Thunderbird Posted September 19, 2012 Report Share Posted September 19, 2012 Just wondered what's the best, densest heavy wood to make a basic home-made priest from? What have people had success with? This is for a shooting as opposed to a fishing priest, if that makes a difference..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apache Posted September 19, 2012 Report Share Posted September 19, 2012 Unless you want a big lump then you will have to weight the thing with lead. My preference is yew for attractiveness or oak for a hardwood that is very resistant to moisture. When turning I would get the rough shape, drill out the end and pour in molten lead core. I'd then put it back on the lathe and do the final shaping. I ruined a couple getting molten lead on the finish. If you are fussy you can always cap the end with a wooden plug. If less fussy like me you can clean any overspill with normal wood turning tools because it is so soft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted September 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2012 I was hoping to omit the molten lead step entirely, as there's not a crucible in the place and I can't be trusted with molten metal anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libs Posted September 19, 2012 Report Share Posted September 19, 2012 I was hoping to omit the molten lead step entirely, as there's not a crucible in the place and I can't be trusted with molten metal anyway. I just filled one I made with shot and capped it with resin and a plug. Still plenty of weight and no need to cook the lead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apache Posted September 19, 2012 Report Share Posted September 19, 2012 My way of melting lead was to use a stick like plumbers use, a blowtorch and an old metal funnel! Melted and dripped into the hole. You could sacrifice a few cartridges and pour shot in if you plugged it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted September 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2012 Good idea that, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oscarsdad Posted September 19, 2012 Report Share Posted September 19, 2012 Holy wood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pigeon Paul Posted September 19, 2012 Report Share Posted September 19, 2012 I used an old Hickory hammer shaft for mine. Drilled the bottem end (the handle end) and melted some lead in old tin can on the BBQ and poured it in. A couple of coats of oli and it looks the part! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamekeeper1960 Posted September 19, 2012 Report Share Posted September 19, 2012 You dont need to melt the lead you can just cut it into small pieces with tin snips and then just hammer it in to your drilled out hole with a punch and just finish off with a wooden plug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 my mate is a stick dresser, he suggests holly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hedd-wyn Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 Just wondered what's the best, densest heavy wood to make a basic home-made priest from? What have people had success with? This is for a shooting as opposed to a fishing priest, if that makes a difference..? my mate is a stick dresser, he suggests holly. This is true very hard and heavy. My grandfather used holly priest to get rid of new aged travellers of his land. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vampire Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 This is true very hard and heavy. My grandfather used holly priest to get rid of new aged travellers of his land. Brilliant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted September 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 There is a holly tree next door which I'm going to ask the neighbour about. Basically it's between the two garages so can't be seen at all from his house or garden, and I can only see it because it hangs over my garage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vampire Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 Have various,easiest was a bit of bamboo cut to length and rammed some lead in the end,simples. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 This is true very hard and heavy. My grandfather used holly priest to get rid of new aged travellers of his land. the priest my mate made me is a similar size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter-peter Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 lignum vitae and it turns nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Str33t Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 After reading this post just nipped in the garage and made one out of an old driftwood stick. Not sure what wood it is. Drilled a 12mm hole in the centre and filled it with lead solder wire heated with a blow lamp. Then finished it off with a light sand and coated it with some work top oil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yankeedoodlepigeon Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 A 12 wood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamekeeper1960 Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 There is a holly tree next door which I'm going to ask the neighbour about. Basically it's between the two garages so can't be seen at all from his house or garden, and I can only see it because it hangs over my garage. The one problem with holly, it does tend to shrink a lot more than other woods and the bark is not very attractive when dried out ! I still prefer to use blackthorn dries hard as iron and good wieght to boot and when varnished or oiled the bark is stunning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenman99 Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 Bog Oak! It grows in the ground round here. fenman99 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 Bog Oak! It grows in the ground round here. fenman99 i have two sticks with pheasant heads carved from bog oak, awesome wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted September 25, 2012 Report Share Posted September 25, 2012 Prickett antler. easy to do. cut to length, file smooth. drill hole and fill with shot. or a bit of brass bar. glue on a bit of hardwood and polish. drill hole for lanyard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Galore! Posted September 25, 2012 Report Share Posted September 25, 2012 i've got a bit of zebrano left if you want that, stunning grain pattern and very dense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted September 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2012 Prickett antler. easy to do. cut to length, file smooth. drill hole and fill with shot. or a bit of brass bar. glue on a bit of hardwood and polish. drill hole for lanyard Well volunteered that man. Can I commission you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted September 27, 2012 Report Share Posted September 27, 2012 Well volunteered that man. Can I commission you? ha! no! you will not learn anything by getting others to do it. after you have messed it up 10 times then i might help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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