tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17909541682333101722024-03-17T20:03:52.971-07:00Handmade MattResilient Lifestyles. <br>Design, Build, Fix, Customise.
<br><br><b>Info@HandmadeMatt.com<br><br></b>
There are articles about many of my projects in the blog:<br><br><b>
Consider checking out the shop to help support my projects and keep this website going. </b>Handmade Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587105708188151622noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1790954168233310172.post-81325846683220127672017-05-07T02:19:00.000-07:002017-05-15T06:18:03.501-07:00Pro Bio Brew Compost Tea AACT - Probiotics For Plants
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Which Means More Nutrition For You
Perfect for vegetables, ornamental plants, lawns, shrubs, trees and more.
Ideal for inoculating new beds or growing areas too.
Available to buy CLICK HERE
Formulated to create high quality AACT the easy way
Actively Aerated Compost Tea - Air pump required
handmadematthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720664217886514300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1790954168233310172.post-74904524237295079932016-10-01T11:41:00.001-07:002016-10-02T02:18:34.322-07:00100 Mile Canoe Camping Journey down the river Wye. Wild Bushcraft Trip.
Canoe Camping the full navigable length of the river Wye.
From Glasbury to Chepstow, just over one hundred miles.
The river passes through villages, towns, farm land, wild gorges and ancient forest.
I planned to travel solo and camp in remote spots catering for all my needs myself.
I estimated I could cover twenty miles per day so the trip would last five days and four handmadematthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720664217886514300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1790954168233310172.post-88162495732391251282016-09-22T14:48:00.001-07:002016-10-01T11:48:17.939-07:00Canadian Canoe Repair. A new lease of life for an old Boat.
Coleman Ram-X 15 Foot Canadian Canoe Repairs
This canoe is almost thirty years old and with a bit of work it now has many more miles to give.
It's latest owners realised that it wasn't getting the use it deserved.
It's been stores for years in the car park of some apartments in London.
The boat was very kindly given to me to patch up and use in the knowledge that handmadematthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720664217886514300noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1790954168233310172.post-14541997817022450202016-05-16T10:35:00.001-07:002016-05-16T10:43:26.968-07:00Horseshoe Trivet - Bushcraft fire Camp Cooker, Camping Stove, Iron Tripod
Handmade Horseshoe Trivet
Bushcraft fire Camp Cooker, Camping Stove, Iron Tripod
Summer must be coming because my trivets are back in stock!
Anyone who has cooked over an open fire will know the shame of a spilled dinner from a poorly balanced pot resting on some rocks or old bricks.
Enough was enough when the last kettle I will ever spill came tumbling from it's perch.
I make trivetshandmadematthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720664217886514300noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1790954168233310172.post-29956676491654014182015-01-29T01:35:00.001-08:002015-01-30T11:20:06.118-08:00DIY Heat Recovery Ventilation. Heat Exchanger for our Yurt. How to resolve damp and mould in a Yurt.
Cheap but effective Homemade Heat Exchange Ventilation system.
Around 50% efficient.
(Wikipedia article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_recovery_ventilation)
Later in the article I will also touch on some other causes and solutions for damp in a yurt.
The device here essentially recovers the heat from warm, humid air that is being exhausted to outside into the cold fresh airhandmadematthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720664217886514300noreply@blogger.com53tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1790954168233310172.post-25288941951304185342014-05-22T06:43:00.001-07:002014-05-26T07:25:14.620-07:00Sailing Boat Restoration. 1960's Classic Sailor.
Mystic 21 foot 1960's Sailing Boat Restoration
I've really enjoyed giving this boat a new lease of life:
This is now a truly beautiful example of a classic
1960's plywood sailing yacht
Designed by a famous boat builder
Robert Tucker, constructed on the Isle of White
Stock photo:
Mystic 21
Bilge Keel
3 Birth
Vire 7 Inboard Engine
This boat was in a sorry state whenHandmade Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587105708188151622noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1790954168233310172.post-47225768151103790792013-06-07T05:39:00.005-07:002014-04-16T14:02:52.800-07:00Demountable Camper Van. 4 x 4 Pick Up Truck.
