How to make a shoogler

If you want to be able to make popcorn in the woods, then you're going to need a shoogler. Here's how to make one...


You will need:

2 identical sieves
a long pole (I use hazel)
a sharp knife
pliers
the ring from an old keyring
wire cutters
2 pieces of wire (one long, one short)
pruning saw (I use a Laplander)

Use the pruning saw to make a stop cut, about half a centimetre deep, on one end of the pole, the same distance from the end of the stick as the length of one of the sieve handles.

Use the knife to split the pole down to the stop cut, taking off about half a centimetre, making the pole flat on one side.






On the opposite side of the pole, at the same end, use the knife to cut two small notches. These will stop the wire from slipping. Cut one as near to the end as you can, cut the other about a centimetre higher than the stop cut on the other side.

Twist one end of the wire onto the bottom of one of the sieve handles. Then attach the sieve to the flat side of the pole by wrapping the long piece of wire around both the handle and the pole as tightly as you can. Wind the wire upwards towards the end of the pole, using the notches, and secure.

Make sure there are no sharp bits sticking out.




Join the round ends of the two sieves together using the old keyring. You will have to force it through the mesh and an old piece of wire can be used to make the holes bigger before putting it on.

Make sure you have the sieves both facing upwards otherwise it won't work!






At the top of the handle of the second sieve, secure the short piece of wire.

Bend the free end over onto itself so that it isn't sharp.

Flip the second sieve towards the handle so that the shoogler is 'closed' and make sure the sieves line up. Wrap the short wire you've just added around both handles and the pole to keep it shut.


You now have your very own shoogler!


When you want to make popcorn, open the shoogler and add oiled popcorn kernals. Secure shut making sure the sieves are as close together as possible (if there are any gaps the popcorn flies out).

Hold the shoogler above the embers of a campfire or BBQ. If you're impatient and you hold it over flames, this will happen:

Allow the metal on the shoogler to cool before diving in and stuffing your face.

Happy shoogling!