Oak Natty..

[Mr Wilkes 2,983]

Decided to make a robust Oak Natty for the 12.7mm steel. The bands are 1mm sheshou cut at 25/20 with a Catty Shack pouch.

[samuria 331]

looks good, do you treat the oak? and what's the bands like and 

where to sample them from?

[Greyman 28,239]

Another lovely piece of work mr Wilkes,

[Mr Wilkes 2,983]

24 minutes ago, samuria said:

looks good, do you treat the oak? and what's the bands like and 

where to sample them from?

Yes I treat it but for the life of me I can’t remember what it’s called. Sheshou is lovely to shoot with. I’ve just been out practicing on a “Garden pea” tin ( smaller than a bean tin) at 25 yrd and 11mm steel put a hole straight through the bottom of the tin and 12.7mm steel smashed it up.

[Mr Wilkes 2,983]

Try sheepy on eBay he has it in different sizes

[Mr Wilkes 2,983]

14 minutes ago, Greyman said:

Another lovely piece of work mr Wilkes,

Cheers Greyman, I’m finding it very therapeutic atm what with all this lockdown malarkey.

[low plains drifter 10,381]

Nice that mate, do you season the wood, or is it alright to use soon after cutting ?

I've cut a few lately, 2 hazel, and 1 birch

[Mr Wilkes 2,983]

I cut em and leave em at least 10/12 month but you can cut from fallen trees which have dried naturally and make one straight away. Couple of nice forks there .

[Greyman 28,239]

Also the time of year is very important, I have an old woodsman book here somewhere when hazel was grown for making sticks and pegs etc and it’s always cut from December to February because trees loose most of there moisture during this time to stop them freezing, so if I cut forks from living trees it’s only during this period and have never had one split, but as you say I mostly cut from fallen trees I see around

[low plains drifter 10,381]

1 hour ago, Greyman said:

Also the time of year is very important, I have an old woodsman book here somewhere when hazel was grown for making sticks and pegs etc and it’s always cut from December to February because trees loose most of there moisture during this time to stop them freezing, so if I cut forks from living trees it’s only during this period and have never had one split, but as you say I mostly cut from fallen trees I see around

 There's a saying with stickmakers, the best time to cut a stick is when you see it

Know about the winter cutting, but wonder if it's as necessary these days with the warmer winters

[Greyman 28,239]

Just now, low plains drifter said:

 There's a saying with stickmakers, the best time to cut a stick is when you see it

Know about the winter cutting, but wonder if it's as necessary these days with the warmer winters

I think the trees still expel most of the moisture from themselves at this time of year as you can still tap it out of them in March when they are sucking it all up to feed the new growth I just find to many nice forks cut in summer will split during the drying period plus being an old fecker I’ve probably got sticks drying that will never become cattys so I’m not desperate, if I was stuck I’d cut one at anytime of the year and microwave the juice out, but I’m not in any rush so can do it the easiest hassle free way

[low plains drifter 10,381]

51 minutes ago, Greyman said:

I think the trees still expel most of the moisture from themselves at this time of year as you can still tap it out of them in March when they are sucking it all up to feed the new growth I just find to many nice forks cut in summer will split during the drying period plus being an old fecker I’ve probably got sticks drying that will never become cattys so I’m not desperate, if I was stuck I’d cut one at anytime of the year and microwave the juice out, but I’m not in any rush so can do it the easiest hassle free way

Had a cup of birch sap a couple of weeks ago, nice fresh drink, was dripping out after I cut some branches back

[Mr Wilkes 2,983]

Made some birch sap wine once... never again... never been as pissed in my life