It has been several months ago that I treated myself to a new kukså. Unfortunately the birch I was permitted to harvest was long dead and a bit rotten, so all I got was a smaller burr. Cutting two slits above and below the burr I removed it with my carving hatchet.
A bit of axe and knife work later (the Casström Sweden Woodsman performed admirably for the job, by the way. I will give you the ins and outs on this really great knife soon), I got the blank roughed out.
There was a lovely grain showing in that burr. I cooked it in sunflower oil and beeswax.
Made one for the magical sorcery troll, too, and it was baptized the traditional way with a bit of Whisky in the woods.
It is a relatively fast project where you can try out the technique for a bigger Kukså. Already got started on several other little fellows... it is quite addictive... 😜 there is something soothing in sitting in the woods whittling away and making stuff you can actually use. And somehow sipping from a Kukså, big or small, reflects that feeling. You have to try it out to be able to relate. It is somehow like a wonderful little ritual.
