Centrepin Posted September 17, 2022 Report Share Posted September 17, 2022 When is the best time to cut Blackthorn for future use as walking sticks please? How long does it need to stand after being cut before working also? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted September 17, 2022 Report Share Posted September 17, 2022 Hello, I always thought winter time when the saps lowest, I know stick makers keep a year or 2 before use, I never find anything decent in black thorn , let us know how you get on 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted September 17, 2022 Report Share Posted September 17, 2022 Winter as above but the old saying still stands good......the time to etc., somebody else might fabcy it. It just takes a little longer to dry out but I have a couple of blackthorns and left them about twelve months, so I believe 12 to 18 months should suffice on an autumn/winter cut stick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted September 17, 2022 Report Share Posted September 17, 2022 when you cut it....bind it twix 2 straight pieces of wood ...then hang it somewhere dry and where the air moves and forget about it for a year....they will last a lifetime..lots of beaters prefer them ..i have seen them with all the bark missing as a result of all the tapping .....holly is supposed to be hard as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centrepin Posted September 17, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2022 Thanks everybody, lots of Blackthorn on my perm. No body ever goes near it or decoys near it as far as I'm aware. Sloes have never been touched other than by birds. I'm intending to cut inwards from the back till I can reach the thicker branches leaving it thicker and untouched as you view it from the fields. It's my first try so although I'm enthusiastic I've really no experience with this type of wood. Methinks my grandad would be ashamed I've never cut any before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted September 17, 2022 Report Share Posted September 17, 2022 4 hours ago, oldypigeonpopper said: Hello, I always thought winter time when the saps lowest, I know stick makers keep a year or 2 before use, I never find anything decent in black thorn , let us know how you get on 👍 The roots make a good handle if you can dig up a nice one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stimo22 Posted September 17, 2022 Report Share Posted September 17, 2022 I cut anytime I see a good bit, 12 months for normal use but longer if it has a knob end or it will crack. Have a steamer made from length of steel tube and wallpaper steamer to get nice and straight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted September 17, 2022 Report Share Posted September 17, 2022 As Mr Walker was trying to say, cut it when you see it and put it to dry slowly or someone else will see it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adzyvilla Posted September 17, 2022 Report Share Posted September 17, 2022 I cut blackthorn or Holly for sticks in jan/Feb (although I prefer holly) Best beating stick I ever had was an arrow straight bit of hawthorn about an inch thick. It was light but hard as iron, and I must have had it 10 years or more. One day I lent it to another beater while I flagged the flanks and forgot all about it. I never saw either of the ******* again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave at kelton Posted September 17, 2022 Report Share Posted September 17, 2022 I Lay it on the rafters in the garage roof for at least year. Easy enough to straighten out later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centrepin Posted October 10, 2022 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2022 Taking a breath of fresh air this weekend I saw these two beauts. I put them to dry and I've still to get to the Blackthorn as yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deeksofdoom Posted October 21, 2022 Report Share Posted October 21, 2022 On 10/10/2022 at 11:01, Centrepin said: Taking a breath of fresh air this weekend I saw these two beauts. I put them to dry and I've still to get to the Blackthorn as yet Its a bit crooked, isn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centrepin Posted October 21, 2022 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2022 It needs drying, then steaming to straighten. Not something I'm practiced at yet but I'll cut enough to play with and if I fail next doors log burner will gain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derbyduck Posted October 24, 2022 Report Share Posted October 24, 2022 Hi just a heads up and I hope its not to late ! I would put a dab of grease on the cut ends of your sticks and the cut end of the handle, or better still if you have any Unibond PVA , the stuff builders use in cement mix . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derbyduck Posted October 24, 2022 Report Share Posted October 24, 2022 On 21/10/2022 at 16:46, Centrepin said: It needs drying, then steaming to straighten. Not something I'm practiced at yet but I'll cut enough to play with and if I fail next doors log burner will gain. unibond on the cut ends Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centrepin Posted October 25, 2022 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2022 18 hours ago, derbyduck said: unibond on the cut ends Thanks I'll try it. Plenty of unibond in my garage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derbyduck Posted October 25, 2022 Report Share Posted October 25, 2022 18 minutes ago, Centrepin said: Thanks I'll try it. Plenty of unibond in my garage paint it on it give it a few coats ,theres nowt worse than a good stick that cracks when its dried out ,atb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deeksofdoom Posted November 2, 2022 Report Share Posted November 2, 2022 On 21/10/2022 at 16:46, Centrepin said: It needs drying, then steaming to straighten. Not something I'm practiced at yet but I'll cut enough to play with and if I fail next doors log burner will gain. You won't be straightening some of those dog legs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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