Stickmaking: A Complete Course, Revised Edition (Fox Chapel Publishing) Learn How to Make Walking Sticks and Canes - One-Piece, Two-Piece, Thumbsticks, Seasoning Wood, Using Horn, Carving, and More
Stickmaking: A Complete Course, Revised Edition (Fox Chapel Publishing) Learn How to Make Walking Sticks and Canes - One-Piece, Two-Piece, Thumbsticks, Seasoning Wood, Using Horn, Carving, and More book cover

Stickmaking: A Complete Course, Revised Edition (Fox Chapel Publishing) Learn How to Make Walking Sticks and Canes - One-Piece, Two-Piece, Thumbsticks, Seasoning Wood, Using Horn, Carving, and More

Paperback – May 1, 2008

Price
$20.95
Format
Paperback
Pages
176
Publisher
Fox Chapel Publishing
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-1565233683
Dimensions
8.1 x 0.5 x 10.7 inches
Weight
1.35 pounds

Description

Book Description This thorough introduction to stickmaking explains how to craft a wide range of traditional walking sticks, market sticks, and crooks from start to finish. Craftsmen of any level will benefit from the detailed explanations on identifying, cutting, and seasoning suitable wood and selecting alternate carving materials such as antlers and ram or cow horn. Numerous color photographs and diagrams provide clear instructions for a variety of projects, including thumbsticks, shaping and shaking handles, one- and two-piece wooden sticks, and buffalo horn sticks. This revised edition also contains an expanded toolmaking section on in-depth discussions on the history and philosophy of stickmaking. Andrew Jones is a stickmaker who specializes in horn crooks and cardigan walking sticks. Clive George is a stickmaker. StickmakingA COMPLETE COURSERevised EditionT his complete introduction to stickmaking explains how to make a wide range of traditional walking sticks, market sticks and crooks. Expanded to include more detailed coverage of tools, moulds, formers, jigs and materials, this book is the ultimate, comprehensive guide.From seasoning woods, shaping, carving and shanking handles, to a wide range of coloring and finishing methods, all aspects of this long established craft are covered. Stickmaking provides a thorough course in the craft suitable for beginners and enthusiasts alike. Stickmaking shows you how to select timbers, as well as alternative materials such as ram's horn, antler, buffalo and cow horn. Learn where to source these materials, and what characteristics to look for in a potential stick. There are tips on straightening sticks, fitting the handle and fixing a ferrule plus advice on how to product a variety of effects. PROJECTS INCLUDE: Sourcing and seasoning wood Sourcing and seasoning wood Making thumbsticks Making thumbsticks Shaping and shanking handles Shaping and shanking handles One and two-piece wooden sticks One and two-piece wooden sticks Cardigan sticks Cardigan sticks Ram's horn and antler walking sticks Ram's horn and antler walking sticks Buffalo horn market sticks and crooks Buffalo horn market sticks and crooks Carving in wood and horn Carving in wood and horn Andrew Jones makes a wide range of sticks. An uncle cultivated his interest in making sticks and encouraged him to enter his work in local craft shows. He lives near Lampeter. Clive George 's life-long interest in stickmaking and a fortuitous meeting, led him to collaborate in the production of this book. Read more

