Progress on the #basket I'm making on public transport. This is the base, and once I'm sure it's large enough to fit a sandwich, I'll start adding sides at right angles to it.

This piece is a little special because I'm doing it entirely without tools (except for the little bamboo fibre holder you can see). The ends of my dried yucca leaves are tough enough to act as their own needless.

Yucca wraps, with yucca and palm fill.

#Basketry #BasketWeaving #NeolithicTech

Baby's first sinew, freshly scraped!

Now to let it dry without anything eating it, then pounding, and then it's ready to use! #NeolithicTech

(No, I don't know what I'm using it for yet. I've not enough for a bowstring, and I don't know how to fletch arrows... yet!)

Today's #NeolithicTech level craft, a backscratcher for the shower!

Head: yucca core
Handle: bamboo
Cordage: yucca fibre

While probably not traditional, I've been wanting to make one of these for ages. The yucca core is *incredible* as an exfoliant, and using the completed tool for the first time was absolute bliss!

Despite the fact that I use yucca and yucca adjacent fibres for *everything*, this is my first time extracting fibre from green leaves.

Pounded them with a rock, washed out the pith, discovered I didn't have a comb, so scutched them with a laundry brush instead. (I know, plastic laundry brushes aren't #NeolithicTech!)

I'm pretty happy for a first attempt, although I'm sure there are easier forms of green fibre extraction. (I've seen one with lots of scraping with the back of a knife)

I've always been enthusiastic about technology.

For the last few years I've been particularly enthusiastic about neolithic technology.

That's not because I somehow think #NeolithicTech is "better" than modern technology.

It's because it's challenging to use neolithic technologies for corporate surveillance and mis-information at scale.

Nobody has ever asked me to weave a basket to extract money from vulnerable populations, spy on our neighbours, or engage in profitable harm.

And I've decided it's going to be... a lid for my other basket!

I'll need to put a small handle on it so it's easier to remove, but it presses into my existing basket and holds in place nicely!

#basket #basketry #NeolithicTech

#Basketry progress. Big enough to be a coaster. #NeolithicTech #basket

Have started another #basket. To try and ensure it doesn't get added to my pile of unfinished #NeolithicTech #basketry projects, I've the following rules for myself:

- Doesn't have to be good

- Doesn't need to use any materials which are annoying to use or transport

- Ribbon wrap is nice, but eh, whatever

- Can just end up as a coaster. I need more coasters.

Basket is yucca wrap with mixed (mostly yucca and palm) core.

So it turns out I can do three-ply by hand, it's just extra fiddly while I get used to it.

I'd happily do this for something that needs the extra strength and consistency (like a bowstring), but will likely stick with two-ply for everyday use.

#NeolithicTech #FiberArts

The last month has been hot, humid, rainy, busy, and not at all conducive to bow drilling.

But I'm back working on the #FireDrill today, AND GUESS WHO GOT SMOKE AND CHAR!?!!!?

Of course, this is on a plank of scrap 2×4 rather than something more natural, and cutting a notch will be more work, but I GOT SMOKE AND CHAR!

#NeolithicTech

So, I made a #NeolithicTech rope spinner! It's a very simple device you can use to make rope!

It's a bigger stick, split down the middle, with a hole then carved out of it, into which a smaller stick with a thinned section is added as an axle. The split stick is then lashed back together.

What does this give you? A stick that can *spin*!

1/

I knew my existing string wasn't very good, so I've been making new string from high quality materials. Lots of people recommend rawhide or sinew, but until I don't have access to those yet.

I'm also looking at using a softer spindle. My current one starts hard, and then gets harder and smoother once it heats up. It's really cool to see the change in properties, but I don't think it's working in my favour.

Resting now, my #FireDrill arm is tired. #NeolithicTech

Finally a nice day in Naarm Melbourne, so back to the #FireDrill and #NeolithicTech.

The yucca board has dried out at last. The texture makes it incredible for exfoliation, so in a survival situation I'll be confident I'll have great skin even if I can't get a fire going.

After running the drill until it feels like my arm will fall off, the result is another broken bowstring. However, I think I know what's going on. My spindle is too hard and smooth, it's just not generating enough friction.

Managed to split the yucca stump, but goodness me it was work. The stump is moist and fibrous, and just fills the saw with sticky goop. Eventually managed to split the rest with my axe.

Carved a plank with the axe, which was suuuuuuuuper satisfying; flakes just come right off. I'm also getting better at my tool sharpening; each time I sharpen my axe it's sharper than its ever been before.

Now to leave the plank to dry before using it as a board in my #FireDrill.

#NeolithicTech

There's been a few suggestions to use woods with lower ignition points for the #FireDrill, and yucca seems to be near the lowest of them all.

I thought it might be too soft, but I picked up a yucca log I've been looking at for weeks from a local demolition site, and stripped it down.

It's... very moist. I've got it under cover now to dry, and it's fibrous AF so I hope capillary action is on my side, but it's not going to be igniting in this state.

#NeolithicTech

Hypothesis: The board for my #FireDrill is too soft, and it won't ignite because the drill ablates the material faster than it can heat it.

Evidence: The head of the drill gets very hot, but the hole in the board remains cool.

Plan: Make a board from harder wood!

Success: Used my father's axe to split a particularly tough branch of what's probably plum. Hewed it into shape. Made a divet.

Fail: Material is so hard my poor arm gives out before the drill wears away *anything*. #NeolithicTech

Did some reading on how long it takes to create an ember using a #FireDrill, and most people said something like "your ember will form ten seconds after you're convinced your arm will fall off and you're about to pass out from the pain", along with pictures of their single beefy trogdor arm they use for drilling.

I'm not sure if I'm inspired or intimidated right now.

#NeolithicTech

This #FireDrill is hard, and I've gained a even more respect for the generations of humans who developed and used friction firestarting tools.

After discovering yesterday's palm board wore too quickly, I tried moving to a harder board, but so far I've only been able to snap my bowstring and tire myself out. 😮‍💨

Keeping tension on the string is tricky. My yucca cordage doesn't stretch, so it needs to be tensioned after the spindle is fitted.

Going to watch more #NeolithicTech videos now.

Today was busier than expected, but I still got some #FireDrill progress.

My spindle was too smooth and beautiful for the bowstring to grip well, so I roughened it up a bit with a rasp.

I also carved a fireboard from a palm branch, after seeing it in a video with good results. While it's great for combustible dust, it's so soft I wasn't able to get ignition.

I did accidentally burn my finger touching the end of the spindle after drilling, so that's a good thing!

#NeolithicTech

Omg!!! I've almost done it! I've almost levelled up in one of the most critical skills humanity has ever known, fire -making!

I swapped out my thicc, curvy spindle for a thinner, straighter one, made a bearing block and put a divet in an old plank, AND I GOT SMOKE FROM MY FIRE DRILL!!

Admittedly more smoke from the bearing end than the ember end, but this was a first try to see if I could get any friction products at all, AND IT WORKED!

I am so heckin' excited right now!

#NeolithicTech