Is is possible to "glue" a pillar of birch bark together by heating/burning it?

[Tjurved]

Hello I wanna do a birch bark knife handle and I've heard that in the old times they heated/burned together the stacked birch bark on the knife tang, no additional glue needed. But there is one problem, I've done test pieces and it fails .

 

[Shewie]

Would that be using the naturals oils in the bark as an adhesive?

 

[Dave Budd]

I would think that the discs of bark are burnt on to make a tight fit and the handle is secured together by peening the tang over a butt plate. The bark wouldn't rotate on the handle becaus the fit was so close and there would be a little edhesive nature to the resins in it, but I doubt that the burnign on would be sufficient on its own. Unless there is also the liberal application of pitch glues as well?

 

[Retired Member southey]

there's a guy on British blades(and here i think) iirc he is called Nylund? he heats the semi finished birch stack handle(pommel on and a little compression all on the knife) in an oven to around 100degrees c, the compresses more and peens the butt plate on firm, will have a search for his thread explaining it!

 

[Retired Member southey]

Sorry drawn a blank at the moment, it could be Norum too, sorry chap!

 

[Tjurved]

Thanks would love to see that thread. Perhaps the glue is not that important on a birch bark handle.

 

[Tjurved]

Well I gave up on the fire gluing birch bark technique and just saw/carved out the handle and tried it out. Made som full force "chicken wing" cuts and the handle held. I might add a little resin/tar at the front near the blade. There is a little flex in it because I only glued the first 3 and last layers. Now I only need to make a birch bark sheat for it .

Birch bark is quite a forgiving material.

 

[lannyman8]

ooooh, nice i like that, does it come with a bit bigger blade...

 

[Dries_Lee]

Here's what I found on British Blades:

http://www.britishblades.com/forums...d-sheath-WIP&p=1544165&viewfull=1#post1544165

 

[Retired Member southey]

Thats the bugger! good find dude!