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Knob Stick topper

5.3K views 11 replies 4 participants last post by  cobalt  
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Trying out a knob stick topper , but depends how it feels in the palm of the hand if i use it or not . The shape looks okay for A knob stick, see how it goes,

It may end up on a hiking pole ? or as designer firewood

Blank with pattern

shaping

side view

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side view with drawing checking need for modification before adding detail

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#2 ·
Hi, Had a go at a couple of caricature heads a couple years ago, and yes, it's getting the comfort shape without upsetting the required look. Have recently done / in process 4 caricature heeds ( Thanks to Lynn O.Doughty at Out West Woodcarving for his excellent series of free tutorials) and am looking at using them on a walking pole and making it one where I can interchange the heads.
 
#3 ·
Props to you Cobalt. LOL I don't think my wife would go for me handling another woman's head every time I was out for a walk!!

Great start by the way!!
 
#4 · (Edited by Moderator)
The head is also been made for use as a interchangable topper .It does allow you to carve more toppers and save on shanks .My grandchildren have 4 interchanglable toppers a griifin, a dragon , a fox and a duck..I think its because i did make one for there mum and dad. must get them sent of.

but all of the toppers could be made for interchangable as its a simple process once you get the fitment . but I only use half the fitment that way its cheaper and you can still put any topper you like on it..as long as you use a collar you would never be able to tell

I have made quite a few for the interchangabkle idea it works well.

this is another one for the interchanable theme a caridgan stick.Like all my toppers they have a 8mm threaded rod epoxed into them

After all it does save useing shanks fitting them when you sell them is a much better way otherwise you are always short of good shanks

The pattern

the pattern and blank . the hole is drilled into the blank for a hardwood dowel to strenghen it it will have a buffalo horn cap on the end.
 

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#6 ·
checked out Lynn O.Doughty on line very good carver hopefully i can attain that level of quality someday. mayby i will get round to making some napolian /redcoat soldiers toppers for hiking poles now i have seen his work you cant fault his work
 
#7 · (Edited by Moderator)
I should have put this into a section in its own right but as i started i will carry on.

more done on the cardigan stick .I havnt actually made a walking stick , this is a 1st for me, but its for my sister in law , she will need a tempoary one after a minor operation she has to have on her foot. Soon

Its made from lime wood with a hardwood dowel run into the handle to strengthen the wood

Shaping the handlebefore fixing the buffalo horn

fixed the horn with epoxy resin before final shaping

top part of handle shaped , bottom of handle needs final shape then polish it.

The underpart of the handle just needs to be a fracton wider for a comfortable gript so will thin that part down slightly

Would have like a lathe turned ebony shank for it fitted with a boone and buffalo horn collar. i may get someone to turn a shank in a hardwood then stain it ebony and fit a stainless sleet ferule
 

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#9 ·
I ts a pity redmier isnt local , would have asked him to turn one.

I rather fancy a ebony stick but the price of it is to much so will have to make do, hopefully from a friend if he will turn it for me may trade him some wood i picked up for a crook there is enough to take a slice of it for myself 1st. just need a chain saw to cut it down a tad
 
#10 ·
both the knob stick and the cardigan walking stick is nearly completed the cardigan stick needs a tad of polishing on the horn and the head needs attaching.

bit more to carve on the knob stick sliped with the chisel and damaged the eye so will have to see if it can be salvaged .looks a tad of balance with the eyes being reshaped?



 

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#11 · (Edited by Moderator)
the cardigan stick is nearly finished waiting for the shank to get here . been fitting a thick water buffalo horn collar onto the knpb stick took quite a bit of polishing back to get a good transition with the head. just need to carve the hair in which will make or break the design of it those sort of details make a good stick so will check out CV3 work on his wood spirit .trouble is the end grain of wood can be tricky to finish like that. then give some areas a polish sanding to get rid of those blemishes around the ears etc

I did get one ear wrong not to sure what to do with that?

I will just varnish the head may just slightly tint the lips and cheeks very very lightly to high light features

 

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