When I post pictures of sticks they are primarily focused on the head, but the shanks are equally important if not nearly as much fun to work on. Shanks need to cure for a year before you use them or the shrinkage that occurs will mess up your joints. I cut a big batch of sticks last fall so its time to start working on them. That means straightening them. It is not the most fun part of stick making but it is important and I find it goes best if i work on straightening a half dozen or so at the same time. This way as i finish working on a bend it one i can set it aside to cool and work on a bend in another.
Traditionally sticks were heated for straightening with steam but as long as you are careful and the stick is not to dry you can use a hot air gun to heat them up for bending much faster. Tomorrow i have to remember to put up a picture of my bending jig.
Meanwhile Raven started carving the wolf head on the current project stick. Normally the carving is done after the basic handle is done but as I was working on other things Raven started the carving today. The reason to leave the carving till the end is so you dont bash it while working on the rest of it so i will have to be careful when I work on the body of the handle.
No comments:
Post a Comment