Testing the Alec Steele Auger in the Woods! Bushcraft Project

[@TAOutdoors]

So me and a bunch of good lads are doing a charity Canoe trip in august. Paddling the Great Glen and raising money for Alzheimer’s Society. We need as much support as we can get so please donate here if you want to help support this important cause: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/canoe-adventure?Sharethis&

[@salimufari]

I feel like if Alec had made the "nickers" a bit larger so they were cutting deeper before the flat of the bladed edge you would get a much cleaner hole edge. Especially on the start of the hole. Maybe a bit of file work as you sharpen the blade will give you more cutting edge on the nicker. Also when you drill have you tried to stop as the snail breaks through & finish from the other side? It should give you no more tear out when drilling.

[@FreezyAbitKT7A]

we differ cilantro and coriander one is the herb the other is the seed

[@cee8mee]

Did you post the ingredients for the spice mixture?

[@timothyvolkers5343]

The canoe trip is a awesome place or way to donate to the Alzheimer's society. For anyone that does donate to the Alzheimer's society I want to thank you because my grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and died due to complications from his progressed Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's is a terribly nasty and debilitating disease both for the diagnosed and for the family/ caretaker of the person who gets the diagnosis. My grandmother was still alive and was the main caretaker for my grandfather with Alzheimer's and the stress that she endured was heavy. The Alzheimer's society is a great cause and organization to donate to so along with Mike if anyone has the means to donate please do so, thank you.

[@Melicoy]

You are NOT fooling me... That bit is 5/10. Not a clean or smooth hole. Very interesting Thanks for the great videos !!!!

[@LucyFire7]

This is an example of how important a blacksmith was in the Iron Age, when people did not have electricity to make tools.

[@kz.irudimen]

Imagine doing it without a gas forge, power hammers, grinders, etc. Crazy amount of work just to make one tool like this. Even with all those tools it's still a lot of work but without them it must have taken ages.

[@mrkiky]

@@kz.irudimen The hardest part would be to get the good clean metal. From then on, it's pretty doable. It's a small piece, so the power hammer and grinder isn't doing THAT much extra. Plus, they had water power grinding wheels back then too.

[@gregoryeverson741]

@@mrkiky that isnt the problem, its gettinng cast tools, this a hammered/forged tool

[@hurjireepz7021]

@@mrkiky Nah back then metals and other minerals we're still abundant since it's mostly been untouched after the stone age. So I think they had no problem finding a ton of it.

[@mrkiky]

@@gregoryeverson741 well, assuming that as a blacksmith you already have the tools. the metal on the other hand, if it's wrought iron, it's much trickier to work with. gas forge vs coal forge isn't a huge difference either.

[@simonablokeinthewoods]

Nice one Mike! Thanks for the shout out for the trip and especially the fundraising page - it’s going to be epic! Love auger bit too….oh, and the grub! Top drawer!

[@TAOutdoors]

Thanks Simon! Hopefully it will be a cracking trip 💪🏻

[@AntSurviveTheNight]

Yeah top shout out for the trip that wasn’t it Simon 👍

[@timothyvolkers5343]

@@TAOutdoors Thanks to you both for the fundraiser my grandfather died from complications due to his Alzheimer's. So donating to the Alzheimer's society is a great cause.

[@anneli1735]

❣️ Looking forward to your epic trip 🛶

[@Animaniac-vd5st]

"Alex showed me a number of different ways an auger could be made" ... as well as some ways it could not be made - that's why i still love his channel.

[@logantidwell7698]

If you stop drilling when the tip pokes through and then start drilling on the other side, you'll get a cleaner result. Not that it really matters, it'd just bug me if I did it 🤷‍♂️

[@theomccall9503]

I was going to suggest exactly this, it's definitely the way for a cleaner result. Works with power drills too

[@rowanpomeroysoos6339]

Me and my friend come accros that problem allot when were in the woods and when we go in from the other side it tends not to dig in as well because of the hole on the other side if that makes sense 🤔

[@lawrencemartin1113]

Exactly what I was about to add....decided to read through the comments to see if anyone else already said it....you did! Well done.

