is Mors Kochanski. Also peculiar that Ray doesn't start with the eye of the needle. That's where you're most likely to run into trouble, so why keep this bit last?

[@seth364]

I really appreciate it brother, thanks for the info!

[@guitarnotator]

I wonder if he can make a hobo reel. And does anyone know who the music is by?

[@chriscmoor]

thank you, thank you, a million thank yous

[@stevetheone75]

It will be one of his woodlore knives he is using. You rarely see him use any other knife.

[@muddog1561]

It looks like he is loading the needle by turning it over but is he reverse wraping the cord when he turns the needle over or do you keep the cord going in the same direction?

[@Danfitz2010]

I'm carving one at the mo, trial and error really. Dunno how well mine will hold up but if not I can try again.

[@CarlosPortoPhotography]

Great skills.

[@jabraxxus]

That is one serious knife! love it

[@ReasonAboveEverything]

To me it seems like it's struggling to slice the wood.

[@tomjeffersonwasright2288]

I think this is just for demonstration. A net made with that relatively large gauge would pass through fish much under 10 to 112 inches, and I don't think that soft wood central spike would take too many hard jerks setting a knot tight in making a net. But it clearly demonstrates how it is done. Your milage may vary. I am not sure why he uses that big knife. An Xacto knife with a 1" blade would give a lot more control. Maybe he isn't selling Xacto knives.

[@bjornmundt5801]

+tom jackson You can make every size you want to have it. That type of needles are still used by fishermen to repair nets. Today they are made of plastic. I know some people who are still using them.

[@tomjeffersonwasright2288]

It takes a minimum size of mesh to allow the passage of a loaded needle That needle would need such a large mesh that many usable fish could pass through the net. As I said in an earlier post, I ran an net building shop, and have been a commercial net fisherman, and have made my own needles and nets. But while the soft wood in the demonstration has the right form, it is far too soft to hold up to repeated use. The final part of tying the knot is to set the knot with a very hard jerk, and the central spike in the needle takes most of the force. Soft wood is not suitable. I use mangrove, fruit wood, red oak, and mahogany to make net needles

[@Azothify]

+tom jackson This is bushcraft. He's using the kind of knife someone would have while backpacking or something similar, I don't know of anyone who goes camping with an Xacto knife, and I definitely know it can't put up with rugged use without snapping or losing an edge rapidly.

[@mogges1]

Could I use cotton wood to make the needle.and what about using bone

[@joseamorales634]

how do you attach a sharp object to the needle when your done making your own nets?

[@alzathoth]

ray is my hero. ;)

[@MrMikeHarwood]

Hi Ray, what kind of wood are you using? Looks like popular, but that's just what I think it looks like. Does it matter what the shuttle is made of?( other than harder whittling) Thanks, Mike

[@tomjeffersonwasright2288]

+Mike Harwood Here in Florida, mangrove wood was often used, although wood from various fruit trees is popular too. I have used red oak and mahogany. I have several very old needles that appear to be mahogany. I make a much finer needle, and to have the strength necessary to last, a wood needs to be fairly strong. It is important to sand or burnish (rub with a metal spike) your wood, to make it pas through the meshes easily, and make it more hard and compact. I was a professional net builder, and used a variety of twines and mesh sizes. Working all day long with needles, the finish of a needle is important to keeping your hands in good shape.

[@MrMikeHarwood]

Thanks for the response folks.. :-)

[@MrDravous]

just watching this taught me I need more patience.

[@jakkstakuna]

What kind of wood is that? Seems to carve like butter.

[@brillbillbo]

this is all very well but how do you actually USE the tool to make a net?

[@j76harris]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gn7Sn3uwbb1oiZI

[@American-Plague]

I can't speak for anyone else but I have a second printing of The Ashley Book of Knots. So yeah..I do.

[@pegknife]

Should have left a bigger gap between the spike and inner curve of the needle,make it easier to load.

[@iwantosavemoney]

he is very skilled

[@danhenno5502]

Love Ray, the music on the video, not so much.

[@seth364]

Anyone know what kind of knife that was?

[@timgale8251]

How do you get knives that sharp every time I try it doesn't turnout

[@hellerase]

you can use anything that will not break easily. I assume trial and error will give a perfect result.

[@h4xx0rrx]

What kind of wood is he using?

[@Comptonskydexcustoms]

like watching a master at work said the student,,,..

[@the430movie]

Any hard or semi hardwood will do.... One thing to remember, if you use softwoods, like pine or poplar for these take into consideration to make the needle center thicker, so that it wont brake off after several uses... I usually use maple, or sycamore, or acacia to make these with....

[@efradarroyo5879]

Congratulations on your channel. I am a subscriber to your channel. I would like to know the make and model of knife you used for this video, as I see it has very good edge and size for that type of work. I am a student and I'm trying to make crafts that I'm learning from you. I would like a response from you. Thank you

[@luketuttiett]

Just Google ray mears knife. They're made in England and are pretty pricey

[@theace750]

He is a wood lore handmade knife Condor makes one called the bush lore that's just as good but substantially cheaper

[@willianafanoflife1079]

theace750 thanks

[@zombiefighterof1987]

theace750 So many companies are making a woodlore clone nowadays not just condor.

[@arturasstatkus8613]

Yes just nead full tail knive:)

[@richnfamous59]

looks like birch but it's not very clear. willow, perhaps?

[@annalog88]

How do you use this tool? Great carving anyway!

[@LivingEpicWin]

What of knife is he using, and what wood did he use?

[@amightyatom]

Try doing the strokes gently, the stone etc does the cutting. Good luck

[@richnfamous59]

made from birch, right?

[@temgriffiths3694]

ah but how do you use it!

[@erehwyrevekool]

Great!

[@BBrinckmann1992]

Cups of tea at fourty paces? That actually sounds like fun, but what is it?

[@TheRadioactiveFX]

a great use for those is weaving a mayan hammock. once it's ready, you'll never sleep in a bed again :)

[@richnfamous59]

or is it willow?

[@RealityStar9]

Why is bushcraft in the UK always accompanied by elevator(lift) music?

[@petrovsergei]

+ 1 I respect Raymond Paul 'Ray' Mears and Mors Kochanski, we study Buschraft. kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6bZYZmFrLudZqMm39s and kzbin.info/www/bejne/iXq5e2Bml8ykjdEm52s

[@esmi000]

So how do you make a net??

[@ph5051]

Ray Mears is to bushcraft, what Mark Waugh is to batting. 😊

[@Moostery]

That's greenwood yeah?

[@przystaneknatura]

birch and linden

[@jamesmustang144]

It's a wood knife. Must be, since butter knifes are for butter.

[@jexxe111]

is it just me or does his knife look like the tip is broken off at 1:47 ?

[@jamesmustang144]

or Birchwood. Birchwood... butterwood... they look alike to me.

[@chris23477]

what wood is this??

[@mercylenemahinay]

Where do i get that very sharp knife?

[@zombiefighterof1987]

Don't matter, you can't afford the knife he's using and you also probably can't wait the 10 years it takes to get one. You'd be better off with a Mora