Making Sticks - Advice Please

[Guest]

Hi all,

 

I'm planning on making some sticks, and having not done so before am in need of some advice.

 

I want to start by making something fairly plain, with a fork in it, rather than a seperate handle. (Thumbstick?)

 

So what type of stick first off? Hazel?

 

How long to leave it to dry for?

 

How to finish it? Both with bark left on, and stripped.

 

To be used as walking sticks/sheep herding/beating. Presume better to use a thicker stick for beating.

 

Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

Cheers,

 

Sam

Edited July 29, 2010 by Guest

[apache]

To be used as walking sticks/sheep herding/beating. Presume better to use a thicker stick for beating.

If you're going to use it for beating sheep then don't be seen. Did you see what happened to the old bloke who drowned a squirrel?!!!!

 

Edited July 29, 2010 by apache

[Guest]

Should have read: To be used for walking sticks, sheep herding, and beaters sticks.

 

I did hear something about it yeah, what actually happened?

 

Know anything about sticks by the way?

[apache]

Know anything about sticks by the way?

I have cut bits of hazel before now, some grows in a local wood. Have to look very hard to find a good straight bit. I used mine as a thumbstick straight away and then the next year gave it a light sand and a rub over with some wax. Buffed with an old tee shirt. Not beautiful, but functional.

[Lez325]

Hi all,

 

I'm planning on making some sticks, and having not done so before am in need of some advice.

 

I want to start by making something fairly plain, with a fork in it, rather than a seperate handle. (Thumbstick?)

 

So what type of stick first off? Hazel?

 

How long to leave it to dry for?

 

How to finish it? Both with bark left on, and stripped.

 

To be used as walking sticks/sheep herding/beating. Presume better to use a thicker stick for beating.Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

Cheers,

 

Sam

 

 

That depends on WHO youre beating

 

Les

[mez75]

Hazel is always a good stick to start with, blackthorn, holly, chestnut & ash are also commonly used.

 

When cut in winter drying/seasoning is usually about 12months per inch of thickness, blackthorn & holly require longer, also remember that sticks will shrink as they dry so what looked a perfect thickness when cut may end up too thin.

 

Hazel & blackthorn are usually left with the bark on but its a personal choice (just experiment & see what you like).

 

Once seasoned sticks can be straightened by carefully applying dry heat from an electric heat gun to the area to be straightened and applying pressure to the outside of the bend (I do this with my knee).

 

I find ronseal hardwood furniture oil is good for finishing the stick (its flexible & doesn't flake or crack like varnish can), apply several coats over the course of a week using a cloth allowing each coat to dry & smooth with 0000 wire wool before applying the next, then apply another coat after 6months, retreat every 12months or when required.

 

To prevent damage I always use a metal ferrule on the base of the stick preferably a steel tipped ferrule.

Edited July 29, 2010 by mez75

[fluke2]

I dry hazel sticks up in the loft space of the house its allways warm up there

and can use them after about 6 months.

[ian_in_the_midlands]

There is a lot to cover - you may be better getting a book.

I have this one - it covers the basics well:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Stickmaking-Handbook...=item4aa33541c3

[Guest]

Bought a few bits from a local fair yesterday, and had this book recommended, was about to have a look for it actually.

 

Cheers,

 

Sam

[markfield]

hi. i make thumbsticks using red dear anler etc for freinds but for beating i prefer a plain stick ,

nicely finished with multiple coats of boiled linseed oil .

if you want a varnished finish use ' tru oil ' gun stock finish applied with finger.

cheers

[hobgoblin]

I've used linseed oil or yacht varnish(several coats) or just wax softened with turps.leave the sticks a few months to dry ,old empty cartrige case on the bottom&bobs ya uncle..hazel's good if it been copppiced reguly they grow straight also if you look sometimes you can find good strong shoots out of a stem&cut that which,inverted will make the handle!!

[washman]

Hi all,

 

I'm planning on making some sticks, and having not done so before am in need of some advice.

 

I want to start by making something fairly plain, with a fork in it, rather than a seperate handle. (Thumbstick?)