[@garetkonigsfeld2]

I was thinking if it had a stop plate of sort. It would then be able the rip the wood into a round hole as the stop plate hit and you keeper turning the bit. Awsome place your building. Thanks for sharing 👍.

[@travisdoe4663]

That or put the piece that you're drilling against another piece of wood so the tip continues to bite and it supports the edge of the wood to prevent blowout.

[@babblingbrooksoutdoors]

Hi, to prevent it being messy on the back of your timber when you drill through.....when your drill bit starts coming out of the back of your timber, stop then take the drill out and then drill from the back of the timber so then you have two good sides 👌

[@markallen8027]

I came to the comments section with the specific intent of telling him exactly that. Except I was going to use proper tool nomenclature. "When you first see the point of the *worm* through the bottom of your hole, remove the *auger* and complete the *bore* from the opposite direction. "

[@TAOutdoors]

💪🏻👌🏻

[@questionabletacos9292]

@@markallen8027 Cheers mate me too

[@il9861]

Or just put another piece of wood behind it

[@JohnSmith-il4wi]

@@markallen8027 I wanted to make this comment as well, but using my own words. "Twist your shaft until the tip peeks out, then push it in through the other side for a clean hole"

[@roguescot13]

When I was stationed in W. Germany with the US Army, I did a lot of hiking out in Germany's beautiful forests. That was the first time I had ever seen ant nests like the one you are showing your viewers. Amazing. Thanks for bringing that memory back!

[@brutalplanet1708]

Nothing like the ant hills I find in the cracks in my sidewalk.

[@gw10758]

Good you see you back in the woods. Hope the whole family is well and happy. Cheers from Montana, USA

[@mikerich7830]

This is amazing. I’m a carpenter by trade and love seeing craftsmanship like this especially when it’s connected to to medieval times!!! Great videos!

[@kimcurtis423]

Alec is a craftsman! He did a fine job! I'm going to try doing a few of these so that I van have them in my bag for use in the woods for making camp chairs, benches and such! I can do this, myself and sharpen as needed! I have made all kinds of useful things and since I became disabled, it takes much longer BUT, it also makes me TAKE the time to do it right and WELL! LOVE that Tabasco! I lost my mother to Alzheimer's Disease! Such a sad ending to a wonderful woman! She did not even know who I was, at the end! I'm old, disabled and on Social Security so don't have much I can donate but, I'll do what I can! THANKS for doing what you are doing to help combat this NASTY disease! Keep up the good work! Best wishes!

[@paulmaidment631]

We don't always need long videos, sometimes the shorter ones are perfectly timed for an inceasingly busy lifestyle, keep up the good work

[@jgstevens5169]

Thank you Mike for your presentation. Watched Simon's episode trying out his new sail and canoe rig. Looked like a success, just as your new tool "turned" out well. Simon mentioned the big Alzheimer's benefit too. I'm thrilled to hear you're contributing your time as well. As I commented at Simon's site, Alzheimer's has stricken both my parents. It is a terrible disease as you've said. Keep up the the great work, I'm always looking forward to your next presentation. Enjoy the ones when you join other youtubers. Best Regards!!

[@curiousoli]

I got one from my grandfather when he died. This video was really instructive since I never really knew how to use it !

[@davefarrell4911]

This is an amazing project and Alex is a great Black Smith to. Nice job showing the old world

[@dominic6634]

man use to build stuff like this all the time when I was a kid. grew up on 10 acres and the neighbors had more, they probably wondered about all the huts on their property now that I think about it.

[@ADVENTUREISMADE]

That Auger is a beast mate, cracking job Alec has done there 👌🏻 looking forward to seeing what else you use it for on different shelters! Cant wait for our trip, got a cracking bunch of lads havent we and thanks for the shout out buddy, really appreciate it 🙌🏻 speak soon and atb, Matt 👍🏻

[@TAOutdoors]

Thanks Matt bud! Yeah really looking forward to the trip. Hopefully the weather plays ball. It’s likely to be battle of the bugs 🤣

[@mrhalfstep]

