Antler thumbstick

[deeksofdoom]

I collected a few sticks last year and decided that I'ld have go at making a few, so I decided I'ld take a few pictures of my latest efforts.

 

Heres a pic of the stick a nice piece of Hazel

 

However it needed a bit of straightening first as can be seen from this pic.

 

Here's a pic of the Antler and some Buffalo horn that I'm using for the thumb piece for the top.

 

First things first I need to straighten this stick. But before I do this I need to take all the rough bits off the stick. Taking the rough bits off makes it easier on my knee when I'm bending it back into shape.

 

So here's how I straighten the shanks. Just boiling a pot of water and steaming the shank over it. the next few pics are showing a different stick but the idea is still the same.

 

After the stick has been steamed its time to give it a bend over the old knee.

 

After a while it starts to straighten out a bit.

 

And Finally its straiht enough and I cut the ends of it off to the required length..

 

After sanding and giving it a rub of some boiled linseed oil the wood throws out some beautiful colours.

 

More to follow.................

[Dunkield]

Quality post looking forward to the next instalment

[12gdaz]

Cool. Makes me want to have a go Your flooring doesnt half look like mine!

 

Daz

[deeksofdoom]

well here's the next instalment...............

 

After straightening the stick the next thing I wanted to do was to attach the antler. Since I had no threaded bar I decided that I'ld hollow out the antler and carve a dremel from the top of the stick, here's a pic of the dremel being made.

 

Had to keep working away at the dremmel to get it the right size to fit inside the antler.

 

To ensure a snug fit I worked away at the dremel with a file rather than a knife in case I took too much off. here is a pic of the final fit, when I was sure it was fitting correctly I glued it with Araldite.

 

So tonight I've done a little bit of work on the antler sanded it down a little bit.= and shaped the top of the stock into the antler. after that I gave the stick a coating of beeswax and then finally I glued the buffalo horn onto the top of the Antler. This is my second attempt at attaching the buffalo horn, the first time it just came off so this time I've hollowed out a bit of the marrow and hopefully it will set better this time.

 

Stay tuned for more installments..........

[bullet boy]

Superb-Well done.

[deeksofdoom]

So finally just finishing off the stick, first thing I had to do was to saw off the excess buffalo horn

 

After that I had to het the file out to take off the edges,

 

After a bit of effort I've gotten the edges down to a nice round shape.

 

So all that's left is to sand the antler a bit more and give it a few coats of beeswax. I chose beeswax over yacht varnish as I heard the varnish cracks and causes the stick to get wet and the bark to lift.

 

Thinking about drilling a hole in the handle, inserting brass from a .22wmr magnum for a leather strap, just ned to try it out first on an off cot to see how it looks.

[Dunkield]

Brilliant post, well done DoD

 

 

Now don't forget to sweep the kitchen floor

[Beardo]

great, interesting and informative post there - i'd like me one of those!

[deeksofdoom]

Brilliant post, well done DoD

 

 

Now don't forget to sweep the kitchen floor

 

I take it you get serious aggro about that as well?

[MM]

thats really nice that. Only problem round here, there is no Hazel.

[little zimba]

WOW looks great great step by step walk through