 

So what type of stick first off? Hazel?

 

How long to leave it to dry for?

 

How to finish it? Both with bark left on, and stripped.

 

To be used as walking sticks/sheep herding/beating. Presume better to use a thicker stick for beating.

 

Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

Cheers,

 

Sam

alright mate washman here like the lads are saying hazel is your best bet but it needs cutting in the winter when the sap is down and then seasoned for at least 12months another alternative is highland horn supplies [checkout the website]they sell excellent blanks ready to go. hope this helps washman

[mick miller]

When your stick is dry it should 'ring' when you tap it on the ground. They take a good 12 months to dry out I have a bunch of them tied up in the garage ready to make a new batch this year.

[The Essex Hunter]

Bought a few bits from a local fair yesterday, and had this book recommended, was about to have a look for it actually.

 

Cheers,

 

Sam

 

 

Have a look out for wild rose, one of the lads cut a nice piece for me while out ferreting last year. One thing I have noticed with it, that it grows nice and round.

On my first attempt I scraped the out side with a sharp blade to expose the grain.

They came out quite well………

http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/189683-left-and-a-right/page__view__findpost__p__1610379__fromsearch__1

 

 

TEH

[Thunderbird]

I've just started making sticks for beating, wildfowling and such. Very satisfying job IMO. Mine are a but rustic but they're getting better.

 

Good advice re the heat gun after seasoning. Will try that, thanks.

[gamekeeper1960]

Hi all,

 

I'm planning on making some sticks, and having not done so before am in need of some advice.

 

I want to start by making something fairly plain, with a fork in it, rather than a seperate handle. (Thumbstick?)

 

So what type of stick first off? Hazel?

 

How long to leave it to dry for?

 

How to finish it? Both with bark left on, and stripped.

 

To be used as walking sticks/sheep herding/beating. Presume better to use a thicker stick for beating.

 

Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

Cheers,

 

Sam

 

 

Hi Sam, if you want them to use this year put them in your airing cupboard they'll be workable in about 3 months.(as long as its warm) and dont worry to much about what time of year you cut them either,I've cut sticks in the middle of summer and still turn out ok, just make sure you cut longer than you need just incase you get end cracking. just keep your eyes on while traveling round for good blackthorn you want beat it for stick making and also grow some nice straight lengths but also keep an eye out for young silver birch as its a useful wood as well but my favarite is holly just have to make sure you cut it a little bigger than you need as it does shrink quite a bit while drying but if you dig it up as the root makes graeat handles.and of cause good luck.

 

Dave.

[Guest]

Well, it's a long time ago, but I did eventually make a stick. I got given some seasoned hazel sticks by a friend of my Dad's, so made a stick for my Grandad's birthday.

 

I bought a copy of the book linked to above for some easy to follow pointers in the workshop.

 

I sanded the antler quite a bit as it was pretty sharp and knobbly, capped the main point with buffalo horn, and made a spacer from the same to join it to the stick, all fixed with epoxy resin, and a length of threaded bar through the stick and antler, pretty much as per the book's advice.

 

And here's the result:

 

 

[Lord Geordie]

Looks just the job

 

Well done

 

I have some holly shafts in seasoning a cherry one and a chestnut one also. I am chomping at the bit wanting to get started but have to wait until christmas for them to be seasoned.

[Guest]

Cheers,

 

I'll see if I can get a better photo sometime, but I was happy for a first attempt, although I do have a bit of background in woodwork & am fairly practical.

 

I meant to cut some sticks this winter but keep forgetting, might still be cold enough for the sap not to have risen too much I suppose?

[demonwolf444]

tru oil on some roe antler i found has transformed it. Really worth doing! ( its on a stick finished with tru oil )

[gamekeeper1960]

Looks just the job

 

Well done

 

I have some holly shafts in seasoning a cherry one and a chestnut one also. I am chomping at the bit wanting to get started but have to wait until christmas for them to be seasoned.

stick them in the airing cupboard you be able to us them in three or four months