I want to mention that, for those who aren't blacksmiths or don't have one as a friend, you can still have one of these very useful tools. I welded a 1/4" , 6 sided, deep welled socket to a short section of iron pipe and created a TEE that will fit over the auger type drills that are available online and at tool and hardware stores. The driving stick goes through the piece of pipe. The drills or drill bits, as some would call them, have the conical, screw-like starter section at the end to pull it through the wood, a spiral to carry the chips away, and here is the difference and the advantage, a hex shaped drive that is normally chucked into an electric drill motor or a drill press and that provides the added advantage of multiple bits with one TEE. Here in the USA those bits have either a 1/4" or 3/8" hex drive. I'm not sure how that would be sized in the UK, but I assume that you have a standard for such tools like we do. I chose to make mine to employ the smaller of the two drives, because they're cheaper and you aren't going to twist off a bit in wood with hand power. I bought a set of "shorty" bits, made by Irwin, that has 4 or 5 bits from 3/8" to 1" and they're only 6 1/2" long, so the're very compact. You can drill deeper holes by simply using a socket extension bar and it all combines for some very useful and space saving kit. If you don't own a welding machine or know anyone who does, I'm sure brazing would work, and I THINK silver solder would work and maybe even lead solder with a high tin content, in a pinch. You may even be able to find a black iron reducing TEE that will let you drill and pin the right socket into place. Once you've made the TEE handle, you'll want to drill the same size holes as your drill bits into a small wood plank, using the auger bits, or into some sheet metal, with the same sized metal working bits (HSS, High Speed Steel). You will then have a gauge to use when you are carving pegs or chair legs to drive into the holes that you drilled. This kit isn't as cool as one made by an actual smithy, but it does work and can be created by a less skilled man or woman. I see that you're fund raising for the Alzheimer's Society, so I'm going to give that a look. Really like your videos, STILL!

[@joeydr1497]

Quick tip If you put paraffin oil on your table legs it should deter the ants from climbing up This technique is used a lot in ant keeping to keep ants in enclosures

[@petergoestohollywood382]

Wow interesting. Is it because they can’t climb it or do they just don’t like it?

[@leomonk974]

Do you watch ants Canada?

[@tahoemike5828]

Coriander and Cilantro are the same plant. Coriander is the seeds dried, ground and used as a spice. Cilantro is the leaves used as a fresh herb.

[@LeutnantJoker]

Yep, the stuff that tasted like Soap to me :D

[@MaxRide1]

here in the uk we use "corriander" for both parts of the plant (just specify "corriander seeds" for the.. seeds... captain obvious has arrived!)

[@singer3188]

@@MaxRide1 yep im pretty sure its mostly here in the states that people say cilantro when referring to coriander leaves

[@jasonb4738]

Electrician here. Generator went out at a job so we couldn’t use the power tools. Boss hands me this and a crank drill. Worst day ever. I still use them tho. Been 30 years on the same ones. Like others mentioned flip and go from the other side. And also if you get the angle right and about 1/8 of the worm gear is slick it will do a perfect pop out. No pressure n go slow at the end works every time.

[@dukemarlar1740]

If I ever go on the show Alone. This is will be one of my 10 items. LOVE THESE THINGS

[@tomgillespie195]

My 2 favourite KZbinrs working together what a great collaboration!

[@N3020]

I got this tool today... one of the best tools I've tried on our behalf, from the woodworking aerators to strong threads.

[@callumjohnson9433]

Once the tip has breached the other side of the timber, you could just remove the auger and start it on the other side to prevent the wood splintering.

[@tnhuckleberry01]

Good show! If you ever happen to jump the pond check out Avery Island in Iberia Parrish, Louisiana USA, the Tabasco factory is there among other things, huge drive thru garden, alligators, bird sanctuary, largest Budda, cool place. Good luck with the fund raiser, my best friend, Derrick, suffered and passed from ALS.

[@AntSurviveTheNight]

Thank you JN, all the best with your friend mate too. Cheers, Ant 👍

[@outdoorwithdeen]

I’m not surprised!!! Alec is great blacksmith

[@MiGTenshi]

ive been following alec steele for a good amount of time, it is really cool to see you guys have collabed,

[@dannyarrowheadstalker3054]

I knew it would work when I watched Alec make it. Nice collaboration.

[@liptoncheetos]

I watch Alec’s videos but I never saw the one where this was made, however I saw this video in my recommended and I’m happy to say that I’ve found a new channel to follow.

