Creating sticks isn ’ t a quick job ; first you have to find straightest growth from the hedgerows , obviously hazel wood was my first choice . Once sourced they have to be bundled up and tied together , they need to be kept as straight as possible whilst drying for at least 12 months in the rafters in my shed .
Then the fun starts , I begin to carve ; I create a picture in my mind of the colour of the handle , this help-ful when choosing which coloured shank to use , Hazel wood comes in a variety of shades and colours , The wood is steamed to make it pliable , then the shank is then straightened using my knee and jig .
Then after a couple of days drying the whole thing is finished using several coats of ether wax , Danish oil or varnish or sometimes a combination depending on the finish . Finally the blue tack can then be removed .
The whole thing then seems to come to life , this then hopefully becomes a useful friend for life , or even longer .
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The next step is to band saw a rough shape of the handle , be it a bird dog or whatever I ’ m carving . I then drill a hole down the handle , next we carve a peg ( like a dowel joint ) into the end of the shank the same dimensions as the hole to be glued and fitted nice and snug when both are ready to be married together .
Next step is to work on the carving of the handle this is done using chisels and rasp , to remove most of the unwanted wood . Then many hours using small files and craft knifes until it resembles what I ’ m carving , holes for the glass eyes are drilled and after a good smooth down , hair or fur is carved in .
A good smooth finish is then created using wire wool , next we fit in the eyes , choosing right colour and size . I then mask the eyes using blue tack and begin building up layers of colour whether it be by brush or air brushing . When I ’ m happy the shank is glued to the handle , at this point a spacer of bone or horn can be fitted .
Rural Life | 09