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What is the last thing you handcrafted for yourself?

Ok so I made it from a kit but I still made it.

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Somewhere between 15 and 20 years ago, my late father collected and set aside several branches suitable for making into hiking staves, which remained in one of my Mom's storage sheds until today. He'd made a number of hiking staves during the 1990s and very early 2000s. It's very good for unfinished wood to sit around drying in a controlled environment for many years.

I chose this one (which looked like a piece of driftwood this morning) and, today, I sanded it with coarse, medium, and then fine sandpaper; cleaned off the dust by blowing and wiping with a cloth; applied three coats of a mixture of mineral and orange oils, and then three coats of beeswax, allowing time for absorption/drying and buffing after each coat; and I created the grip by doing what's called a "common whipping," which essentially means I tightly wrapped and secured fine twine around the handle.

One of my father's flies that he tied with his own hands is wedged into the crack and wrapped around with the twine.

I just need get the tip of the staff shod, preferably with a brass or copper jacket. I've already gone further than what's shown in the picture and treated and sealed the twine grip, and trimmed off the ends. This picture is from slightly earlier in the process. I should have a final picture (that won't look much different) pretty soon.

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A turd
 
Somewhere between 15 and 20 years ago, my late father collected and set aside several branches suitable for making into hiking staves, which remained in one of my Mom's storage sheds until today. He'd made a number of hiking staves during the 1990s and very early 2000s. It's very good for unfinished wood to sit around drying in a controlled environment for many years.

I chose this one (which looked like a piece of driftwood this morning) and, today, I sanded it with coarse, medium, and then fine sandpaper; cleaned off the dust by blowing and wiping with a cloth; applied three coats of a mixture of mineral and orange oils, and then three coats of beeswax, allowing time for absorption/drying and buffing after each coat; and I created the grip by doing what's called a "common whipping," which essentially means I tightly wrapped and secured fine twine around the handle.

One of my father's flies that he tied with his own hands is wedged into the crack and wrapped around with the twine.

I just need get the tip of the staff shod, preferably with a brass or copper jacket. I've already gone further than what's shown in the picture and treated and sealed the twine grip, and trimmed off the ends. This picture is from slightly earlier in the process. I should have a final picture (that won't look much different) pretty soon.

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I made a stuffed animal.
I'd love to make something out of wood but im unskilled+lazy
 
I've finished another hiking staff, this one for my sister's upcoming birthday.

The first pic is of the original American beech tree branch I gathered (it had been cut down by trail maintainers) from the Virginia Creeper Trail. I let it dry for several weeks; stripped the bark, trimmed and sanded down the branchlet knots, and cut it down to size; hand-sanded the entire thing (with 220-grit sandpaper); applied six coats of a mixture of orange oil and beeswax, letting each coat dry for long periods and then hand-buffing with a cotton cloth; and finally, today, I wound the grip out of two long cords of dyed hemp twine, and left enough of the twine to braid together and fashion into a charm out of earthenware beads and partridge feathers (I tie fly fishing flies, so I have an entire cured partridge skin of feathers on hand).

This one gave me a lot of trouble that doesn't bear going into. The wood isn't shiny-shiny like commercial walking sticks sold in stores that have been sprayed with polyurethane, but it has a subtle satin gloss. You can see the faint glare of reflections on the staff from both the charm and the wall.





 
Somewhere between 15 and 20 years ago, my late father collected and set aside several branches suitable for making into hiking staves, which remained in one of my Mom's storage sheds until today. He'd made a number of hiking staves during the 1990s and very early 2000s. It's very good for unfinished wood to sit around drying in a controlled environment for many years.

I chose this one (which looked like a piece of driftwood this morning) and, today, I sanded it with coarse, medium, and then fine sandpaper; cleaned off the dust by blowing and wiping with a cloth; applied three coats of a mixture of mineral and orange oils, and then three coats of beeswax, allowing time for absorption/drying and buffing after each coat; and I created the grip by doing what's called a "common whipping," which essentially means I tightly wrapped and secured fine twine around the handle.

One of my father's flies that he tied with his own hands is wedged into the crack and wrapped around with the twine.

I just need get the tip of the staff shod, preferably with a brass or copper jacket. I've already gone further than what's shown in the picture and treated and sealed the twine grip, and trimmed off the ends. This picture is from slightly earlier in the process. I should have a final picture (that won't look much different) pretty soon.

sm_stickarel4.png
Very nice work......... I also have made a few walking staffs , one of which I carved a Scottish Thistle at the top, color painted and clear lacquered it !
Good luck with yours it looks great as well !! :tu:
 
Somewhere between 15 and 20 years ago, my late father collected and set aside several branches suitable for making into hiking staves, which remained in one of my Mom's storage sheds until today. He'd made a number of hiking staves during the 1990s and very early 2000s. It's very good for unfinished wood to sit around drying in a controlled environment for many years.

I chose this one (which looked like a piece of driftwood this morning) and, today, I sanded it with coarse, medium, and then fine sandpaper; cleaned off the dust by blowing and wiping with a cloth; applied three coats of a mixture of mineral and orange oils, and then three coats of beeswax, allowing time for absorption/drying and buffing after each coat; and I created the grip by doing what's called a "common whipping," which essentially means I tightly wrapped and secured fine twine around the handle.

One of my father's flies that he tied with his own hands is wedged into the crack and wrapped around with the twine.

I just need get the tip of the staff shod, preferably with a brass or copper jacket. I've already gone further than what's shown in the picture and treated and sealed the twine grip, and trimmed off the ends. This picture is from slightly earlier in the process. I should have a final picture (that won't look much different) pretty soon.

sm_stickarel4.png
Nice touch those feathers, Elton John would like it.
 
I've tried those in the past, they're ok. Also Stiletto.... but WAY too light and cost is fucking ridiculous. I've got estwing Roofing hatchet, brick hammer and 2 claws. They've never done me wrong.
stiletto is mmmmmm... ok i guess. not a fan personally. and cost. yes. for what i do,its not worth it. i had the craftsman fiberglass shank. fell in love with it. and vaughn is the next best thing. and because its fiberglass,i cut a beer/soda can and wrap it around the shank i.5.5x.s. then tape it up with hockey tape. it stops the fiberglass from splintering. and you know what a bitch them are to get out! i have an estwing roofing hatchet. worn to shit now tho. and a estwing wood hatchet.
 
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