[@MrAdamNTProtester]

Once the point pokes thru reverse the auger & then finish from the back side to get a clean hole thru & thru, as a bonus the auger can act like a plumb bob by placing a string thru the eye that way you can plumb & mark the holes prior to drilling them- plumb level & square = TRUE & true is good... very good!

[@MrNed09]

@Mike That wood ant nest is fantastic mate. Their larva make great eating, the secret is to put a small tarpaulin on the ground, and roll the sides back a couple of folds. Then you quickly grab a couple of large handfuls of the nest and throw it in the centre of the tarpaulin. The ants will quickly pick up the larva and move them to the sides you have rolled back in order to stop them drying out. Then collect the larva and fry them in a little bit of oil and a sprinkle of sugar, they taste fantastic! Another fun fact, did you know that you can use a wood ants nest like a compass for telling direction? The wood ant always builds a nest on the south side of a tree, and uses the tree has protection from cold weather coming from the north!

[@survive_thrive]

Best to say equatorial side. It's all opposite in the southern hemisphere.

[@zanderchiasson8064]

You can keep the end holes cleaner by drilling from both directions, starting the opposite side when the tip just pokes through

[@gkeyman565]

you should get a spindle cutter, kinda like die cutter but no threads just long taper. then you can make real spindle railing and other things. (the same size to fit drill holes of auger shown) Have a great day

[@Wee_Morag]

Been and donated, it's a great cause. Have a grand adventure.

[@Musicpins]

Nice bit, Alec steele is totally skilled. I'd have one like this any day. You are correct about the tear out, electric powered drill bits totally cleans up the rim of the hole because of the rpms. The old vintage machines auger bits for hand tools have a "spur" that scores the edge of the hole, which can be filed. For general woodworking or bushcrafting in honestly wouldnt matter, but if you did fine furniture or the likes its a must have, and finding those bits is rather easy, but finding one with an undamaged leadscrew is a different matter.

[@AlannaStarcrossed]

The screw on the tip is the 'snail'. The "ears" you mentioned are the nickers, they score the wood and cut the fibers ahead of the main auger driving through. You can help reduce the breakout and tearing coming out the opposite side by stopping early, once the snail breaks through, and then use the auger from the opposite side of the hole

[@michaelburns9207]

.... Have a safe and enjoyable trip .... Scotland is a marvelous country ....

[@danieltaylor5231]

The dream youtube collaboration Jack, Yogo, and Maggie all together.

[@fenwickc2274]

thx for being kind to the ants they carry the same spark of life that powers you and me :)

[@BradGryphonn]

That ant nest is amazing! Ants have always had my respect. We get some pretty cool colonies of species over here in Australia. But I've never seen a nest made of pine tree needles and cones. That's cool.

[@allywilkeforsenate]

Wow.What a level of skill to make that by hand!

[@BraxxJuventa]

Thanks Mike and great cause you are going to paddle for. 👍😁

[@TAOutdoors]

Cheers and yes, a really good cause!

[@AntSurviveTheNight]

Thank you Braxx 👍, Ant.

[@DylanOutdoors1]

15:30 You're eating better in the middle of the woods than I am at home 😂

[@cliff9057]

Great job on making the auger. I’m sure you will find many uses for it.

[@danielnokes9146]

You’re complaining about the bugs in Summer, if the travel restrictions were down I’d tell you to come out here to Australia for summer. 😂. But in all honesty, thanks for all the work you’re doing in being in the outdoors and sharing it with everyone, really great stuff. You’ve actually inspired me to start by own channel, B&B Bushcraft (definitely not self-promotion) so thank you Mike. You have a good one mate.

[@TAOutdoors]

Thanks mate! Appreciate the comment.

[@Benzy670]

I wish I could afford being a landowner so I can do stuff like this. Hopefully some day 🙏🏻 I live vicariously through you

[@brucewayne3048]

Mike and Alec together could rebuild civilization if need be

[@Darthsinduk]

I have been waiting for this video to see how it works!!!! Awesome collab!

[@dood2274]

7:25 If you mark the center of your drill on both sides you can stop halfway thru your first drilling and start on the other end. It wont split the wood this way

[@vincentc6919]

just purchased a Scotch Eye Auger and this definitely helped....food segment was outstandiing...be well...

