Oak Handle Shepherds Crook

[Shambam1962]

A few years ago whilst attending The Welsh Game Fair at Llandeilo, I walked into the stick making tent, to view the excellent walking sticks.

Whilst in the tent, one of the gents was signing a book he had written Stickmaking A Complete Course, so I purchased a signed copy for my father, for his upcoming birthday.

My father made sticks all his life and continued making them up until he had a stroke and died in his late 80s.

His house was cleared out by my stepbrother’s and items deemed worthless was skipped along with his books and sticks made by him over the years.

After making a Dragon Staff walking stick a few weeks ago, I looked on EBay to purchase a copy of the book I purchased my father all those years ago, and found the revised edition of the book for £5 and the book is very good and informative.

 I copied the templates from the book and decided to try and make an oak handled crook.

I purchased a piece of oak and proceeded to make the crook and all was going well until last Thursday, until I collapsed unconscious in the garden and came around to the dogs barking frantically and my wife running down the garden to help me up .

Sunday morning I was rushed into hospital after having severe chest pains and unable to stand on my feet and was released the following day from hospital after numerous tests, with test results all clear.

I’m not allowed down the shed at the moment, so sat on the garden bench today sanding the stick and I’m pleased with my first attempt and waiting for a bottle of sanding sealer to arrive before I oil the crook.

Can’t drive at the moment, and unable to pick up the sealer in town, so have to wait a day or two before completing the stick.

 

[holloway]

That’s another cracker in the making mate,  go steady and make sure you get your health sorted ,keep posting,     your “first attempts “ show your dad passed his skills on to you.

[Mice!]

Very nice indeed.

[Loki]

Hi

Pleased to read no issues arisng from your 'unknown-unknown' - out of the blue tids indeed a 'shocker'.

Very nice work, steady as she goes!

L

[Old Boggy]

That`s looking really good. Will look great with the oil.

Pleased that the tests were all clear.

Cannot wait to see the finished product.

Thanks for posting.

OB

[Shambam1962]

Thanks lads for your comments and hope to finish the crook soon.

Waiting on some bits to arrive .

I have a few hazel thumb sticks I’m working on, whilst waiting.

Have to attend hospital tomorrow for further tests , and have an angiogram.

Had one just before Covid-19 kicked off a few years ago, but have to have another  one tomorrow through my wrist, so out of action tomorrow.

Had all the classic heart attack symptoms, heavy chest, pain, pins & needles in my left arm and sweating like a pig, but blood tests and scans clear, which is good.

 

 

[Bigbob]

Thats very nice mate ,hope your feeling better soon 

[Shambam1962]

Thanks Bigbob for your comments.

Finally finished my first crook today and was very pleased with the result.

The handle came up very nicely and shows the beautiful grain and sanded it super smooth and had a few coatings of oil on the shank.

Whilst waiting for the ultra ferrules and sanding sealer to arrive, I made a few hazel thumb sticks and straightened them, ready for a few coatings of Danish oil .

I have finally roughed out another crook blank handle and drilled and cut a Boo 30 degree angle joint ready for the next project, with spacers.

The shank on this stick will be Holly , but unsure whether to leave the bark on or not.

I really enjoyed making the crook and plan to make a laminated wood crook at a later date.

 

[Shambam1962]

A better photo of the finished crook and the grain pattern.

 I don’t know why it didn’t show very well on the previous photos taken on the iPad.

Very pleased with the result.

[Walker570]

Love the stick, who wouldn't. Superb.

Regarading the 'SHOCK' yes I had a similar thing happen over 18 months ago now and went and had the full check up by a heart specialist, echo sounders, scans you name it and apart from a little bit of furring in one artery they said was age related (over80) they could not find anything else amiss. The Speciaiist said that sometimes a short sudden pain is just has he put it a 'hiccup' .   Hope your soon back on your feet.

[Shambam1962]

Thank you Walker570 for your reply.

We must have the same doctor as I’ve had a very thorough checkup and scans and tests and my latest angiogram was all clear, which is very good news.

The doctor called it a little blip which has no explanation.

 I must be honest, it scared the life out of me and I thought my time was up.

 I’ve always been fit and healthy until 5 years ago and was diagnosed with an under active thyroid, but take daily medication to counteract this.

I’m lucky, I’m out daily with the dogs, and this keeps me on my toes.

 I’m still feeling a little weak at the moment, but will be better soon.

Thanks

Kevin