[Jim-Iowa]

Time to finally get around to trimming some brush along the back alley.
Did not get it done last summer due to a heart episode and got down to 125lbs.
But now the Doc says I need more exercize, he does not want me gaining any more weight. Who'da thunk @5'8" and 169 lbs the Doc would tell me I'm getting fat?

Got Mulberry, Maple and Lilac to trim back and am going to save the promising sticks.
The Lilac is pretty heavy, may have to cut them up and use them for toppers?

I know that this is the wrong time of year to be cutting sticks.
"But you gotta make hay when the sunshines".

[Iowa Carver]

Take care of yourself Jim, don't over do it. I wish the doc would tell me I am over weight at 166 lbs! Have fun but don't over do! Looking forward to seeing those carved sticks.

Corey

[tnartist05]

Just leave the bark on your sticks,they will be ok till you get the chance to carve them. Take care of yourself,thats the main thing!! Tn~

[sludgeguy]

Hello Jim,

I've carved some lilac. If you carve it green it splits to kingdom come if you dry it granite is softer. You'll want to power carve that one. It does have some really neat coloration in it and holds detail extremely well.
I made some leaves and feathers from it for sticks as well as a couple small bases fo other carvings.

Now take care of yourself and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Doug

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

seal the ends with either "anchorseal" or parafin wax...and cut them a bit longer so you can cut off any small cracks that appear. imho

[Jim-Iowa]

Originally Posted by sludgeguy

Hello Jim,

I've carved some lilac. If you carve it green it splits to kingdom come if you dry it granite is softer. You'll want to power carve that one. It does have some really neat coloration in it and holds detail extremely well.
I made some leaves and feathers from it for sticks as well as a couple small bases fo other carvings.

Now take care of yourself and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Doug

Doug I have never carved Lilac. But was at a Craft Show several years ago and a guy had a bunch of pins he had made in lilac and Sumac.
I am thinking really seriosly about updating my power carving arsenal(have two dremels) and am trying to decide between a professional shaft drive or Micromotor.
The Sumac was extremely interesting in that when he held it under an ultraviolet light it had almost a gem like glow to it. As soon as the flood waters receed,so I'm not waist deep in mud I will waunder around a bit and see if I can find some Sumac and Elder to cut this fall. Diamond Willow is very rare this far south but there's lots of Black Willow and Iowa consideres it a Noxious Weed and it is legal to cut it anytime anywhere on public ground.

I also saw some sticks made in UK with Lilac toppers and handles that were quite cool! "Bob's Stick making pages" Bob's Stickmaking Pages

Will see what happens? I think I should probably put these sticks in the Attic of my garage for about a year before I start carving them?

I do have a Russian Olive stick I'm working on right now(That's some twisted stuff that;s going to make one odd looking stick).

[Thomp]

jim, you might want to try hanging some weight on limbs experimentally,to straighten them limbs, i hung a single brick on several limbs getting of size to slowly bend through spring, i have since then added more bricks to each to strain the bending and am now hoping fall gets here before a hurricane that will fling the bricks around the neighborhood,,,

[Jim-Iowa]

Thomp I'll start a new thread in response to your comments.

[Marvin Little]

Thomp, it sounds like your bricks would work fine but I do mine another way. I air dry them for a couple of weeks, if cut green, and then I bundle them, 5-8 in a bundle depending on size and twists, and stand them in my storage buildinmg for about a year. I tie them at top, middle, and bottom and this helps to dry them straighter. I leave the bark on them and on most of my finished sticks.

Marvin Little
Pell City, Alabama