Fossilman
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,726 
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 26, 2016 15:08:18 GMT -5
JUNIPER,is one of my favorite types of wood to work with,expecially if it's all twisted up.....Hard to work,but takes a great polish and looks great!
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,726
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 26, 2016 15:10:26 GMT -5
Find a way to bake the stick. Kills larvae. When I was in Jamaica, I would make ashtrays and mugs out of the large Bamboo for my friends back home. I noticed that a little pile of saw dust was on the table every time I cleaned the ashtray. I put all the bamboo outside over nught. Them wimpy southern bugs can't take the -30 weather we have here. Sawdust problem solved. When I lived in northern North Dakota,we called the cold winters (-50 below) "Keeping the rift raft" out,that included bugs and people!! LMAO It does work,it takes a special breed of anything to tough the winters out up north... |
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Post by toiv0 on Feb 26, 2016 15:26:50 GMT -5
When I was in Jamaica, I would make ashtrays and mugs out of the large Bamboo for my friends back home. I noticed that a little pile of saw dust was on the table every time I cleaned the ashtray. I put all the bamboo outside over nught. Them wimpy southern bugs can't take the -30 weather we have here. Sawdust problem solved. When I lived in northern North Dakota,we called the cold winters (-50 below) "Keeping the rift raft" out,that included bugs and people!! LMAO It does work,it takes a special breed of anything to tough the winters out up north... We used to say the same thing but free stuff trumps cold weather. |
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Post by toiv0 on Feb 26, 2016 20:55:29 GMT -5
We also do hazel brush and sumac, if you dig the root it goes off at a 90 degree angle so makes a good cane with little work. (like digging isnt hard)
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Post by 1dave on Feb 27, 2016 0:15:19 GMT -5
What I'm hoping to see is the marriage of wood and rock working.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,726
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 27, 2016 12:19:53 GMT -5
Here are some frames I make from Diamond willow.....Need to make a jig for straight cutting on the table saw,it's wicked cutting...   I also do the 45's and other angle cuts-they are pretty easy with Diamond Willow,you can sand down the corners and the wood will still incorporate into each other quite well.....  Now my favorite wood is old wood,be it tore up,ripped,bad cuts from previous owners,weathered,half rotted-I can do miracles with it and make it live again for enjoyment for another person.. |
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,726
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 27, 2016 12:20:42 GMT -5
What I'm hoping to see is the marriage of wood and rock working. That's in my plans soon......Hoping this summer.... |
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Post by 1dave on Feb 29, 2016 19:32:22 GMT -5
I have about 200 walking sticks cut and peeled waiting to do the sanding and finish when I have time. I'll try and get a pic of my pile. Here is an order of 600 fresh diamond willow heading out to a cane and walkingstick maker  I asked Bill if he would sell some? No, but he would trade. How many did I want and how long? 2-3, 4-5' long I replied and PM'd some photos He agreed. I thought he could throw some half hitches around them and tie on a shipping label like we did back when the West was young and these stories were new. The wrapping alone was much more than I expected - One stick for every day of the week, around 6' AND he peeled them! What a pleasant experience! Now I'm trading for some of his rocks.   |
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Post by toiv0 on Feb 29, 2016 20:48:47 GMT -5
Ah, glad to see they got there safely. Hope you like them. I usally use my fordom on the eyes. Some people use polyurethane but I just mineral oil mine. enjoy
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,726
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Post by Fossilman on Mar 1, 2016 9:15:30 GMT -5
Score for Dave!! Thumbs up...... Quote "Some people use polyurethane but I just mineral oil mine." Quote
I use poly too,never thought of using mineral oil,how does it look when finished??
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Post by toiv0 on Mar 1, 2016 11:40:13 GMT -5
Score for Dave!! Thumbs up...... Quote "Some people use polyurethane but I just mineral oil mine." Quote I use poly too,never thought of using mineral oil,how does it look when finished?? Mineral oil isn't as shiney but the diamonds turn the same dark red. |
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Post by toiv0 on Mar 1, 2016 11:44:14 GMT -5
Mr. Dave sent me a few things in this trade and I will say I got the better end of the deal. The picasso is awesome, the obsidian superb, but the prize of the whole lot was this slice of plume that is to die for. Thank you Mr. Dave.  super plume  |
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,726
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Post by Fossilman on Mar 1, 2016 12:16:47 GMT -5
Nothing better than good Ol' horsetrading!!
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Post by 1dave on Mar 1, 2016 16:02:40 GMT -5
Mr. Dave sent me a few things in this trade and I will say I got the better end of the deal. The picasso is awesome, the obsidian superb, but the prize of the whole lot was this slice of plume that is to die for. Thank you Mr. Dave. I hoped you would get it before you left for Texas. |
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Post by beefjello on Mar 1, 2016 20:59:44 GMT -5
Looks like a generous trade on both your parts, cool beans. Man that is a super plume!!
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~~BigSky~~
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2016
Posts: 296 
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Post by ~~BigSky~~ on Mar 3, 2016 5:05:07 GMT -5
Antelope BitterBrushI'm letting a long held secret out of the bag.  Sometimes called buckbrush, quininebrush, bitterbrush, antelope brush, deer brush, and black sage. It grows from Texas to California to Canada, between 4,000 - 8,000 ft altitude, and fortunately has thus-far been ignored by craftsmen. It looks a lot like LARGE sagebrush that can reach 6-8 feet in height, but has the interesting habit of limbs twisting around each-other for additional support as it grows.  Once you peel the cedar like bark off, the twisty inter-growth of limbs make amazing patterns great for carving unique walking sticks. I've admired this one for 20 years, but now that I need it, I've decided to add a sphere to the top and set some gemstones in it. Preparing the top:  A 1 1/4" hole saw leaves a 7/8" core, so I used a 7/8" planer bit to drill into a "Doll Head" sphere from Woodworks Ltd. in Texas. I notched a piece of 2X4 to stay centered on my drill-press and cut a 2" hole in it to hold the 2 1/2" sphere solidly.   It will soon be attached similar to this other one I'm working on. Some sandpaper glued to the bottom of the sphere should help me set the sphere into the stick.  have you ever used diamond willow? I'm not sure if its found alone the whole Yellowstone river but I do know where one location is. I've heard local people in the sidney area make walking sticks/canes. Someone gave me a couple pieces, if youd like me to get a photo, I gladly will. I haven't went out myself to collect the stuff, I can find out a location of youd like that too. Its near stuff  |
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~~BigSky~~
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2016
Posts: 296
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Post by ~~BigSky~~ on Mar 3, 2016 5:06:32 GMT -5
DIAMOND WILLOW!!! Cool sticks yo |
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Mar 4, 2016 12:54:31 GMT -5
Here is an order of 600 fresh diamond willow heading out to a cane and walkingstick maker And the ambulance is to take the poor guy away after he's done? Great sticks btw! I've been collecting a few pices over the last couple of years; false acacia and a little cherry; the first ones should be ready to go (to do something) this summer / autumn. Whether I get around to it is another matter. When I cut the tree I do it judicously to let some grow on to thicken for sticks. Those carvings! They're something else.  |
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Post by 1dave on Apr 23, 2016 16:03:51 GMT -5
I finally got the 2 1/2" spheres on two and added an opal to the necklace.  |
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Post by 1dave on Apr 24, 2016 11:33:51 GMT -5
BTW to be sure the sphere remained attached I used a Dowel or Hanger screw to hold them together.  |
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