The Wax Tablet - Recreating an Ancient Note Book - Viking Crafts (Ep. 21)

[@BerserkerGang2019]

We made about 200 of these last year. We used all local sources material and I forged all the stylus. Great video. I enjoy watching you craft such historical wonders.

[@RAMUNI-Viking]

Thank you my friend. Wauw 200 is a lot. Did you make Them for selling? Hope you are doing well:)

[@Heilansodger7536]

As a bagpiper I really appreciate the hurdy gurdy sound track….amazing music and work …well done

[@RAMUNI-Viking]

Thank you much:) i actually have a plan of trying to make a set of backpipes based on the early ones with double chanters from north Spain. What pipes to you play?

[@Heilansodger7536]

@@RAMUNI-Viking I’m a pipe major for a small Scottish pipeband here in Colorado, I have 7sets of old pipes I play and 1 new set of McCallum pipes….i watched your video on the hurdy gurdy and I am amazed at your talents

[@Ingvar.Ragnarson]

I wasn't even aware wax tablets were being used (even if rarely) in the Viking age! Like others, I tend to associate them with the Romans. So firstly thank you very much, I love to discover new things I wasn't aware of! 😄 I can see how useful a tablet could be onboard a trading ship, keeping records of how much was paid/traded for what goods, etc. When you mention the artifact had a runic inscription under the wax, do you mean it was carved into the wood/bone of the case before the wax was poured in? A second thank you for sharing your craftsmanship with us. It's always a pleasure to watch you work, slow and methodical, out in nature, the birds singing, and ending with your beautiful music; it's truly excellent. The little birds were adorable by the way, do you what types they were? (I'm not familiar with them, totally different birds in my part of the world.) Great to see you putting your new knife to good use! And now I'm off to read the article you linked to - farewell my friend, happy adventuring! 😁

[@RAMUNI-Viking]

Hello Ingvar. sorry for the late reply. Yes the runic inscription was on the wood in the hollow where the wax would have hidden it. But I have discovered that this example was from 1200s so it outdates the viking age a bit. But nonetheless interesting. Thank you for the kind feedback, im very happy to hear that you enjoy my work both crafts and video. The birds are all common birds around my garden and the forests near me. One is the woodpecker, theres is te robin, but i dont know the english names for the small blue one and the grey/brown one. I could look them up in latin if it could be any help? all tthe best my friend

[@Ingvar.Ragnarson]

@@RAMUNI-Viking No problem at all, please don't go out of your way to look up the birds! Thank you again for the link to the article, it was a fascinating read and I agree that it seems most likely to me that the wax tablets were being introduced into Scandinavia during the process of Christianisation. Great work as always my friend, take care.

[@AimForDaHead-16s]

This guy is just so chill. Keep up the good work man!

[@RAMUNI-Viking]

Thanks for this positive and friendly feedback:)

[@PigeonDude]

The birds and the countryside are just SO beautiful. Scandinavia is so beautiful. I truly believe that this is the way to live. Free, in the air, listening to the birds and living in a small village or town and doing a simple job to live by. (Other than the raids and battles) Viking lives seemed to be really peaceful. Have a blessed day or night my friend.

[@RAMUNI-Viking]

thank you so much for this positive and kind comment. I like to live like this although i do live most of the time in a moderne house taking care of my day job. But its great to have an escape like this. To stop time and ground yourself. Great day to you too my friend:) all the best

[@levisweet979]

Wow, Ramuni. You have the most beautiful family. The LORD bless you!

[@RAMUNI-Viking]

Thank you so much:)

[@thebelfastvikingmartinbrow3603]

I used charcoal powder in my beeswax to turn it black .And I been using it years. Problem is its to cold to try rubbing out the words in Northern Ireland and I read that in Rome it was sometimes to hot and the wax was to soft

[@RAMUNI-Viking]

I was considering charcoals as well but decided to go natural. I have the same issue here its a bit too hard. I have hear that a few drops of Olive oil or linseed oil mixed with the hot wax would do the trick. Happy Easter my friend.

[@reinswart6077]

Interesting never read or heard about this wax tablets. You have a set of beautiful tools its a pleasure to see you working with it. Thanks for sharing Ramuni!

[@RAMUNI-Viking]

Thank you. They Are also very rare and a bit questionable. See the link for a great article in the bottom of video description and Google translates it to your native language:) it contains most of the finds and some thoughts on the matter.

[@Alk_Nonymo]

Another great video, well done! And it's always a pleasure to see you craft like this, very inspiring.

[@RAMUNI-Viking]

Thank you my friend:) good to have you back

[@johnwolf4023]

A useful and portable tally stick that can be erased? No letters or numbers involved. Lovely to see an almost Chickadee and pretty much Nuthatch so far afield as Denmark!

[@RAMUNI-Viking]

Yes excactly:) thank you so much. I was using some certain tools today. Video soon:)

[@ianandresen2326]

Awesome video! Love your tools! Everything is so simple and thought out! The music is nice as well! Look forward to the next video! Thank you

[@RAMUNI-Viking]

Hello my friend:) always so nice and positive to read your feedback. Highly appreciate it Ian. the best spring greetings:)

[@TitusGalliusMontanus]

from my perspective... you're a man of the future 😅 I am a roman rehenactor. But even by a different era of reference, I found amazing your tools. Slightly diffeent by mine and yet so similar 😍 And of course, the final result is veeery nice. You even respected the thickness of the tablets, that people tends to make too thick 👍

[@RAMUNI-Viking]

Great to hear from a Roman reenactor:) i imagine the tools would be a lot Alike yes. The slim thickness makes sense to me cause other wise it would si ply be too bulky to carry, store or have inside a bag or purse or something like that. All the best to you and thank you for taking the time to comment.