A demountable camper is simply one that can be removed from the vehicle. It's ideal to make use of the vehicle on it's own, or to put a little home from home down in any place you like.
The following article will elaborate on the building technique.
You can click on any picture to see a full size image.
The vision for this project was to create a traditional looking timber removable handmadematthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720664217886514300noreply@blogger.com52tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1790954168233310172.post-22217836511866784402012-06-20T05:06:00.000-07:002012-09-19T04:17:13.361-07:00Kitchen and Bathroom Wagon - Off Grid Portable Home
Here is a cabin which I have built on a flat bed, twin axle trailer. It serves as both a transport method and as facilites for a yurt. It has a fully equipped kitchen with oven, hob grill, fridge, sink, as well as a bathroom and a compost toilet, all with hot and cold running water. It is completely Off Grid with a solar array and bottled propane for water heating and cooking handmadematthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720664217886514300noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1790954168233310172.post-88007959459275058952012-06-05T10:56:00.001-07:002012-06-06T00:14:55.866-07:00Wooden Rustic Stool
Made from oak and spruce
This stool was made from oak that I felled in my garden for the seat and spruce left over from when I harvested Tipi poles earlier in the year. I made this stool entirely from tree to furniture.
First I had to cut the oak log to create the seat using my chainsaw:
Then I cut the seat to shape using a jigsaw:
Then I drilled four holes forhandmadematthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720664217886514300noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1790954168233310172.post-35525529577340446572012-02-17T02:47:00.019-08:002012-02-22T15:19:06.016-08:00A Bamboo Geodesic Dome (Geo-Dome)What is a Geodesic dome?It's the most economical structure one can make when comparing size and strength against the materials used. With a Geo Dome you can make more with less!Click HERE for the Wiki article to learn more.This is the one that I made:(I'm in there for scale)I had sourced some locally grown Bamboo canes for free last year, it's tough stuff with some canes nearly two inches thick. handmadematthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720664217886514300noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1790954168233310172.post-50650852562136417172011-10-26T13:50:00.000-07:002011-12-30T08:56:31.074-08:00Handmade KnivesI produce custom knives and sheaths to order Please contact me to discuss your requirementsinfo@handmadematt.comThis is an easy to follow procedure for any beginner to have a go at making their own knife. It's how I began and made my first blade. Since then I have evolved and refined the process to produce a very high level of quality. Below is an old farriers rasp (file) this will be the steel Handmade Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587105708188151622noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1790954168233310172.post-86923901123342309812010-12-19T10:29:00.000-08:002011-11-25T12:47:15.058-08:00Van conversion. From scratch to home on wheels. A Camper Van "How can I make one of those?"Professionally built or converted Camper Vans can cost a small fortune.A handmade option is a long process but very rewarding and one of the only ways to actually put value into a vehicle.
This was the third camper conversion project that I have undertaken.
Each time they have been bigger and better!The van I chose was a Luton style box van. I felt that this size and shape would give me the most Handmade Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587105708188151622noreply@blogger.com149tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1790954168233310172.post-54975273929856263852010-11-30T09:21:00.000-08:002011-11-25T12:47:24.966-08:00Open Fire Tripod for hanging cooking pots and kettles Gypsy style. How can I make one of those?Anyone who has cooked over an open fire will know the shame of a spilled dinner from a poorly balanced pot resting on some rocks or old bricks.Enough was enough when the last kettle I will ever spill came tumbling from it's perch.
How can I make a Cooking Tripod?I enjoyed this process so much and organised such an abundance of materials that I sell these items
To buy these Tripods Handmade Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587105708188151622noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1790954168233310172.post-17022201610331803962010-11-18T07:29:00.000-08:002011-11-25T12:49:44.430-08:00Tree House - The giant birds nest approach. How can I make one of those?Location, besides the obvious details of being in a tree... Was a critical factor
When walking through the forest I found a large fallen birch tree. It was next to another tree with forks in just the right places to support my platform.
