GRAYLING – Wood carvers, blacksmiths, surveyors and other artisans demonstrated their crafts during Hartwick Pines State Park’ annual Wood Shavings Days July 16-17. The steam powered sawmill was running along with a cedar shake saw.
New to the event this year was the crafting of two canoes. The Huron-Manistee National Forests Heritage Program staff, and the Michigan D.N.R. staff at Hartwick Pines, spearheaded the construction of the canoes, made from Eastern White Pine logs using ancient traditions along with some modern tools.
With damp wood from rains the night before, Jim Renn, of Grayling, Forest Archeologist with the US Forest Service started a fire using birch bark. Once lit, chips from the pine were added to the fire to create coals. The coals and fire were spread out, eventually covering the top of the log. They let the fires burn until around 4 p.m. Saturday. Once cool, the scraping began.
The burning and scraping continued until about 1 -+ inches were left on the sides and 4 inches left on the bottom.
‘I’ve done a lot of experimental archaeology, we think, ‘Oh, it’ so hard.’ Our ancestors, if it was hard they wouldn’t have done it,’ Renn said
To prep the logs, crosscut saws were used to cut slices into the top of the log. Adz or hatchets were used to chip out the area cut, leaving a flat surface. Then the burning will begin.
‘If we were to stay at it, it would take a few days to complete,’ he added.
But they are taking things a lot slower, working on the canoes during special events at Hartwick Pines. They will be working on the canoes again during Forest Fest on Aug. 13, and Black Iron Days Aug. 27-28.
Once the logs are hollowed, the ends will be shaped off. Craig Kasmer of Grayling, interpreter at Hartwick Pines, will be carving the bow of one canoe into the shape of a beaver head. The outside will be finished and sealed so it will last.
‘We’re going to finish these up next year about this time. Put the final touches on them. And optimistically, we will showcase them at the AuSable River Festival. They have a public day during the festival, and we will launch them that day,’ Renn said.
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