Shambam1962

Thank you welshwarrior, I just wish I had your skill and talent, with the gun stocks. I’m currently looking into a few different oil wax finishes, I’m going to make up and try out on the next project 👍

Excellent work 👍 The door and frame is stunning.

Thank you Mel 👍

Very nice, and well done 👍 i have a wild rose shank I cut 2 years ago in the shed, but have yet to use it.

They are very nice, well done Rob 👍

That’s great Rob, I’m pleased you’ve made a few antler sticks, and hope you continue when you have more time 👍 One of the most important jigs to make when making walking sticks, is a straightening jig for the shank. You will be amazed how easy it is to remove the bends from the stick once seasoned. There is a selection of jigs out there, and I made a multi slot jig as used by Woodland Sticks, but I know a lot use the vice type as used by Keith Pickering with excellent results. Once the weather warms up a little, I have a good number of sticks to straighten, and I fix the jig into my Black & Decker workmate and sit in the garden straightening the sticks using a electric heat gun. Most are easy to remove the bends, but you do get the odd one especially blackthorn, where you spend a bit more time straightening. It’s worth spending a bit of time, and the end result will look very nice.

Thank you Rob, have you attempted any sticks yet ? Well done Chris, they look excellent, I bet you are pleased with them 👍 Cheers, I cant take credit for the idea though. Cheers Dave 👍

Thank you all for your comments. I have just finished oiling the crook, and very pleased with how it’s turned out. I watched a couple of videos on YouTube, yesterday and found this one guy making sticks and showing how to drill, perfect holes by hand with a drill in the top of the shaft to accept 8mm threaded rod, allowing you to attach the head or handle on the stick. I know a lot of stick makers prefer to cut a dowel on the end of the shank and attach by dowel and socket, but I use both methods when circumstances arise. I have always been lucky drilling the hole for the threaded rod, but some people find it difficult marrying the shank and handle together, as you can drill the hole off centre. I decided to make a few of his stick drilling jigs up , from a few pieces off oak offcuts and drilled one end out, the diameter of the shank roughly 25mm deep and drilled a 8mm through hole. I made an assortment of different sizes and tried them out today, and found them quick and simple to use, and perfect straight holes and not on the p—s 👍

Yes I’m pleased when things go to plan, and definitely improving from 2 years ago, when I made my first stick 👍 My father made proper walking sticks, and as a kid I would sit and watch him carving heads for the sticks and making rams horn and buffalo horn crooks. He made them up until his early 80s and a few weeks before he died. My only regret is I didn’t pay more attention to what he was doing at the time, but then I never thought I would attempt to make sticks later on in life. Mine are quite basic compared to the likes of Holloway, gamekeeper1960 and boo, and as my school report used to say, Kevin must try harder. The real skill is carving a bird or an animal from a piece of wood and making it look realistic, which is way above my capabilities, but I’m in awe of the people that do make them, as the PW members above.

Thank you all for your comments 👍 I have just given the handle another coat of alkanet oil and brought the stick into the kitchen to dry overnight, as the shed is very cold , and the oil will be slower drying.

I made my 1st Black Walnut crook last year and thoroughly enjoyed making it, and to date is my nicest stick I’ve made. I recently acquired a nice selection of walnut offcuts for a few future projects, and thought I would try another walnut crook, and learn from the mistakes I made previously when making the first one. I marked out the profile using a template and cut on the bandsaw. I marked a few lines out as a guide on the blank and drilled the base to accept the stainless steel threaded rod.to fix to the hazel shank at a later date. It took a bit of sanding, which is a lot quicker with a power file sander and once happy with the basic shape, proceeded to sand by hand and the grain started to show. The sanding of the shape is the part I enjoy, and I just switch off and find it very therapeutic . Once I was happy with the initial sanded shape I fixed the handle to a nice light coloured hazel stick, I had cut last year, with 2 part epoxy resin. I did a bit more sanding today, before giving a coat of Alkanet oil I made up last year to give a bit more colour,and will give another coat until happy with the colour. It is currently a work in progress and hopefully once it has a few coats of oil over the weekend, it will look as nice as my 1st walnut crook. I will update once finished 👍

I honestly don’t know what they’re thinking. I received an email from the hospital, telling me I had to fill out the questionnaire, and if I failed to fill it out, it could jeapardise my position on the waiting list. I received the exact same questionnaire 3 times over the 9th, 11th and 13 November. I tried emailing and ringing them to no avail, and no reply.

My GP told me that they don’t like giving you a knee replacement in your 50s because the replacement is only good for 10 years, and they prefer you to have it later in life. I told my GP I need it now (63) and not when I’m in my 70s as l am in constant pain and unable to have a good quality of life, and do the things I enjoy. I have had numerous cortisone injections over time and found they would work for a short time, but wasn’t very successful. Cortisone injections work for some people, but there are only so many you can have. I was given painkillers to take, but the side effects were worse than the constant pain (nausea, headaches and at worst vomiting ). I’m actually looking forward to having the operation and getting on with life 👍

Thank you all for your comments 👍 I know quite a few lads in my village who have had knee replacements done within the last few months, and are doing really well. I have a positive attitude and just want to get back to normal and hopefully no constant pain.

Yes it’s been a long time waiting. I received a NHS questionnaire, back in November asking me if I still needed the operation, and if I did, I would have to fill out the questionnaire. The questions had no relevance, to my condition, and received an update, telling me I could speak to someone, who would advise me on how to manage my daily life and how to manage the condition. Do they think the condition is just magically fixed by itself ! The orthopaedic surgeon who I had seen previously, showed me the scan of my knee and advised me to have the full knee replacement, due to the wear and tear of the joint. That’s the NHS Wales waiting list for you, a total shambles.