Features & Highlights

  • Your complete guide to the art of stickmaking!
  • Learn how to make thumbsticks, walking sticks, cardigan sticks, crooks, and more
  • Learn how to make
  • thumbsticks, walking sticks, cardigan sticks, crooks, and more
  • Sourcing wood and finding, cutting, and seasoning timbers for your projects
  • Sourcing wood
  • and finding, cutting, and seasoning timbers for your projects
  • Attaching handles for two-piece wooden sticks, with details for shaping, fitting, refining, strengthening, and finishing
  • Attaching handles
  • for two-piece wooden sticks, with details for shaping, fitting, refining, strengthening, and finishing
  • Working with horn including ram's horn, buffalo horn, antlers, and cow horn
  • Working with horn
  • including ram's horn, buffalo horn, antlers, and cow horn
  • Step-by-step processes, clear diagrams, and hundreds of how-to photos to walk you through making your own sticks
  • Step-by-step processes
  • , clear diagrams, and hundreds of how-to photos to walk you through making your own sticks
  • This comprehensive introduction to stickmaking is a complete course explaining how to craft a wide range of traditional walking sticks, market sticks, and crooks from start to finish!
  • Craftsmen of every level will benefit from the detailed explanations on identifying, cutting, and seasoning suitable wood and selecting alternate carving materials such as antlers and ram or cow horn. 200 beautiful color photographs and helpful diagrams provide clear instructions for a variety of projects, including thumbsticks, shaping and shanking handles, one-piece and two-piece wooden sticks, and buffalo horn sticks. This revised edition also contains an expanded toolmaking section covering tools, moulds, formers, jigs, and materials, plus in-depth discussions on the history and philosophy of stickmaking.
  • Co-authors Andrew Jones and Clive George are stickmakers, with Andrew specializing in horn crooks and cardigan walking sticks. Throughout these 176 pages, the authors will walk you through everything you need to know to make a wide range of traditional walking sticks, market sticks, and crooks. You'll find information on sourcing wood, what characteristics to look for in a potential stick, seasoning wood, adapting material, shaping handles, fitting collars, decorating, coloring, finishing methods, and much more—all aspects of this long-established craft are covered!
  • A special chapter is dedicated to carving in wood and horn, with three projects to try for those who prefer to add their own woodcarvings to their handmade sticks. A gorgeous gallery of finished work with full-color photos of a variety of sticks and crooks will inspire you in your stickmaking craft. The book concludes with a list of suppliers for sourcing your components, tools, paints, and more, a helpful glossary, and a complete index.
  • Get started making your own walking sticks, with the ultimate guide to the craft suitable for beginners and enthusiasts alike,
  • Stickmaking
  • !

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(133)
★★★★
25%
(55)
★★★
15%
(33)
★★
7%
(15)
-7%
(-15)

Most Helpful Reviews

✓ Verified Purchase

Hand me down my walking cane...

An excellent, well-written introduction to a simple but elegant craft. Fairly British in outlook, but many of the woods used by British stickmakers are available in the United States and a quick Internet search adds sassafras and hickory to the woods one might look for.

Pictures are great and the drawings illustrate the mechanical connections that may be used -- dowel joints, inset pins, gluing on a horn cap to cover the soft part of a deer antler -- fairly simple stuff when you look at it.

I've always been able to hack off a straight length of sapling and use it for a hiking stick. But a friend with back trouble asked me to make him a diamond willow stick to replace one he lost. He would actually put weight on it -- it would have to be a sturdy, practical stick.
I have been agonizing over how to fix a handle to the shaft. Willow is not a terrifically sturdy wood; I was worried the handle would fail. One of the illustrations in the book showed a simple solution.

Reading the book I was reminded of my grandfather. Back in the 1950s Dad was grubbing out some saplings to expand a garden plot between our house and the woods. Grandfather took a couple of the saplings and used the roots for handles and turned them into canes.
I believe one is still hanging up in a garage belonging to my uncle. It is a reminder of how people used to be more connected to the earth and natural wood -- they made a walking stick instead of buying one.
21 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Stickmaking: A Complete Course

Good discussion/illustration of various types and shapes of English walkingsticks. Will expand your horizons beyond the usual straight hiking stick with a carved spirit face. Being English, the authors do use some materials (various animal horns) that might not be readily available in the US. Still, overall it is an excellent book for any curious or serious stickmaker.
14 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

This is by far the best stick volume I have ever seen

This is by far the best stick volume I have ever seen. It really is a virtually complete "course" and has detailed information as to how a stick is put together (I found that important) along with other details of knob stick, thumb sticks (new to me), canes, and for me, any walking stick (proper lengths included) one could imagine. Details plenty. Patterns included. I would recommend this volume to any buyer, serious carver or amateur, as the the volume you would want and need to have. I have another stick-making book, "Make your Own Walking Sticks," but this "Stickmaking" book is the one I should have gotten, hands down. The other leaves some things to be desired.
8 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Great instructional!

Answered a lot of questions I've always had. Stencils worked out really well, and the high quality photos were a great help! Made my first cromack. Turned out greeat!
1 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Faster than expected delivery

Thanks so much for the quicker than expected delivery. The book appears delightful. Thanks
✓ Verified Purchase

Thanks

Thanks
✓ Verified Purchase

Beautiful book!

Most important - lots of instruction. Secondarily - lots of beautiful photographs. I'm glad I bought this book.
✓ Verified Purchase

Five Stars

Wonderfully book.
✓ Verified Purchase

Five Stars

Nice
✓ Verified Purchase

Five Stars

great