deeksofdoom Posted July 18, 2016 Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 Hi All, Just wondering what do you finish your black thorn sticks with, was going to leave the bark on the stick. It has been in the shed nearly 4 or 5 years so its well seasoned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panoma1 Posted July 18, 2016 Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 I use several coats of clear garden furniture oil (ronseal as it sinks in and dries hard) over a few weeks, leaving the bark on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stimo22 Posted July 18, 2016 Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 I find the best thing I'd clear Danish oil, I use it on all my sticks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stimo22 Posted July 18, 2016 Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 This is a small sample of some of the sticks I have done, as I have said I use "Danish Oil" and this give a nice finish that can be touched up at any time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon69 Posted July 18, 2016 Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 Stimo- i have used Danish oil on my kitchen worktops (American Walnut) it looks really nice but it always seems tacky/sticky? If i leave a plastic magasine/wrapper on it the writing/ink comes off the wrapper onto the worktop. Any ideas?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted July 18, 2016 Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 (edited) Plus one for the Danish oil finish. It looks so much more natural than horrible varnishes. I have found that using some finest steel wool and rubbing gently along the blackthorn sticks lifts that lovely purple colour as well, enhanced by the oil. Nice sticks Stimo. Tidy work. On edit. Anyone wanting a few nice straight ash and within striking distance of the eastern edge of Leicestershire, I might just have a few you can harvest for free. pm me. Edited July 18, 2016 by Walker570 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deeksofdoom Posted July 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2016 (edited) This is the stick I'm working on, have it straightened and all the thorny bits taken off. Also have a ferrule on the end. Also removed the bark from what was the root and it is a nice shape, I'm doing this with a broken piece of glass. Just one issue and it's there's a crack in the handle which I must fill in. It should make a nice walking stick. Edited July 19, 2016 by deeksofdoom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnphilip Posted July 20, 2016 Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 Your a very luck man to be getting one of that quality. A fine looking stick, men would fight for. For a finish on my sticks I seal them with sanding sealer, then Danish oil. For handle I would use a coloured resin, you will get them of eBay. You get the resin, then choose the colour you wish to add. We do this on wood turning when there is cracks in the wood it can be very striking if you pick the right colour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deeksofdoom Posted July 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 (edited) Would you seal the bark and all? I have just been doing a bit of work on a holly stick where I left just a little bit of bark on it, rubbed a few coats of boiled linseed oil; the bark took it very well but the skinned shank didn't get as glossy. I'ld say the boiled linseed oil would look well on the bark. Would the sealer soak into it. I have a bottle of Rustins sanding sealer.I was thinking of going for a dark filler on the handle, just a Ronseal brand. Would you have any recommendations? Edited July 20, 2016 by deeksofdoom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derbyduck Posted July 20, 2016 Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 (edited) I use boiled linseed on all my sticks, rub down with fine wire wool or a scotch bright scourer so the bark shows the purple (not to much) then rub the oil on ,I use a small amount on my fingers to get it in and around the bumps where the thorny lumps are ,wait for it to dry then aply again ! theres a saying about oiling sticks once a week for a month then ,once a month for a year then ,once a year for life , the old Irish lads used to rub butter into their shails to harden a darken the bark, I only use blackthorn for the shanks for my sticks these days and my sticks are given as presents to friends and farmers who let me cut shanks and let me shoot on their land. I hope this is of help to you and good look with your stick ,atb DD Edited July 21, 2016 by derbyduck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnphilip Posted July 20, 2016 Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 Would you seal the bark and all? I have just been doing a bit of work on a holly stick where I left just a little bit of bark on it, rubbed a few coats of boiled linseed oil; the bark took it very well but the skinned shank didn't get as glossy. I'ld say the boiled linseed oil would look well on the bark. Would the sealer soak into it. I have a bottle of Rustins sanding sealer. I was thinking of going for a dark filler on the handle, just a Ronseal brand. Would you have any recommendations? Yes the sanding sealer is great, it cuts down on the number of top coats you need. I just tend to use Danish oil on my sticks and on my wood turning. to see the effect that a dyed resin to fill the cracks can look like do a Google for something like " wood and resin bowls" and do all the stick with sealer and Danish oil it will bring out the bark on the stick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted July 20, 2016 Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 I've used J&B to fill holes and mixed brass or copper or both shavings .... collect the dust from a 80 grit bench sander mix a good quantity in the J&B maybe 25% volume, then when fully set clean of and sand down with a 320 paper or similar. The brass shows through the J&B and is quite attractive. Might work here. Very nice stick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deeksofdoom Posted July 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2016 I think it's starting to look quite nice now with the boiled linseed oil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnphilip Posted July 29, 2016 Report Share Posted July 29, 2016 Looking good , show us a close up of the handle please . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deeksofdoom Posted July 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2016 k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnphilip Posted July 29, 2016 Report Share Posted July 29, 2016 Now that is one very nice stick, something to be proud of , and to get a straight piece like that is very rare over here . I hope this is the start of many . Its nice to make them and give them away to friends and family , and to see the look on there faces . And for them to say how a beautiful job you have made . Its better than money , Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deeksofdoom Posted July 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2016 (edited) It wasn't straight when I got it, it was bow shaped. I straightened it with a pot of boiling water and my knee. I have made plenty of hazel sticks. This is just the first blackthorn. It's been in my shed for years. Have a lot of hazel hanging up that's been drying out over a couple of years now, so I'm bitten by the stick making big again after a break of a few years. Edited July 29, 2016 by deeksofdoom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnphilip Posted July 30, 2016 Report Share Posted July 30, 2016 (edited) I got some beautiful sweetchestnut stick blanks from a place called Highland horn, they make amazing looking stickz And when oiled up the bark realy stands out . Edited July 30, 2016 by johnphilip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impala59 Posted July 31, 2016 Report Share Posted July 31, 2016 Super craftsmen all of you! One tip regarding the stickyness of Danish oil that I was given is to finish with a touch of Vaseline on a soft cloth, a lovely sheen and nice to touch too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deeksofdoom Posted August 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2016 Would the Vaseline wo k the same for boiled linseed oil? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impala59 Posted August 2, 2016 Report Share Posted August 2, 2016 No idea but quite possible. Maybe if you have a piece of scrap to experiment on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derbyduck Posted August 31, 2016 Report Share Posted August 31, 2016 that stick is something to be proud of ! the oil will dry on its own acord and if or when you but another coat on it it will seem to dry quicker than the firts one ! strange I know but true all the best with the sticks DD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted August 31, 2016 Report Share Posted August 31, 2016 hello, if you have a £ shop near last time i looked had some danish oil in stock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bewsher500 Posted September 12, 2016 Report Share Posted September 12, 2016 i have used oil which is fine, but if the stick is going to see active use I tend to go for a satin finish yacht varnish and triple coat it with a rub down between each coat. (The stick gets a rub down not me!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoolinDalton Posted September 12, 2016 Report Share Posted September 12, 2016 As a 'newbie' to this forum and thanks to the info here, I have just now discovered that my permission, in particular, the 100 yards + of hedge, is (possibly) blackthorn...(nice small purple berries)...and looking at the craftsmanship of the sticks, I have found another possible interest. So instead of being bored/ numb whilst waiting for a solo woodie to land in my decoy pattern, I can now look for potential 'sticks' to season, etc! Hope it doesn't sound too 'cheezy'...but what a great forum this is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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