How 2 make dual wood hair sticks

[wildhare]

This is how I make my dual wood hair sticks. First I measure and draw them out on the wood. I cut these with a band saw, but have cut them with a jig saw and even a hand saw when I broke my last blade. (Not fun)

I measure and cut my second selection of wood for the tips. I carefully drill a small hole in the end of the stick and the block for the tip. I insert a wire, in this case copper. I mix up a batch of epoxy in my margarine tub lid and apply liberally. I will sand off any extra later.

Then I have to be a good girl and wait 24 hours for the epoxy to take a super hold. The epoxy sets in 5 minutes but it is not fully cured for 24 hours.

Patience is not my strong point.
Wanda

[olive_juice]

I'm a little confused- why the second piece of wood for the tips?

[Ron T]

Hi Wanda,

Thanks for the great idea. I carve stick toppers to go on my walking sticks but never thought to carve smalle toppers for hair sticks. Duh! I would never have made that quantum leap if you hadn't shared your idea. Thanks.

This would work really well with chopsticks. Hmmm, time to go eat Chinese.

[wildhare]

Olive Juice,
I use two different types of wood for the dual wood sticks. I have used cedar sticks with a black walnut top. The contrast of colot is amazing. You just have to make sure the two ends you join are flat so you get a good bond.

You can carve the tip, drill tiny shallow holes and glue on Swvorski flat back jewels. Then go pick a stick to stick it on. You have the advantage of making the "perfect" (ha ha) topper to put on your stick.
Wanda

[wildhare]

Ron T. , I go thru my scraps and cut offs for my stick toppers. It doesn't take much. You can even go buy exotic wood pen blanks like they turn for pens.

These two woods are leftovers from a fellow carver's sons turkey calls. They are exotic woods. I've been told one is red heart and the top is unknown. I am going to research them and find out for sure what they are.

Chinese sounds good but you can buy bamboo chopsticks at Wally World . They are awesome spray painted with tiny beads dangling from the ends or with carved toppers.

Mmmmm now I'm hungry for Chinese!
Thanks Ron.

Wanda

[olive_juice]

Oh! I was thinking tips like the pointed end! That makes MUCH more sense. Be sure to post pictures when you're done, I'm very interested to see the result!

Speaking of the bamboo ones, That's what I did last night when I stopped carving. I took some chopsticks, sanded them round, spray painted them black and wrapped the ends with beads and copper wire. They don't look too bad, considering they took all of ten minutes to do. Hunting for my polycrylic to coat them right now...

[wildhare]

Okay Olive Juice you gotta post pictures of your chopstick sticks and beads. Here are the photos of the dual wood sticks.

I have included some red heart wood sticks I did with only a knife and 80 grit sandpaper then a fine sanding sponge. While using the knife you lay it almost flat on the stick and shave fine curly ques of wood off the edges. I usually make the point first but not too pointy just yet. You will know when you are going against the grain cause big chips will come out instead of curly ques.

They have not been varnished yet.

One note, if you ever get your hair sticks too thin, use them for shawl or knitted sweater pins to keep them from slipping off the shoulders.

[wildhare]

I forgot to say the first dual wood is Teak stick and mahagony end.
I am unsure of the second wood type.
The third is red heart and ?unknown
The forth is a closeup.
The fifth is red heart wood done with a knife and sandpaper. WHEW
Wanda

[olive_juice]

those are gorgeous! Now I don't even want to show you mine. *blush*
(apologies for the delay, btw. I'm housesitting, and just figured out their internet)

[wildhare]

Olive juice, Please don't feel that way. We all learn from one another. Check your PM's. I would love to see your sticks. Please don't blush to show them. Be proud of your work.
Wanda