[@jim7217]

Great vid as always Ramuni - thanks. Love the nature shots and sounds throughout. Great set of tools there - fantastic holders/sheaths for them.

[@RAMUNI-Viking]

Hello Jim:) thanks for the comment. Im delighted to hear you like the video. The tools are my pride:) all made by great blacksmith and good friend and all the edge protectors by me. When i get a new tool I look as much forward to making the handle and sheath as to using them:)

[@tobiashofs2766]

Beautifully crafted! Love to see your craft man ship through your lense! Well done! Hope to see you soon!

[@RAMUNI-Viking]

Thank you Tobias. I appreciate that. May market in Ribe?

[@daryltully8261]

Greetings again Ramuni from Nova Scotia, Canada. You are a man of many talents my friend. Excellent tutorial. Thank you for keeping the old ways alive. Take care and stay strong💪

[@RAMUNI-Viking]

Hello Daryl. good to hear from you:) thanks for the support. It means alot - especially from returning viewers like you. I appreciate it. take care and all the best to you:)

[@levimaier9910]

The first time we get to see the beautiful hand made knife 😮

[@RAMUNI-Viking]

Thank you for noticing:) i forgot it on my last video about the lamps so yes this was its first appearance in a video since i made the knife and the sheath:)

[@ninjaelbow]

You're welcome for watching! haha Another great video. Best thing is you are making these projects in an "immersed" environment and not in a modern shop like many do. As good and as instructional as those videos are yours are a bit extra.

[@RAMUNI-Viking]

Thank you for that kind feedback Gabe. Im really happy to hear that you appreciate that extra work it takes to do this in the immersed setting. It definately brings an extra dimension for me and a strong relation to the tools and the project. When im in my modern workshops there are several different tools both electri and hand tools that could do a specific job and if i f%@k up there is plenty of wood to grab.and if i get hurt my wife is inside the House ready to help me:) but out like this there is only a few select tools, 1 piece of wood and No room or time to make many mistakes so it helps me stay focused and immerse myself into the tools. Thank you for the feedback my friend:)

[@ShekinahGwaii]

lovely work! so clever. and rubbings can be made, spreading word in runes etc.

[@RAMUNI-Viking]

thank you so much:) and yes indeed they can - and will be:) all the best

[@ShekinahGwaii]

@@RAMUNI-Viking it is my goal to someday visit a place to be among people of my ancestry. I will say again, so proud that you and others are preserving that lovely way of living in abundance and gratitude 🙏 🥹 Laura

[@Wolfram762]

That was really neat my friend! This I am definitely going to try one of these days! Thanks for sharing this with us!!

[@RAMUNI-Viking]

Thank you so much. You Are most welcome. I Hope you make a great wax tablet for yourself. A good little project. All the best:)

[@Wolfram762]

@RAMUNI-Viking you're welcome buddy!

[@erikhoff5010]

I'd never heard of the use of wax tablets by the Norse until now. I suppose it would be useful to keep track of business transactions in a ship, as them getting wet wouldn't be a problem. Just have to keep them away from fires. Very nice presentation and I enjoyed seeing your collection of woodworking tools. I would like to know how to make the basket pack that you carry. Skal from Oklahoma!

[@RAMUNI-Viking]

Hello Erik. I think of Them as great in maritime environments as well. Although i have to emphasize that it is highly speculative as only a few were ever found and mostly in emporiums where their connection to missionaries and christianity is very likely. The backpack is my interpretation of the gokstad backpack from norway. 2 wooden boards with lines of holes and s simple carving were found. It is believed to be a backpack and has been recreated with willow weaving, leather and in my case birch bark for the body. I have a video about making it on my channel

[@Quentowic]

Great Video and great work. You're a real source of inspiration 😊. The problem is, after seeing your tools, you must do a tutorial for it 😅. I would be interested by the one you used to make holes. I don't know how you call it in English sorry. Thanks.

[@RAMUNI-Viking]

Hello Willy. Thank you for your kind words and appreciation of my work. I will make a video about my tools at some point for sure. The drill type is called a pump drill. Evidens of soapstone discs with square holes is found from the viking age. from Viking settlements in modern russia a metal version of the drill body is found, and the type of drill is known before the viking age as well. So with the evidence of the counterwheel disc, I have made this interpretation:)

[@branielleheddings3909]

Love watching your videos. It would be helpful to say what kind of woods and so on , that your working with so we can try as well (;😊

[@RAMUNI-Viking]

Hello:) thank you for the feedback and I am. Happy to hear you enjoy the videos. I Will keep this advice in mind. In this case it is oak:) but most wood would do for a small wax tablet. There are finds from the Viking age in whale bone. But thats pretty hard to come by. All the best

[@branielleheddings3909]

@@RAMUNI-Viking thank you!!

[@worm_vaquero]

You made two. Having a GAW soon?

[@RAMUNI-Viking]

I did:) i have something coming up for when i reach 5k subscribers:)

[@AlexSvetlakov]

Hi, is that hand plane is based on any find? I've been looking for an evidence for a while...

[@RAMUNI-Viking]

Only the Iron. Though there is finds of whole blockplanes both in wood and bone i went a little creative with this one.

[@levisweet979]

I'm a real Christian. the LORD has shown me HIS face twice, HE has done many signs to call me , and to show others im HIS Anointed Prophet. I Love HIM, HE calls me Brother.i know HE loves you. Dance with your beautiful family and Praise HIM for all the blessings HE gives us. Please pray for me because my enemies surround me only JESUS can save me