Freshly fallen trees are ideal becasue there's no harm in cutting limbs and salvaging structural wood. Also the timber is guaranteed to be strong and rot free.
Handmade Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587105708188151622noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1790954168233310172.post-6328661060949463672010-10-29T03:29:00.001-07:002014-07-31T07:46:14.809-07:00Yurts - Living in the Round. Accommodation or Studio?
What is a Yurt?
A Yurt is a traditional nomadic structure of the Mongolian people. Yurts are often described as the bridge between a tent and a building. The majority of the Mongolian population still live in Yurts. (In Monglia a Yurt is know as a "Ger")
Here is a video of our Yurt inside and out:
There are many varieties of Yurts with many suppliers. I did a lot of research before Handmade Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587105708188151622noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1790954168233310172.post-15437302553057647892010-10-28T14:12:00.000-07:002011-11-25T12:49:47.728-08:00Earth Ovens - I want a loaf of bread (or a Pizza) but I'm in the forest and I don't have a oven. How can I make one of those?At a Rainbow Gathering in Sussex a collective effort was made to create this oven.
First a lightly woven oven frame was made from soft green (alive) twigs and string, Modelled here beautifully by Chris.
A tightly packed mud/ clay foundation is created to support the walls. (See below)
The "Igloo" like structure was then covered with layers of damp newspaper.
Mud was then layered up over the Handmade Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587105708188151622noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1790954168233310172.post-33324955935443969482010-10-28T13:55:00.000-07:002011-11-25T12:49:47.729-08:00Apple Press - I've got loads of Apples, I wish I had an apple press. How can I make one of those?It was that time of year when all the apples were readySo I built this machine to press them and make lots of lovely juice. CIDER TIMEI found an old car jack, it's this that supplies the power to press the apples.
The timber frame could have been made to many designs, I decided to keep it simple.
The timber used in constructing this press was once part of a shed that I demolished.
An enamel Handmade Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587105708188151622noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1790954168233310172.post-72497369163476297802010-10-28T13:38:00.000-07:002016-05-16T10:32:24.471-07:00Horseshoe Trivet - Bushcraft fire Camp Cooker, Camping Stove, Iron Tripod
Handmade Horseshoe Trivet
Bushcraft fire Camp Cooker, Camping Stove, Iron Tripod
Put the kettle on!
Anyone who has cooked over an open fire will know the shame of a spilled dinner from a poorly balanced pot resting on some rocks or old bricks.
Enough was enough when the last kettle I will ever spill came tumbling from it's perch.
I made a trivets from scrap horseshoes
I enjoyed Handmade Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587105708188151622noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1790954168233310172.post-10488035114713087192010-10-28T11:20:00.000-07:002011-11-25T12:49:47.729-08:00Tripod Trivet - Cooking on an open fire is a joy! How can I make one of those?Anyone who has cooked over an open fire will know the shame of a spilled dinner from a poorly balanced pot resting on some rocks or old bricks.Enough was enough when the last kettle I will ever spill came tumbling from it's perch.
How can I make a trivet?I enjoyed this process so much and stumbled across such an abundance of materials that I sell these items.To buy these Trivets click Handmade Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587105708188151622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1790954168233310172.post-52770146904645917712010-10-28T11:00:00.000-07:002011-11-25T12:49:44.430-08:00Boat Repair - I wanted a cheap boat, how can I make one of those? A half rotten 26year old boat
I located a rotten old boat, this one was a gift from freecycle.com
Then the job was to cut back all the rotten wood and peel away all the flaky and old varnish.
Next I mixed some resin and hardener to soak some fibre glass sheets.
Layering the fibreglass sheets over the holes and eventually making good with sand paper.
I used epoxy filler to fill any recessesHandmade Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587105708188151622noreply@blogger.com5