llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Jul 27, 2004 21:40:43 GMT -5
KD and I were chatting and I mentioned I had been working on my walking sticks. I took some pics of the ones I have finished or almost finished and here they are . I am trying to decide what to put on the top of the one on the left. Am thinking either a pewter star. a concho with some feathers on it or might cut a slab for the top.   These are the ends of the two that have leather hand grips. The triangle shape is a piece of flint. BE ain't crazy about it, nor am I, but figured it was different, so somebody weird and different might like it! LOL! The purple rock is Flouride (think that's what is it anyway) that I got at the rock show. Since I love purple, this is my fav so far   The stick I haven't decided what to put on top yet is the only stick that has alot of natural grooves for putting rocks in.   Got several more sticks sanded and the finish put on them. Just have to decide what I'm gonna do with them. Got a headache from sniffing that E6000 glue all day working on these! llana |
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Post by sandsman1 on Jul 27, 2004 21:53:19 GMT -5
hey llana very cool lookin great finish on them,, i think the feather idea would look good --dam what you can make wit a stick hahaha (i like um) i hope your gonna put them out at be-s on your table for the apple festival there prob gonna go quick
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Jul 28, 2004 10:58:08 GMT -5
Hello llana, WOW, those look great! You have done an excellent job with them  . Have you ever worked with diamond willow before, as walking sticks? It's a tough wood to find, but it makes some gorgeous walking sticks. Keep up the great work! Enjoy, John |
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Post by connrock on Jul 28, 2004 12:45:48 GMT -5
WOW Llana the sticks are great!!!! The idea of putting the stones in the sticks is quite unique,,,,,Bravoooooooo!!!!! Seein's how your into walking sticks maybe I can give you a couple ideas. I made several walking sticks when our family camped in the White Mts. in New Hampshire many years ago. I got both of these ideas totally by accident so I can't take credit for them coming out of my head!! I was walking through the woods looking for the perfect sapling for a walking stick and I found it.The problem was I forgot my camp saw so I had to pull it out of the ground,,,,,,,,,,roots and all.It was only about 1-1/2" at the root line so it was an easy haul!! I took it back to camp and was just about to trim off the roots when I noticed the main root would make a perfect right angle handle!I trimmed off the other roots,a few small branches and cut the main root to the length I wanted for a handle!Iwas PERFECT!!!!!!! I skinned off the bark and as we always had a fire going for cooking and the like,I held the stick over the fire to get the little "fuzzies" of bark off that the skinning didn't. For some reason or another someone distracted me from what I was doing and when I looked at the stick again about 1 foot of it was burned BAD!!!!Boy was I mad! I went to the the truck and got some steel wool and started to try to remove the chared part of the stick when I saw that it was starting to shine real nice! I burned the rest of the stick and steel wooled the rest of it untin it looked like glass. I now had a walking stick with a handle and a dark shine that couldn't be beat!!!! I made several of the sticks this way and couldn't make them fast enough to give to people who wanted them! It was a VERY dirty project but I had some one of a kind walking sticks to give to friends and family! My mom just died at age 92 and low and behold I found one of my walking sticks that I made for her some 30 years ago in a corner of her beed room!!It was STILL shining like glass!!!! Just a thought for ya!!!!! Tom |
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Post by krazydiamond on Jul 28, 2004 18:42:36 GMT -5
what a nice story, Tom and what nice walking sticks, llanago, very unique. i love that purple topped one. yeh, i'd go with feathers on one, too...
KD
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deepsouth
fully equipped rock polisher
He who rocks last rocks best
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,256
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Post by deepsouth on Jul 28, 2004 19:22:37 GMT -5
Great looking walking sticks Llana, and what lovely idea to use stones instead of steel to improve the looks.
I have seen that diamond willow in Alaska a few years ago and that would suit you very well I believe
Keep up the great work, you are doing so well !!!
Jack
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shorty
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2003
Posts: 392
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Post by shorty on Jul 28, 2004 19:30:39 GMT -5
good looking stickes hope you sell them all i like mine shorty
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shorty
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2003
Posts: 392
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Post by shorty on Jul 28, 2004 20:52:46 GMT -5
lana you could use a piece of black obstion on that stick round it off like a half round . that mite be a idea. shorty
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donwrob
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2003
Posts: 509
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Post by donwrob on Jul 28, 2004 20:55:20 GMT -5
llana, those are all really nice walkers! You can tell who made them. They have you written all over them, unique and attractive! Great job! Don |
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Jul 28, 2004 20:57:00 GMT -5
Thanks, ya'll. I really enjoy making them. I carry my little saw back in the woods behind the RV and search for cedar trees to fell for walking sticks! LOL! I also have a couple other ideas for using sticks just haven't gotten them made yet. In fact, probably won't get as many walking sticks made for the Apple Fest as I wanted to.
Tom, like the idea about the roots! I have never tried to pull up a cedar tree by the roots - guess I'll have to try it. If I can't pull it up, I can take my little shovel and dig it up! I burned these using a propane torch, then sanded them with 150 grit. I use 1/2 polyurethane and 1/2 tung oil mix to finish them; usually three coats with sanding with 220 between each coat. Never tried steel wool, but will have to. I guess the hardest thing about making them is finding a stick that has nice natural grooves to put the rocks in and then finding the right size rocks for the grooves.
