[JD79]

The first one is the cane I made for my gramps. This pic is of the "not quite finished" stage. I'll make sure to snap a new pic of the finshed cane when I go visit in about a week. The second is my walking around stick. I threw a close up of the elk antler handle in. I made the stick in my avatar also. It is Alder I think, with the root for the handle.

 

[Rad]

Nice! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Sean]

Welcome to the forum JD, those look really cool! I'm sure your Grandpa is going to be absolutely thrilled when

he receives it.

So whats your technique inserting the antler into the wood shaft of your sticks if you don't mind me asking?

 

[JD79]

Glad y'all enjoy them. I use the metal rod and epoxy method for my canes. I plan on doing that for my wife's hiking stick too.

 

[Rad]

So whats your technique inserting the antler into the wood shaft of your sticks if you don't mind me asking?

Thanks for asking Sean, I was wondering the same thing!

 

[JD79]

On the first picture you can see the epoxy oozing out around the driftwood ring.

 

[Markus]

Hello JD, your sticks look great. Were you able to find your antlers as sheds?

 

[JD79]

My dad shot the elk that the antlers came from. I'm running a little low now though. I'm going to keep my eye open for sheds and maybe buy some off the net if I can't find family or friends with some laying around.

 

[Paul2281]

Wow brother...Thats a cool idea to use the antler as the handle...And if anyone gives you any crap you could spike them in the head with the handle end,lol...Love the looks,wtg....

 

[JD79]

Thanks again everyone. I went out looking for some new stock and found this great chunk of oak. It was part of a huge branch that had fallen of a very old tree. The section I took was off the ground so I'm hoping there isn't any serious rot going on. Pictures will be up soon.

 

[JD79]

Ok, here are the pics. Sorry about the quality, my phone was being wonky. The third picture is of a piece I snagged off a downed tree that is still alive for some reason. I grabbed some nice straight sticks off that too. They should make good cane shafts at some point.

 

[Paul2281]

Wow,that 1st one should come out with quite a cool looking handle if it stays together....Looks like it`s got some age to it....

WTG on the finds....

 

[JD79]

It feels pretty solid, but who knows how long it was off the tree. The only time I've ever dealt with oak in the past was making cabinets out of the stuff. This should be a pretty cool adventure.

 

[Paul2281]

It feels pretty solid, but who knows how long it was off the tree. The only time I've ever dealt with oak in the past was making cabinets out of the stuff. This should be a pretty cool adventure.

Ya it might have some pretty cool colors under the bark from laying on the ground....Good luck...

 

[JD79]

I've started peeling the bark off. This thing had a pretty good larvae infestation (maybe termites?) It seems to just be on the surface, but they made a bunch of cool little channels and paths in the wood. The color is pretty dark, looks like it had a little mold on there. I'll post a pick when I get it ruffed out.

 

[Paul2281]

I've started peeling the bark off. This thing had a pretty good larvae infestation (maybe termites?) It seems to just be on the surface, but they made a bunch of cool little channels and paths in the wood. The color is pretty dark, looks like it had a little mold on there. I'll post a pick when I get it ruffed out.

Oh man,thats too cool...If they got in there and laid down some good patterns that will look cool..

Here`s a pic. of one I found and the patterns were right on the handle part....cool...

 

[JD79]

Well, I got it sawed down and started working on getting the trails cleaned out. Some of them are pretty deep. Might have to go buy another wire wheel and battery for my Dremel.

 

[Paul2281]

Well, I got it sawed down and started working on getting the trails cleaned out. Some of them are pretty deep. Might have to go buy another wire wheel and battery for my Dremel.

OMG that looks cool...Buy the time you sand it down to size it will look killer....Love it dude....Hopefully no cracking,"knock on wood",lol....

 

[JD79]

It shouldn't crack. The wood is pretty dry. The only issue I'm having right now is that it is oak and I don't have all the cool tools I had when I made my canes. The tools I do have right now are a fixed blade survival knife, hatchet, folding saw and a dremel with a bunch of attachments. The dremel is nice for little stuff, but I'm going to need some big guns to get this oak shaped. I'll have to snag some rasps and stuff when I go visit my family this weekend.

 

[Paul2281]

It shouldn't crack. The wood is pretty dry. The only issue I'm having right now is that it is oak and I don't have all the cool tools I had when I made my canes. The tools I do have right now are a fixed blade survival knife, hatchet, folding saw and a dremel with a bunch of attachments. The dremel is nice for little stuff, but I'm going to need some big guns to get this oak shaped. I'll have to snag some rasps and stuff when I go visit my family this weekend.

Dammit man,no hand tools,yikes,lol....The ONLY power tool I use is my bench grinder that has a place for some sand paper and that how I get shape,the rest is by hand with 80 grit sand paper and elbow grease....