Uses for tree sap?

peripatew

peripatew

Joined
Jul 31, 2007
Messages
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We trimmed some trees in our backyard a few weeks ago, and my son and I went exploring and wow! Sap heaven! We were just messing around with it and of coarse we had to burn some of it. It seemed to work great. I haven't tried to light it with a spark yet, but it burned well even smeared on a rock.

I've been hanging around here for a while, and I've never come across anyone mentioning using sap for this purpose? Seems like it would be easy enough to harvest in the wild.

Other uses?

L
 
Giving yourself a semi permanent mohawk for those primitive weekends. :D

It can be used in a mixture as a wood preservative and in the making of soap among other things.
 
i think mixed with crushed charcoal then dried on the end of a stick then melted again it can be used as glue i might be wrong though
 
chabla said:
i think mixed with crushed charcoal then dried on the end of a stick then melted again it can be used as glue i might be wrong though
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In Nepal, used by Himalayan Imports kamis as adhesive for stick tangs. Think the "laha" is a combination of sap, ashes, powdered dung. Not positive. Works a charm, can be re-heated with a heat gun and will solidify anew, should it crack and have a bubble in the original pour.

Has worked for hundreds of years.
 
Depends on the brand /type of tree, some can be used for an antibiotic/blood stopper others for adult beverages, sugar, glue ect.
Don't forget the roots for cordage and the bark for vessels, fire starters.
Spruce not just for chewing gum, acts as a antibotic blood stopper/glue [put some ashes on it as it quite sticky] and the roots as cordage ,[much more supple once the outer skin is removed from the root].
A Spruce Knot is loaded with resin and be can ripped off a standing tree and used as a club [Heavy from the resin] or torch or source of help in fire making
Look for Blisters on the bark of the tree and drain them for the sap.
 
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chabla said:
i think mixed with crushed charcoal then dried on the end of a stick then melted again it can be used as glue i might be wrong though
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You are correct, Sir. I normally strain the warm flammable sap first before mixing it with other natural products for storage. Often when I build primitive arrows, I coat the sinew wraps that secure the arrowhead and the feathers (fletching) with a sap mixture for a water-resistant finish. Too, I glue the arrowhead in the slot with the sap mixture. Dried sinew is VERY sensitive to moisture and can come undone if not coated (both sap and a variety of synthetic finishes will work well). Makes a fair glue for a variety of primitive projects, emergency repairs, etc.
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One can melt sap into ice cube trays that are filled with coarse sawdust (like from a chainsaw). Makes EXCELLENT firestarter that willnot go out in wind or rain
 
It is great for getting a stubborn fire going.

I use it to make a finish for my wood knife handles. 20% sap, 40% boiled linseed oil, 40% turpentine = a great waterproof wood finish

I also put a little in my leather finish.
 
Beautiful work, Dannyboy.

I agree with your assessment of fair glue. A buddy and I spent an entire afternoon experimenting with varying amounts of resin, charcoal and animal fat and never did come up with a really good glue.

I've read that wood ash, not charcoal, acts as a catalyst to make a superior glue, but I haven't tried it yet.

It does work well as a sealant (think Birch bark canoes, buckets, baskets, etc.) and as a fire accelerant. Burning Spruce gum will continue burning even if it falls in the snow.

akabu: ....and the roots as cordage ,[much more supple once the outer skin is removed from the root]. Look for Blisters on the bark of the tree and drain them for the sap.
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Re: the blisters on the bark, are you referring to Spruce (Picea spp.) or Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) ?

Spruce roots make excellent cordage - it's used in building Birch bark canoes.
I used it for lacing in this Cedar bark quiver (not a good choice as Cedar (Thuja occidentalis) is pretty fragile. If you backed up against something, they would crack - looks good on the wall, though :o):

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You can coil Spruce root and store it until you need it. Then soak it and it will regain its flexibility. It also lends itself to be readily split, and split again to gain the size of cordage/lacing that you want.

Doc
 
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chabla said:
wow thats neat! dry red spruce sap can also be used as chewing gum
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Beat me to it. I was going to mention that. I have tried several spruces sap several times. It is an aquired taste but it looks just like gum after you chew it for a while.

KR
 
Beautiful work, Dannyboy.
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Thanks, Doc. I do appreciate that. You, too, have constructed some beautiful arrows and quiver. Can't beat this sort of thing for wall decoration, IMHO (my office looks like a primitive hunting den).

Yes, I use mostly a wood ash sap mix with my primitive arrows and other primitive crafts. I try to replicate what the local Indians did with their materials and tools generations ago so I can better understand and experience their limitations of the period. I have taken some big and small game with my primitive arrows (including stone points), and find that their limitations were few when compared with modern traditional equipment. Seems the limitations were mostly "me", the modern impatient hunter, and not my primitive equipment. Still and ever learning. :)

I really like using the spruce roots myself for cordage. Excellent material for all sorts of projects.

I need to try Stingray's recipe here, too.
 
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