Attaching Antler to Walking Stick

[Dunwaters]

@Stimo444

Would you mind awfully, just expanding on what that means?

I recently broke (twice!) my favourite 'Crook Stick', whilst up in the Highlands.

The local Stalker has past the stick (hazel), onto a local stick-maker to attach something splendid and to 'make good'. It will make for a nice story when it finally wends its way back home.


I would have had a go myself, but a man has to know his limitations. It is all I can do to make kindling....


View attachment 387194

Lose the hazel and specify blackthorn, you’ll get a much stronger, better looking stick and the original crook can be fettled and fitted.
Hazel is a bit soft, especially for joining with a tenon, a metal dowel with a bone or metal collar to support the top of the shaft makes for a stronger joint.
Whichever you method choose, the shaft is sacrificial, you can always replace it.

 

[Bowland blades]

8-10mm all- thread is by far best for antler to shaft join. antler doesn't really need any top dressing if its well sanded down ( caution with antler dust as its a carcinogen in the lungs ) if you want to give it a real good shine or are using buffalo horn tips Danish oil works best , good polyurethane is better on most wood bark . to fill the core i dont think you can better the west systems epoxy used primarily on boats ( use the fast drying version .

 

[Stalker62]

Lose the hazel and specify blackthorn, you’ll get a much stronger, better looking stick and the original crook can be fettled and fitted.

@dunwater


That's a bit tricky as it was the 'Crook' which I managed to break. The shaft (hazel), is all that remains undamaged from the 'original'. If I 'lose' the hazel, it become pretty much like Trigger's broom...

 

[Dunwaters]

@dunwater


That's a bit tricky as it was the 'Crook' which I managed to break. The shaft (hazel), is all that remains undamaged from the 'original'. If I 'lose' the hazel, it become pretty much like Trigger's broom...

The crook is the heart of the stick, if that’s gone you’re essentially commissioning a new one.
If the crook can be repaired, I’d still opt for the blackthorn shaft and a nice sterling silver collar to set it off.Celtic scrolls are optional.
If you’re replacing the crook, may as well go the whole hog.
Hazel wood is fairly soft and easy to break, it’s biggest asset for stick making is that it grows straight and is easy to find.

 

[WalkedUp]

For a dissenting opinion: Ise Shrine - Wikipedia

 

[WalkedUp]

The stick as a physical object does not need to be continuous for its divine entity to be maintained.

Ship of Theseus - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[Stalker62]

The stick as a physical object does not need to be continuous for its divine entity to be maintained.

Fun fact.

Skin regenerates (approximately) every month.

Are we the same person as last month?

 

[Dunwaters]

Fun fact.

Skin regenerates (approximately) every month.

Are we the same person as last month?

I’d hoped that I was on a constant journey of improvement….
But perhaps not…

 

[bowji john]

Fun fact.

Skin regenerates (approximately) every month.

Are we the same person as last month?

My wife tells me I’m still the same pillock I always was

I laid down some blackthorn about 6 years ago to do a walking stick

Will it be too hard now?

 

[Stalker62]

Will it be too hard now?

At our age, I suspect not much is...

 

[bowji john]

At our age, I suspect not much is...

All the wrong things grow …

 

[Dunwaters]

My wife tells me I’m still the same pillock I always was

I laid down some blackthorn about 6 years ago to do a walking stick

Will it be too hard now?

No.

 

[Stalker62]

All the wrong things grow …

Ears and nose hair.


Growing old sucks.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Lose the hazel and specify blackthorn, you’ll get a much stronger, better looking stick and the original crook can be fettled and fitted.
Hazel is a bit soft, especially for joining with a tenon, a metal dowel with a bone or metal collar to support the top of the shaft makes for a stronger joint.
Whichever you method choose, the shaft is sacrificial, you can always replace it.View attachment 387220

That is indeed a lovely blackthorn stick.

K

 

[Tim.243]

This is how I wanted it as the antler is "as it was" off the Roe Buck, not sanded off as to retain as close to how it was when I shot it.
The brass ferule is counterbored both sides with the antler and dog rose let in, 6mm stainless threaded rod (70) mm with 2k glue, yacht varnish to finish. Where the thorns were some almost moth wing like images were retained after sanding.

 

[kenbro]

For all its failings it ticks the one box I always strive to achieve and with zero regard to wheather its inappropriate:
"Over-Engineered"

K

Very pretty and do you use it occasionally when taking shots.
Ken.

 

[Dunwaters]

This is for a friend .
If I had a more time I’d finish it a bit better.
Blackthorn and Sika antler with the dog inlaid and epoxied.
I’ll give it to him tomorrow.

 

[willie_gunn]

This is for a friend .
If I had a more time I’d finish it a bit better.
Blackthorn and Sika antler with the dog inlaid and epoxied.
I’ll give it to him tomorrow.

Very nicely done

 

[Klenchblaize]

This is for a friend .
If I had a more time I’d finish it a bit better.
Blackthorn and Sika antler with the dog inlaid and epoxied.
I’ll give it to him tomorrow.

Thanks for this. It's given me an idea for embellishing a couple of sticks.

This was my first attempt at making a stick with attached antler:

I've since learnt how to make a proper collar to conseal the join!

K

 

[VSS]

Thanks for this. It's given me an idea for embellishing a couple of sticks.

This was my first attempt at making a stick with attached antler:
View attachment 387795
I've since learnt how to make a proper collar to conseal the join!

K

If you need to conceal the joint then it's not a very good joint!
The antler / horn should blend seamlessly with the stick if the joint is done correctly, with no need for an unsightly collar.