Beating stick/stick making

[Adam1010 0]

Hi all.

Does anyone on here make there own sticks? What does everyone use for beating sticks. I tend to use just straight Hazel nothing fancy as it just gets ruined at the end of the day. What’s your thoughts? 

[Meece 1,957]

Just hack a few out the hedge.  I found a holly hedge and I cut a few out and ,rave them out in the shed. Dried out they last a long time. Sticks are disposable items.

[Sausagedog 7,381]

Not cut a stick for years but when I pass a hazel I can't help but check them out.

I have cut thin hazel wands a few times when I needed a rammer for a muzzleloader in the field.

[Born Hunter 17,763]

Hazel is okay, especially to start off your stick making career but blackthorn is king imo.

Other good alternatives to look out for, rosewood (rose hip bush) and hawthorn but I've not personally used either.

[two crows 3,342]

I enjoy making sticks and have used allsorts including  dog rose, which I like, I give them as presents instead of a bottle for invites.

[shaaark 10,780]

3 hours ago, two crows said:

I enjoy making sticks and have used allsorts including  dog rose, which I like, I give them as presents instead of a bottle for invites.

T c, is that a welsh umbrella I can see? That twisted one, next to the dog's head, looks an interesting one

[two crows 3,342]

no mate just the colour, my sister gave me the dogs head when I was about 14 god rest her, its had a new shaft in that time lol. the twist is silver birch caused by honey suckle it has a rose knob  this one is willow it will be a thumbstick.

Edited May 1, 2020 by two crows

[Greyman 28,440]

On 13/12/2019 at 00:48, Adam1010 said:

Hi all.

Does anyone on here make there own sticks? What does everyone use for beating sticks. I tend to use just straight Hazel nothing fancy as it just gets ruined at the end of the day. What’s your thoughts? 

Just get yourself a small folding saw in your bag or pocket and cut what you need when you need it, I cut hazel thumb sticks regularly, if they have a nice Y on them I might cut it off when I finish for a catty fork or I often leave them in the pub car park at the end of my walk for someone else to use, have had a few nice ones from the vines the grow on trees as well get some good natural twists and interesting shapes in them

[two crows 3,342]

I often cut a nice fork if I see one and match it to a shaft later.

[dodger 2,765]

Smart them tc I could do with a stick myself state of my knees lately 

Any luck with lining.

[two crows 3,342]

16 hours ago, dodger said:

Smart them tc I could do with a stick myself state of my knees lately 

Any luck with lining.

don't know left them to it for several evenings and he was trying so fingers crossed.

[two crows 3,342]

the willow twist with the fork attached