[icydove]

I've decided I would like to make my own hair sticks. For those who don't know, they look similar to chopsticks. I particularly like the ones with corkscrews.

So, I need to know where to start. I can only buy the cheapest (that will still work), most necessary tools possible for now. I'm thinking pen blanks might work well material-wise. My husband picked me up a dremel knockoff ($20 at the pawn shop), but I have no idea how to use it.

ANY help would be much appreciated.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Guess I must live in a box....haven't the slightest idea what you are talking about?

[big_Wayne_P]

Dave
i must be in the box next door
no idea either

wonder if they mean wood spirits
or if they actually plannig on putting real hair on the sticks

stay away from chep tools
inexpensive is OK Cheap is a no no
Cheap will not get sharp

look at the beginner kit at Little Shavers
http://www.littleshavers.com/index.html

[Irish]

Hi IcyDove,

I guess we gals need to stick together here as the guys seem to be totally lost "

I am not sure that pen blanks are going to be long enough, aren't hair sticks usually 7" to 9" long where I think many pen blanks are closer to 6". They may be a little to short for what you want.

I would suggest that you get a good bench knife. You can purchase one starting around $20. The bench knife is the most basic tool to carving. Since your finished sticks are only going to be about 1/4" at the thickest width I would think that you could detail carve each easily just with the bench knife.

If it were me and this is just a suggestion, I would practice on either some white pine or oak. Take a nice piece of firewood, small wedge, and a mallet. You can set the firewood on end and knock off nice thin straight grained pieces then whittle those pieces to the size that you want. After you have tried a few sticks then you can move to other woods and split them on the scroll saw. With split pieces you could add a decoration to the end as well as to the staft of the stick.

For you guys out there ... a gal with long hair can pull their hair into a pony tail, then twist the ponytail for some tension. You then tie that twisted pony tail into a single knot and use the hair sticks to hold the knot in place on top of your hair .... that's one of the ways your Grandmother wore her hair in a bun without using bobby pins. Think about the secretary at work that pulls her hair up using pencils ... think about the oriental Geishas ... Duh! Now there are some very easy practice sticks - pencils!

Hair sticks are very popular today and great if you do any arts and craft shows!

Susan

[Mothy]

Hair sticks, hmmmm.
It seems to me my daugther refered to a kind of hair-holder-in- place thingy, which was a stick and a piece of leather with two holes in it as a hair stick.
She made them out of chop sticks.
I would think that something close would be a pencil carving of what ever you want it to be.
Try a search on 'pencil carving' that may give you some ideas.
Have fun, and watch your fingers, those rotary tools cando more damage than a knife or gouge.

[Irish]

As I am explaining this to my hubby he is suggesting dowel rods! They come in several different types of wood including some beautiful walnut and come pre-round in many diameters in three foot lengths!

Susan

[BasketballJones]

You guys better get out of your box. (It's a chick thing). No disrespect. Of course I don't have that much hair, just a wife. The sad thing is I knew that. I guess I'm well trained. Here is a link if interested.
http://www.blueheronwoods.com/hairsticks.htm

[Mike-in-WV]

One of the first things you should get is a carving glove! Then a good bench knife as Irish suggested and then I would get a list from Irish as to the other tools you may want for your project.

If you plan on power carving with that Dremmel then I'm not going to be much help but some of the power carvers on here can get you started for sure. Good luck and have fun but don't rush it. Cut fingers and hands are not fun!, Mike

[Kenny_S]

It is what the oriental women or Geisha Girls wore or do wear in their hair. Was a big thing at the turn of the 1900s or before,and if my old mind recalls, my dear old mother wore them back in the Fifties.
Of course with the lack of hair, Couldn't wear a hair toothpick.

Icydove, I think you have a great and useful carving project going.

Suggest using two dowels of different diameters.

Lets say a 1/2" or 3/4" dowel and carve some design over a three inch length, then cut it off, drill hole for second dowel 1/4" or 1/8" about 1" into the first carved piece, insert smaller dowel into hole, glue in place, then cut off to desired "hair stick " length, taper down this section for easier use.

When inserted into the "Hair Bunn" all you should see is the carved portion on top of the bunn and the pointed end coming through the bottom of the bunn.

Goodluck, and it only my two cents worth, but thats what came to my mind and wanted to share it with you.