[@MyOwnPsychosis]

Nica Video. What I do to my Augers is that I forge the handlehole just a little bigger on the insede diameter than the outside diameter of the Auger and grind a cutting edge on it so you can make the hole and the pin with one tool .

[@pete.b4197]

Namynamynam!! What a cookings!! Delicious food! Everytime good video!! Thanks For posting mister graftman!👍👌✌️

[@Dan_Kornfeld]

A brilliant piece of kit! A needle file, filing the inside edge of the flute (only), from the tip towards the shank, will really help the auger to cut through the wood. (With the help of sharp chipping bevels too.) Keep doing what you do!

[@DragonUdo]

Love The Ants 🐜I'm a Keeper, Glad you respect them!

[@royhebebrand5614]

I am in the USA. I started watching your videos a good bit ago and can say without hesitation that I'd love to join a band of your gypsies if you ever create one!!

[@ArielleViking]

Nice watching how well that auger performed plus an awesome cookup. 💯❤👍

[@freddyoutdoors]

Looks amazing and great fun looking forward to see you at the great outdoors festival on Saturday the 7th so excited it's going to be amazing but keep going Mike so proud of you

[@brownbear992]

I was kind of sad to hear Alec had left the states but it's cool to see you guys doing more colabs

[@michaelgatford6194]

Great video mike. Good to see Alexs handy work put to good use. Your bound to have another project in mind to use it for. Recently bought one of your sit pads, really pleased with it.

[@slyfoxkgar]

Was waiting for this after watching it being made.. great to see

[@andykjohnsonjohnson7622]

Excellent video Mike 👍. The only way we learn, is thow trills and earas. I,e learning curves, same as life. You 🤬 up once, you go into a different direction. Sadly 😥 I lost my mother in law to alzheimers, 6 years ago. She was a spectacular woman, it's heart breaking 💔.

[@TLang1994]

@TA Outdoors you could melt down some pitch and pour over the cracks in your decorative wall poles to both "repair" and weatherproof them.

[@ralphonearth3101]

New subscriber here. My trick when drilling near an end board to keep it from splitting is to temporarily lash some line tightly near the very end until the hole is drilled. 👍

[@kimnielsenthewordyvikingett159]

Your Settlers Wrench looks really well built there Sweetheart!! Have you considered sharpening one end of the eye to make it a bit easier to cut your tenon for ease of assembly my love??? Scotch eyed augers are absolutely an amazing invention aren't they????

[@beerczarcofigus8793]

Thanks for the spice recipe, going to give it a go soon. Cheers

[@WACRE44]

You did a great job with the vlog was great fun thanks

[@scottjackwitz5464]

When the screw comes through the opposite side, withdraw the auger and restart from the opposite using the auger tip hole as a centre guide to get a cleaner hole....

[@Lorddanielrushton371]

Aleck did a nice job on the auger

[@mrMacGoover]

Nice auger! The only thing you might want to give a try is when the auger lead screw pokes through the other side, stop... pull the auger out and stick the lead screw through the tiny hole on the backside and finish drilling the hole. The result is a hole without any tear out. cheers!

[@bushcraftnc8032]

I love how you give it all to everything you do, respect.

[@bikeundbier4160]

Sounds like a great trip canoeing the length of the Great Glen

[@TAOutdoors]

Hopefully it will be!

[@kinomora-gaming]

AYYY I LOVE ALEC STEEL!! I love this!!

[@DolphinSneeze69]

there is something primal in me that when i see food on a fire it makes the food seem 100 times more delicious

[@bretlemieux2489]

Hey mike I like all your vids thank you for sharing them much love man

[@mad_villain8580]

Small tip. you can lay your cloth on the anthill and they will spray the 'acid' on it. Its a great an easy bug repellant.

[@CampingwithSamBananas]

1:53 that's what keeps me from tarp camping in the summer.

[@vladrxd1]

if you put a stopping plate at the top of the drill bit you could use it after the hole is made and keep rotating to clean it out better, that way it doesnt just spin until it reaches the end and you just have to back out

[@mattshaffer5935]

That auger is a beast! Especially how it handles drilling into the end grain of that log. By the way, we say Chuh-ree-zow. Great vid as always!

