[dww2]

Had an apple blank sitting around for a while. Decided to try another Cardigan. The shank had some bends in it, but I got most of them out with the hot air gun. It has a couple of scrapes from rubbing against another branch and partially healing over.

 

[CV3]

Well done ddw2. That is going to be a winner. Look forward to seeing the finish. That apple is going to really look nice. Just not a wood we have access to here.

 

[dww2]

Got some finish on it yesterday. Some really nice color in the handle. A bit of sanding and another coat tomorrow.

 

[dww2]

Thanks, Randy. Pretty good timing; we were posting at the same time LOL!

 

[CV3]

Thats a keeper dww2. I agree great color in the handle. That is what I like about Apple.

 

[Rodney]

I'm jealous. I still haven't found a piece of wood suitable for a good one-piece cardigan. Great looking stick.

 

[CV3]

Hi Rodney. Good to see you. dww2 and I were talking about the old members we hope woud check in and mabe hlep get the site active again. I want dww2's yard. It grows sticks.

 

[dww2]

Thanks Rodney. I have access to about 130 acres of woodland to harvest from between family land and my neighbor. (They're putting in a solar farm and said I could help myself before it is all clear cut.) Got a couple more potential one piece Cardigans in yellow birch about ready for working. Did one in yellow birch a while ago and another in walnut.

LOL Randy. As it happens, I've been transplanting small crab apple saplings into what used to be my pumpkin patch to train them into stick blanks.

 

[BigJim]

I haven't been here but a short while and already I am learning new things. I would have never thought to look for wood to make a stick like DW's. That is just too cool and a great looking walking stick.

 

[dww2]

Thanks, Jim. The pattern is more or less from one of the books Randy recommended the other day, Stickmaking A Complete Course by Andrew Jones and Clive George. I had to adjust it a bit for the size of the blank and a couple of cracks, but I'm pretty pleased with it. I did a couple of the same style in yellow birch and walnut a while ago.

 

[BigJim]

The way you made those is a way I never thought of, and the long shaft being a limb coming off the main tree, it is going to be really strong. I really do like the second one, it is really nice. The first one is great looking, but I like the second one best. Both are truly great sticks. I appreciate you posting the sticks and how you made them. You have shown me a way to broaden my search for new sticks. Thanks DW, I love it.

 

[dww2]

Credit goes to the generations of UK stick makers for the idea. Actually, some credit should also go to the makers who frequented the forum when I joined. (Looking at you, Rodney!) They inspired me to try new things.

 

[CV3]

The way you made those is a way I never thought of, and the long shaft being a limb coming off the main tree, it is going to be really strong. I really do like the second one, it is really nice. The first one is great looking, but I like the second one best. Both are truly great sticks. I appreciate you posting the sticks and how you made them. You have shown me a way to broaden my search for new sticks. Thanks DW, I love it.

This is one way to do natural cardigan handle. This and other ideas are in the book dww2 mentioned

 

[BigJim]

Thanks Randy, this is really neat, I appreciate the helpful information.

 

[dww2]

Very true, Randy. It's a great book. Can't tell you how many times I thumbed through it over the years saying "I want to try that."

 

[ndncowboy]

Well crud, this has made me have to rethink some that I’ve thrown away in the past. If there wasn’t a natural handle I wouldn’t look at it anymore. Now I have to keep an open mind and that hurts. 🙄😳😆

 

[CV3]

Very true, Randy. It's a great book. Can't tell you how many times I thumbed through it over the years saying "I want to try that."

I agree dww2, if I could have just one book I would want that one. While it is similar " Stickmaking, the complete Guide" by Charlie Walker would be my second one. It is a bit more updated and has information on tools and jigs you do not get in Walkingsticks Complete Course.

 

[dww2]

Nice! I'll have to look for that one. I have Walker's "Traditional Stickmaking" from 2016. I'm thinking it might have much of the same info.
Another good one to look for is "Walking and Working Sticks" by Theo Fossel.