shaun4860 Posted June 5, 2007 Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 really want a go at this... how long should you leave the stick to dry out once its cut? cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted June 5, 2007 Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 I have some in the shed a year old and they look about right, I <think> they say 1 year for each inch diameter? Someone can correct that if I am wrong. If you can't wait you can buy decent shanks for about 7 or 8 quid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham M Posted June 5, 2007 Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 Yup, one inch = one year. The best way is to watch out in April/May for the blossom on Blackthorn. Then you can mark it so that you can cut it in October/November when the sap has stopped rising. Will be ready by the following Autumn and makes a nice project when the nights have drawn in. G.M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaun4860 Posted June 6, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2007 Yup, one inch = one year. The best way is to watch out in April/May for the blossom on Blackthorn. Then you can mark it so that you can cut it in October/November when the sap has stopped rising. Will be ready by the following Autumn and makes a nice project when the nights have drawn in. G.M. so they shouldnt really be cut before then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted June 6, 2007 Report Share Posted June 6, 2007 You can cut sticks whenever you like, after all they fell timber all year round. It all comes down to seasoning the sticks correctly. If you cut a stick now it will be in it's growing phase and will take longer to dry out. Maybe another month or so. I use the airing cupboard and dry them out a lot quicker, they are also easier to straighten by using steam if you dry them quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted June 6, 2007 Report Share Posted June 6, 2007 If you cut them this time of year leave the leaves on them till they fall off. This will help to draw upto 70% of the moisture out of the wood. NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eagleye Posted June 6, 2007 Report Share Posted June 6, 2007 this is my first attempt at stick making shank unknown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eagleye Posted June 6, 2007 Report Share Posted June 6, 2007 now ive got the hang of resizing pictures there isnt enough room for any more text anyway to finish the story the shank was seasoned for a year and the antler was fixed on with a bit of 10mm studding with epoxy resin then i varnished the shank could nt saw it before only finished it last night eagleye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth Stalker Posted June 6, 2007 Report Share Posted June 6, 2007 If your cutting shanks this time of year, you should seal the cut ends with a couple of coats of knotting then store upright in a dry airy shed. 1" diameter= 1 year seasoning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted June 6, 2007 Report Share Posted June 6, 2007 Eagleye, Nice stick I was talking to the guys at the stickmakers guild (yes seriously!) at the last game fair, they will tell you horendous stories of people falling onto sharp antlers like those. The finish them off with buffalo horn sanded into a nice radius. Just an idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eagleye Posted June 6, 2007 Report Share Posted June 6, 2007 Eagleye,Nice stick I was talking to the guys at the stickmakers guild (yes seriously!) at the last game fair, they will tell you horendous stories of people falling onto sharp antlers like those. The finish them off with buffalo horn sanded into a nice radius. Just an idea. no thats a idea ive been wondering what i could to make the ends less pointy and thats gonna be the solution thanks for that eagleye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaun4860 Posted June 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 thanx everyone for your input... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham M Posted June 8, 2007 Report Share Posted June 8, 2007 Just found my old shooting stick with buffallo horn tips Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted June 10, 2007 Report Share Posted June 10, 2007 Just found my old shooting stick with buffallo horn tips EXACTLY what I was referring to GM - nice stick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
young airgunner Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 here is my piece of antler which i intend to make a nice stick with. my antler was pointy before but i cut the pointy end of level to avoid being impaled lol. cheers james Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 James, If you want a couple of pieces of buffalo horn to do what Graham did to his, drop me a PM with your details I wil post it out to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter-peter Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 Yup, one inch = one year. The best way is to watch out in April/May for the blossom on Blackthorn. Then you can mark it so that you can cut it in October/November when the sap has stopped rising. Will be ready by the following Autumn and makes a nice project when the nights have drawn in. G.M. Thats if somebody hasn ,t beaten you to it that is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 Thats if somebody hasn ,t beaten you to it that is. Or if you find the ****** again! I drew an arrow on a footpath once just so I could locate a stick when I went back with my folding saw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
young airgunner Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 James, If you want a couple of pieces of buffalo horn to do what Graham did to his, drop me a PM with your details I wil post it out to you. that would be very kind of you stuart, yhpm cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham M Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 Anyone know where I can get Sambar stag horn from??? G.M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 Off a Sambar Stag? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 or http://www.walkingstickshorncraftcutlery.co.uk/1.html they don't list it as a product, but they use it, so they must know where to get it from Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
young airgunner Posted June 13, 2007 Report Share Posted June 13, 2007 thank you very much to stuartp for sending me the buffalo horn. came today. one question though, how do i use it like a member has already shown on there stick cheers james Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted June 13, 2007 Report Share Posted June 13, 2007 James, glad it got to you OK. I don't know if there is a 'how to' on the web anywhere, but I would... Cut it in half (outside, it stinks when you do that!) and the roughly to size Sand one face dead flat. Glue it on to the ends of your stick and let that dry hard. The finish off using files and then sandpaper (getting finer and finer) and then a bit of brasso or similar polish Horn will come up like glass if you want to take it that far. Maybe drop GM a PM and ask how he did his if he disagrees with what I have said? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted June 13, 2007 Report Share Posted June 13, 2007 I like to drill a few small holes in the mating faces (antler may not need it if it`s very pithy) so that the glue has something to "hold". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.