mattslaptop247 Posted November 1, 2009 Report Share Posted November 1, 2009 I am about to set about making my first stick. I have a good piece of hazel, still in the green and some antler. Just a few questions you guys might be able to elp me with... 1) I know I need a ferule, but will I need anything else? 2) Do I work and attach the antler while the hazel is in the green or do I wait for it to dry? 3) Do I need to strip the hazel of the bark? any other tips are greatly appreciated. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted November 1, 2009 Report Share Posted November 1, 2009 I always wait for the stick to dry and I leave the bark on and finish it with tru oil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted November 1, 2009 Report Share Posted November 1, 2009 I have just returned from a trip where i got some very nice Hazel which i intend to make some sticks with. You have asked the questions i was going to. Couple more for the stickmakers How long will a stick take to dry (roughly) i know this might be how long is a piece of string question, how do you tell when it is dry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForeignGadger Posted November 1, 2009 Report Share Posted November 1, 2009 I believe the accepted time for seasoning is 12 months or so. tie 4/5 sticks in a bundle and suspend them in a dry airy shed. If you get going too soon you risk having splits in them. I tend to use green sticks for beating and walking up the fell. You can find more info here: http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index....e;topic=38761.0 or here HTH FG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deano 1 Posted November 2, 2009 Report Share Posted November 2, 2009 If you dip the ends of you sticks in hot wax and leave your sticks to season for a minimum of 12 month for every inch of thickness. Leave them in an area thats sheltered but open to the air ( think of a barn ). A seasoned stick is easy to straighten. Leave the bark on and when seasoned wash, dry and give you stick 5 or 6 coats of outdoor garden furniture oil ( B&Q ) with a LIGHT rub with wire wool between the first 3 or 4 coats. A stick to cherish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianltz Posted November 20, 2009 Report Share Posted November 20, 2009 (edited) i make quite a few Y top antler sticks and shepherds crooks out of buffalo horn, a year for every inch is the reccomended time, as far as joining the antler to the shank, u have a couple of options, either bore out the antler pith and make the end of the shaft into a dowel to fit this, or as i do get a 4 inch piece of threaded bar and drill this into the antler and glue with epoxy resin then the same with the the shank, i like to add a buffalo horn spacer between and polish this up nicely, and also for the caps, anything else give me a shout Ian heres a few of mine Edited November 20, 2009 by ianltz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianltz Posted November 20, 2009 Report Share Posted November 20, 2009 (edited) forgot to say, if u need to straighten the stick, do it in sections over the steam from a kettle, if its seasoned properly, its quite easy to do, i finish mine with 4 or 5 coats of linseed oil darkened a touch with some mahogany varnish, meaning that it can have more oil rubbed in at anytime and keep looking great, then a brass ferrule to the bottom, a good thing to remember is to varnish the bottom where u trim it before u fit the ferrule, cos thats the bit thats gonna take all the abuse, and u dont want it splitting there, if anyone doesnt have the time to make one, i have a couple in the for sale section, Edited November 20, 2009 by ianltz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiiithy Posted November 30, 2009 Report Share Posted November 30, 2009 I'm thinking about making one. I've got some small but very strong magnets in the house and I'm wondering if I bore out an antler and place the magnets inside would this work for picking up used carts? Also I don't have a dry airy shed available would hazel be OK seasoned in a garage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianltz Posted December 1, 2009 Report Share Posted December 1, 2009 a garage would be fine to air your stick in smiiithy, i hang mine tied from the rafters, as for the magnets, that one is new on me, trial and error me thinks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted December 1, 2009 Report Share Posted December 1, 2009 Some very good work there Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianltz Posted December 1, 2009 Report Share Posted December 1, 2009 well thanx stuartp, i like to keep myself busy, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianltz Posted December 17, 2009 Report Share Posted December 17, 2009 my latest project, the buffalo horn has been bent using my homemade jig and the rough shaping started, its going to be mounted to a blackthorn shank, got a long way to go yet but will update pics as i go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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