I love the burned look - got that idea from somebody here , but can't remember who. Whoever it was, it you are reading this THANKS! When it gets cooler I am starting a major remodel job on my RV and one of the things I am going to do is rip up this ugly, dirty carpet and do the floor. Under the carpet is plywood and I plan on sanding it smooth as glass, burning it, then putting a polyurethane/tung oil finish on it. Not looking forward to all the sanding dust getting everywhere, but will be worth it if the floor turns out as I think it will.
John and Jack, I don't think we have diamond willow aroung here. Weeping willows, but no diamond willows - unless they are basically the same and I don't know it. we do have lots of cypress and mesquite - both of which I want to try sometime.
llana
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Jul 28, 2004 21:07:59 GMT -5
They have you written all over them, unique and attractive!
Here's me blushing! LOL!
Shorty, I have several slabs I could grind down to fit the top, just don't think I will have the time to do it. I also have a really cool rock I got at the rock show - it's some kind of fossil, but it's not quite big enough. I have been thinking about maybe sanding a bit off the diameter of the top so the stone would fit. Wouldn't have to take much off, just a fraction, not enough that it would even be noticeable. But, once again, just don't know if I will have time to do that before Saturday. But, I don't have to work tomorrow and I might get a fire under my rear and get it done!
llana
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aquababie19
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since June 2004
Posts: 97
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Post by aquababie19 on Jul 28, 2004 23:48:32 GMT -5
those are pretty nice looking  |
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Post by Noosh9057 on Jul 29, 2004 10:00:50 GMT -5
Thay look great
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bschultz
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2004
Posts: 234
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Post by bschultz on Jul 29, 2004 10:44:40 GMT -5
Hey Llana, those are looking great. Wish I could make it to the Apple Festival but I have to be in Kerrville on Saturday and then I probably will run over to Luckenbach after that if it's not too late. It seems lately that I'm always double booked. Been that way all summer.
You mentioned pulling up cedar trees by the roots. A few years ago I went on an archeolgy trip to a cave in Buelverde. We were 50 ft. down and I noticed an interesting rock formation running down the wall of the cave. As I got closer with my flashlight I found that it was a root from a cedar tree. My guide on that trip said that cedar roots that deep were very common. So I wouldn't break my back trying to pull one up from the roots.
Hope you guys have fun at the Apple Festival and make some money too.
Bob
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Jul 29, 2004 11:47:10 GMT -5
Thank you, aqua, Noosh and Bob! I really wasn't sure if they were as neat as I thought they were just because I made them or if they really would be attractive to others! This thread has given me more confidence that I might actually sell some at the Apple Fest and encouraged me to make more for flea markets and such.
Bob, thanks for the tip on the cedar roots! Although it would be neat to have a root ball at the top, I don't think I am going to break my back trying to pull one up! LOL! But, will give it the old college try.
I wish I was going to Luckenbach Saturday instead of hawking my goods at the Apple Fest! Although at Luckenbach I would probably spend money and I am hoping I will make a little money at the Apple Fest! LOL!
I'd sure pass on Kerrville though. I need to get over there and do some stuff, but just can't bring myself to point the truck in that direction!
llana
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Post by cookie3rocks on Jul 29, 2004 14:57:12 GMT -5
Hey Llana, nice job! Got an idea for you. I've been playing with my dremel today shaping some stones and after seeing how you put the stones in the natural indentions, I'm thinking you could use a hand held tool like that to make your own indentions. You could even pick the stones and pattern you wanted to do and customise it.
Are the wrappings leather? That just skreams for feathers!
cookie
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bschultz
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2004
Posts: 234
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Post by bschultz on Jul 29, 2004 15:28:21 GMT -5
Hey Llana, I don't know how much time you have spent at Luckenbach but I read in yesterdays paper that Marge Mueller, the lady that ran the bar, the preverbial Sheriff of Luckenbach, died and the funeral was held yesterday. She was 69. She was born and raised in Luckenbach. One of the toughest women I've ever met but a real sweethart just the same. I'm sure going to miss her when ever I go there.
Bob
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Jul 29, 2004 15:39:47 GMT -5
Bob, I hadn't heard about Marge. I don't know her, but I do know about her. Luckenbach sure won't be the same. Wasn't she Hondo's neice or something. Had it not been for her, after Hondo died, Luckenbach would have probably just become another dried up joint. I bet tons of folks were there for her service. I know she will be sorely missed not only by folks like us, but also all the musicians that have played there over the years.
llana
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bschultz
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2004
Posts: 234
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Post by bschultz on Jul 29, 2004 16:28:40 GMT -5
It was kinda strange. I was planning on going up there on Saturday every since I found out that I would be in Kerrville that day and about halfway there anyway. One of the things I was looking forward to was seeing Marge. We usually try to get up there once or twice a year just to get away and do some pick'in and visit with whoever happens to be hang'in out. We were'nt able to make it up there last year though. Then I picked up the paper yesterday and saw her picture at the top of the Obituary page with a feature article. Like the song says "Bad news on the door step".
Bob
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Post by rockyraccoon on Aug 1, 2004 1:03:03 GMT -5
llana - i like them all - let us know what you come up with for the one on the left.
kim
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