Traditional Stickmaking

Stickmaking is an age-old craft that is just as absorbing and rewarding today as ever. This beautifully illustrated book describes some of the customs and practices used in traditional stickmaking. It encourages beginners to get started with a simple staff or thumb stick, but also explains advanced techniques, such as making sheep and cow horn handles, for the more experienced. Written with careful attention to detail by a prize-winning stickmaker, it is an essential guide to this fascinating craft. ? Ideas and inspiration on types and styles of stick. ? Guide to timber, storing and straightening shanks, and jointing shanks onto handles. ? Step-by-step instructions to making a variety of sticks and handles including, wood, antler, buffalo and sheep horn. ? Detailed techniques on bulking and dressing sheep horn to make a classic shepherd's crook. ? Advice on decorating wood and buffalo horn handles. AUTHOR: Charlie Walker is an experienced stickmaker based in Dorset. He has won numerous awards, including best-in-show prizes, for his sticks. He regularly judges stick-making shows, as well as giving demonstrations to clubs. SELLING POINTS: ? An essential guide to the age-old craft of stickmaking including descriptions of many of the customs and practices used. ? Will be of great interest to stickmakers, woodworkers, farmers, shepherds and fishermen. ? Encourages beginners to get started with a simple thumb stick and, for the more experienced, it gives step-by-step techniques on making sheep or cow horn handles. ? Packed with ideas and inspiration on types and styles of stick with techniques on making a classic shepherd's crook. ? Beautifully illustrated with 121 colour photographs. ? Charlie Walker is an experienced stickmaker and show judge and has, himself, won many best-in-show prizes. 121 Illustrations