Another "Twisty Stick" Done

[AlArchie]

Finished another twisty aspen stick today, and I'll try to post a few pics, here. Tried once and it didn't take, so one more shot! This one has absolutely NO carving, just cleaned up, sanded and finished. I added a birdseye maple handle and a brass ball topper with an included compass.

Some pieces just seem too nice to mess up with a carving, but that's just my opinion. I like this stick, "as found" (sort of).

Al

[Lightningbolt]

I like the idea of a brass top and compass and something that I've thought about over the years but haven't yet got around to the experimenting stage.

We have a lot of saplings in my area of the south that are strangled by honeysuckle vine all leaving their unique twisted impressions on the stick, and seems like folks are always leaving them on my front porch so I've acquired quite a collection. It also seems like it is these twisted sticks that sit around for years before I can finally "see" what to make of them. They're all so special that I feel like they all came to me with a special mission and not sticks for practicing upon!

The "light" finally did shine down on me for doing one such stick that I just recently finished and you've inspired me to attempt posting it in the "Animals and Bird Carving" forum which should appear in short order...

[Clifford_Parker]

Nice stick Al!!

I sure wish I could find twisties around here but it seems our wild grapes wrap too loose to "strangle" and I have only found one stick with any twist marks in +5 years of searching. I can get plenty of basswood, aspen, plum, cherry, sumac and even dw but no twisties. Sad

[Kenny_S]

ALA, Fine looking walking stick. I am with Cliff, not any twisties around here in SEK. Been a lookin but have not found any. Talked with the ranchers and farmers also and they don't see any either. They will call me if and when they see any.
That is a walking stick anyone would be proud to walk with or have in their collection.

Thanks for shareing your fine and the finish product.

[Mitchell]

In NC we can find them fairly easily. Honeysuckle seems to be the vine most likely to give the "best" twists. I have read somewhere (don't remember where) that you can wrap wire or something (again real fuzzy on what) around young trees to make your own twists. Maybe someone with better memory can help.

Mitch

[big_Wayne_P]

Al
the stick looks good

Where are you getting your brass toppers and compass toppers from

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

someone said you can create your own twisty by planting morning glories next to a sapling of some type...don't know, just what I heard.

[AlArchie]

Wayne, you can find one type of insert compass at Schlabaugh and Sons http://www.schsons.com/kits/walking_...ompass.htmland another two at

http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/cg...alking-compass

Or Tru-Nord www.tru-nord.com. Brainerd, MN

Dave, I don't think morning glory vines live long enough to grow with those sticks.....maybe down south they do, but here they only last the summer.

The shiny brass bezel one is from Schlabaugh, the brushed brass is from Woodturners Supply, or Tru-Nord, and the tiny plastic one is from Woodturners Supply

If you order either of the ones that are liquid filled, make sure you don't get one with a bubble in it. The first I got from Schlabaugh had a bubble, but the next two were ok, and the small one I just got today from Woodturners has a bubble and will have to go back. I forgot to tell them to check for the bubble when I ordered. The bubble screws up the floating compass disk and it is really hard to get a good bearing (sometimes impossible) especially with the smaller compass.

Just noticed that all three of these compasses are pointing in a different direction.......it's because each one's magnetic needle affects the other one's. If they are place far enough apart, they work just fine. A good reminder that two compasses are not always as good as one!

Al

[big_Wayne_P]

Thanks Al
I will check those sites out


I now live in Texas but lived in Georgia for 49 years
Honeysuckle will will wrap around a stick
and make a twistie out of it
so will cudsue (not sure of the spelling) do not recomend it though
once it starts to grow and spread cannot kill the stuff
just pronounce it like i spelled it and people in the south will know what you are referring to

[Mitchell]

Wayne, I spell it "Kudzu". I think it was a Japanese plant originally.

Mitch