Market Stick

**SlackerDrummer** · 14th April 12, 09:17 AM

I had a burr from an oak tree that we had cut down several years ago that I've been wanting to do something with for a while. The wood was in bad shape (that's why we had it felled), but I had hope for this burr. By the time I got down to a decent block of wood, however, there was not enough to make a crook handle. There was, just barely, enough to make a "nose-in" market stick handle. The handle is a little "chunkier" than I'd have liked, but I was afraid to take it down any further and with good reason. As I bored the hole for the shank, one of the veins turned into a crack. I drilled a hole and epoxied a peg in there. It's usable as a fashion stick, but I wouldn't put it through any abuse for sure. The whole stick is 51" long - shorter than I would want a crook, but appropriate for a market stick for someone my height. It was a good learning experience and I have a couple more shanks to make crooks out of.

**ThistleDown** · 14th April 12, 09:27 AM

Well done, Kenneth. That's my correct length, too, and I'm sure you will find greater use for this than you would for a crook. Well, unless you happen to have a hirsel in care, I suppose.

**SlackerDrummer** · 14th April 12, 10:01 AM

Thanks, Rex. No hirsels here, though I do pass one every day on my way to work.

It is a comfortable length and I hope to test it's full leaning capabilities at the Bluegrass Classic Stockdog Trial next month.

**David Thorpe** · 14th April 12, 11:55 AM

Beautiful wood and nice finishing job!

**Jock Scot** · 14th April 12, 12:07 PM

Well done laddie! A super stick.

**SlackerDrummer** · 14th April 12, 12:41 PM

Thanks, gentlemen.

**artificer** · 14th April 12, 12:48 PM

Splendid!

How is the burr finished?

ith:

**SlackerDrummer** · 14th April 12, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by artificer

Splendid!

How is the burr finished?

Thanks, Scott. The whole stick has 5 coats of tung oil on it. I've read about additionally cutting back the handle with 0000 steel wool and beeswax then polishing with a soft cloth, which I might still try if I can swipe some beeswax off the dining room candles when my wife isn't looking.

**Panache** · 14th April 12, 05:57 PM

A handsome stick to be sure! Well done

Cheers

Jamie

**CarolinaTartan** · 14th April 12, 06:02 PM

Oh, Kenneth, Kenneth! Dear lad, this "stick" is clearly the work of an amateur. Anyone, I'm sure, would be embarrassed to carry this thing around. I think the best thing you can do is ship that thing off to some relative and give it another go. Maybe someone back home in the Old North State could put it away somewhere so you wouldn't have to be reminded constantly of its imperfections.