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Post by 1dave on Feb 21, 2016 6:06:21 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. 
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,726 
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 21, 2016 9:25:08 GMT -5
I will have to check that out when I head home to Montana...Maybe eastern Oregon might have it too...
I make walking sticks too,out of Diamond Willow,mostly found in Montana,along the Missouri River and a small batch in the hills in ND..
The design work on some of the woods out there are crazy cool....
Liking your carvings too...
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Post by woodman on Feb 21, 2016 10:50:11 GMT -5
I will have to check that out when I head home to Montana...Maybe eastern Oregon might have it too... I make walking sticks too,out of Diamond Willow,mostly found in Montana,along the Missouri River and a small batch in the hills in ND.. The design work on some of the woods out there are crazy cool.... Liking your carvings too... There is a lot of Bitterbrush in Eastern Oregon, but a lot of it does not get very big, Mule deer will keep the plants small. Have seen large ones where there are few deer. I have wondered about using Mountain mahogany for the same thing. If I recall correctly I saw Bitterbrush at Richardson's Ranch last fall. Will have to look again next trip. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Feb 21, 2016 11:18:41 GMT -5
That's amazing! Did you carve it, too. Very nice. The wood has a lot of character.
When my husband and brother hiked the Appalachian Trail they had/made some pretty cool staffs.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,726
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 21, 2016 11:25:32 GMT -5
I will have to check that out when I head home to Montana...Maybe eastern Oregon might have it too... I make walking sticks too,out of Diamond Willow,mostly found in Montana,along the Missouri River and a small batch in the hills in ND.. The design work on some of the woods out there are crazy cool.... Liking your carvings too... There is a lot of Bitterbrush in Eastern Oregon, but a lot of it does not get very big, Mule deer will keep the plants small. Have seen large ones where there are few deer. I have wondered about using Mountain mahogany for the same thing. If I recall correctly I saw Bitterbrush at Richardson's Ranch last fall. Will have to look again next trip. Give me a holler,if you find some.......Thumbs up |
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,509
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Post by Sabre52 on Feb 21, 2016 17:41:57 GMT -5
Used to cut buckbrush for walking sticks at our old ranch in Commiefornia. Still have a few sticks around I still use. Very tough wood too and makes a fine defensive weapon equal to the Irish shillelagh. Only one shortcoming, the sticks often contain long lifecycle woodborer larvae and when you store the sticks in the warm house, they all hatch out *L*.....Mel
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Fossilman
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Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,726
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 21, 2016 17:48:44 GMT -5
I guess I will pass than....LOL--(Even if you seal it with polyurethane??? )
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,509
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Post by Sabre52 on Feb 21, 2016 18:57:24 GMT -5
Yep, Michael, mine were coated with two coats and the beetles hatched right through it. Not a big deal but it does leave a few holes in your stick....Mel
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Post by 1dave on Feb 22, 2016 8:58:20 GMT -5
I always cut mine and left them outside for a couple of years to season before peeling the bark off and never had a problem. rockjunquie Mack Williams, a friend in Salt Lake City, did the carving. |
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,726
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 22, 2016 10:04:15 GMT -5
I know a young man up in the mountains here in Oregon,he is going to carve my stick for me...It's a Diamond Willow with 31 diamonds on it,I have some custom work on it so far,been working on it for a couple years...LOL
Pretty fussy with my walking sticks...
Sold my last one for $75.00..........So it pay's to be particle...
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Post by 1dave on Feb 22, 2016 10:24:54 GMT -5
I know a young man up in the mountains here in Oregon,he is going to carve my stick for me...It's a Diamond Willow with 31 diamonds on it,I have some custom work on it so far,been working on it for a couple years...LOL Pretty fussy with my walking sticks... Sold my last one for $75.00..........So it pay's to be particle... Got any photos? I've never seen a "Diamond Willow." EDIT: Did a little webwalking.     Nice material! |
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,726
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 22, 2016 13:19:16 GMT -5
Yes,it's great material to work with and it's a task working with....The more diamonds on the stick,the more it's worth..
They can grow pretty thick too,I have one that is as thick as a man's upper thigh....Can make furniture or etc with it....
I made a couple canes and many many walking sticks with this material....
Will get some photos up for ya' Dave....Thumbs up
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Post by toiv0 on Feb 22, 2016 20:58:03 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  |
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,726
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 23, 2016 9:25:46 GMT -5
WOW! Those are nice!!!! I process my own,but not like a trk load..LOL Messy job,but the finished produce is awesome...
I have some photos of the canes,but not the walking sticks yet...
I do my handles with Elk,Mule Deer and Whitetail antlers...
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,726
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 23, 2016 9:42:02 GMT -5
I also make photo frames from the scrap diamond willow wood...
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Post by 1dave on Feb 23, 2016 10:01:40 GMT -5
Have any of you inserted finished stones into your staffs?
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,726
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 23, 2016 10:15:32 GMT -5
Have any of you inserted finished stones into your staffs? My Sis In Laws,I did.....Agates and petwood...... |
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Post by toiv0 on Feb 23, 2016 13:16:10 GMT -5
WOW! Those are nice!!!! I process my own,but not like a trk load..LOL Messy job,but the finished produce is awesome... I have some photos of the canes,but not the walking sticks yet... I do my handles with Elk,Mule Deer and Whitetail antlers... Had a blind friend and made him a diamond willow walking cane that had a curved goat horn/with leather wrap and stones in it. |
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,726
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 23, 2016 17:24:04 GMT -5
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,726
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 23, 2016 17:47:51 GMT -5
My canes,this one is still in process of completion.....The other was one I made for my Pa' In Law..He passed and I got it back..Made one for my Ma' In Law too,she still uses her's..  Can't remember if its Elk or Whitetail antler for handle,on this guy..  This was Pa' In Laws....  Whitetail antler...  Got another cane/walking stick around here somewhere,cool handle on it from the early 1900's or late 1800's... Found it-LOL...   |
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