[@tradways]

Great video's brother! keep up the work. Oh.. [sill-lan-tro] or [sill-lahn-tro]... love it mate (your side of the pond)

[@niknack666]

Looks like that auger did quite well for ya Mike and better yet it was hand made.

[@kyletomorug6780]

Aw man, loved the food, that looks good!!

[@brianferris1233]

🌲🦌🌲 thank you for posting your video stay safe and healthy and happy 🌲🦅🌲

[@TAOutdoors]

Thank you

[@brianferris1233]

@@TAOutdoors 👍🦌

[@dahgman3225]

Good luck on the trip, weathers been brutally good of recent 😂 might see allot of mist arround the water, stay safe

[@PaleGhost69]

If you're going to do the other side too, you could make that side functional with a variety of widths so you can use it to prop and support different sized logs during processing.

[@nicholasnapier2684]

That’s incredible it’s like the leaf cutter ants in Costa Rica we have them here in Florida in the United States but different varieties but I haven’t seen nest like that…

[@jons2447]

Thank you!

[@seanbeardy7929]

Chorizo and prawns the best combo ever👍

[@marleyheath8608]

Love the videos, don’t know if anyone agrees but I prefer the videos where u talk and explain what u are doing.

[@fubbychucker6696]

I've got a bit 2ft one of these in me shed I always thought it was broken or missing a bit untill I watched your builds

[@mo-reesespieces9066]

Interesting point about the end of the wood splitting. Could you wrap the end of the wood with some paracord to prevent that from splitting while drilling to add some strength?

[@spartan88100]

Might be worth a try, I was always told once the tip comes through take out your drill and put it in the other side to finish so you don't tear the wood.

[@dragon67849]

I did not expect to see Alec Steele here XD

[@IanMott]

to make a cleaner cut stop once the bit is sticking out remove it and bring it to the other side finish using the hole to align the auger.

[@AntSurviveTheNight]

It’s funny ain’t it, I look up and down to find myself a Auger but couldn’t find a single one, I believe you can buy sets. This one is top notch Mike, it cut through pretty much like butter. Ahh those wonderful Ants, can’t beat a good Ant haha god love us 😂. Food looked crummy as always Mike, fill a corner I bet pal. Now, the Bushcraft Show, I’ll be certainly interested in a discount code, I’ll wait then before I book me and Charlie on. Aww mate thank you so so very much, you know how much this trip means to me Mike and I hope you know how very much I appreciate your time. From a guy who’s life is crazy busy and to decide to give up that time to spend it with us is just epic mate, your a class act Mike! Here’s hoping we shut down the Just Giving website with the amazing TA Outdoors subscribers donations. What a crew we have pal 👍. All the very best, Ant 👍

[@TAOutdoors]

Thanks Ant!! Really looking forward to the trip 💪🏻

[@AntSurviveTheNight]

@@TAOutdoors me too mate, can’t wait!

[@vigunfighter]

You can find auger bits at most hardware stores that are used in a brace and bit or electric drills. A welder can weld an 'eye' on the end using a couple inch long section of iron/steel pipe. Cheaper/easier than having a blacksmith make them from scratch and that way you can easily have a couple of different sizes. Add a couple of folding chisels (Stanley makes them. They fold like a Butterfly knife) and you can do some proper mortise and tenon work. First job being to make a mallet using the scotch eyed auger to help with the chisel.

[@leviwells7017]

Nice Job on not giving us a surprise update on Dustin's Cabin! I can't wait to see how that turns out for him.

[@kellieglass1722]

Am I the only one that can’t wait for PART 6 of the Mini Village Build?

[@kelvinleonidas7547]

Hello, how are you?

[@XxXx-dk3wb]

As the pilot breaks through back out augur. Restart from backside.. your hole will need no touch up.. works for me.. thx for bringing people together....

[@vincentpastor8726]

Nice little video Mike!!!! Nice to see you back in the woods!!!✌🍻 P.S. cant wait to get my Viking horn hoodie ✌🍻

[@LazyCookPete]

The vertical ears that are on most auger bits serve to clean up the hole by shearing the fibres as it goes.

[@Blaze-cy8os]

Alec is a beast