very cool I`m very new to this I have a lot of black thorn shanks where is the best place to store un seasoned, inside or out? one of mine that is outside has split.

@@dfcvda I stored mine inside in my basement where I know it's a controlled environment. I season for about 12-18 months before making walking sticks. I also oiled any exposed wood monthly to prevent cracking. Petroleum jelly works for that.

@@jameswest5102 thank yes i have noticed the odd split on mine

Would like to see it!

thanks :-)

Shlami Mk4 I never drill knots out tbh, & it should be ok if you give it plenty of time to season Hope it turns out!

Sticks'n'stones Yay!

You guys do know that traditionally Irish shillelaghs were made from ash not blackthorn just thought ye should know

Halfcan Tan several hardwoods were used, holly & oak were pretty common (though I've never once found a suitable piece)

Most I've heard are that smoked are done after working, though there's many, many different methods

Make sure you're using a decent quality marine/spar varnish (Epifanes is good) & maybe try thinner, but more, coats

+Sticks'n'stones Cheers, I've never tried thinning the varnish. Does a 10 to 1 ratio with white spirit sound about right?

+Mark Smith I meant less on the brush to start with & build up, but you can go as high as 50:50 with thinner (for the first coat) Also, make sure there's no dust on whatever you're working

Thanks for the advice, I'll give it a try. Keep up the good work.

Lead shot (I now use cast lead), Rustins wood dye (dark oak, I think), Indian ink & outdoor varnish

I'm no good at creating user names yep, you can see me pouring lead shot in & plugging it afterwards

yeah i seen something but was a bit quick to make out what it was

JAKE IIRC this one was beech

Yes & yes

neil brown it's been a while since I filmed this, but judging by the patina it's either 16mm or 18mm

JAKE yes, I give them at least a year to season

I'm lead loading it (with lead shot & glue, which is not the way I do it now). Everything in this vid is when it's been seasoned

Whatever fits best! (I always make sure there's plenty of meat around it)

Epoxy & sawdust will work on the crack, & you can fill bug holes with twig "pegs" I've never used sunflower oil on wood, you'd have to watch out for it going rancid. As for antiquing, there's loads of how-to's out there, I've used the vinegar & steel wool method before

@@StonesSticksBones Does the rancidq oil do anything bad to the wood? I don't mind the smell at all. Also, about the bug holes: they're extremly small in diameter, i can't even stick a toothpick in them.

It would be very unpleasant.... you can pick up more suitable oils very cheap (baby oil, which is just mineral oil with a few additives, will do the job!)

@@StonesSticksBones Thanks!

@@StonesSticksBones Do you have an email? I'd like to show you a picture of this monster. It's a beast. A war shillelagh at best. It's also quite heavy, about 2 kgs.

Jim Henning woodstain, the fire dries it & makes it a little darker

understood, any specific brand or color you prefer, turned out great?

Jim Henning the stuff in the vid is Rustin's dark oak :-)

Thanks bud! Usually 100-120g (3.5-4oz)

Thanks. I make my own walking sticks and recently did my first loaded one out of a small maple sapling that had a wonderful little hollow in it. Held 3 oz. of #7 shot nicely. Looking forward to another video.

The lead or plug of wood?

Thanks. I read later on where you used lead. Mighty fine work sir. @@StonesSticksBones

neil brown it's small lead balls, you can get it from dive shops (gun shops might not sell it to you without a certificate), though I use cast lead to load sticks now

got some thanks again.

Ive been making these ever since watching your video's

Indoors definitely, preferably somewhere that doesn't have massive changes in temperature or one extreme or the other

I have indeed (I know a few South Africans), they're made differently to these though

dfcvda always stain first

and specifically which stain shall I buy?

dfcvda anything meant for exterior use

i ordered the Rustins Dark oak.

Karen Power how did I not treat the wood properly?

+Sticks'n'stones I meant the traditional way traditionally you are meant to use butter or lard and cure it in your chimney

Not many peat burning stoves to do that with today ;-) There's several methods, if you Google "Hugh Brontë Shillelagh" you'll find quite an interesting one

+Sticks'n'stones there are in Ireland but all you really need smoke heat

Karen, can we see one that you made? Btw, I don't make Shillelaghs but I do make canes/walking sticks. I use the wood that grows on my property... Dogwood, Black Locust, Maple, Tulip Poplar... whatever I have a mind to try that day. And although I've never used smoke to cure or treat them, they've all turned out just fine. Dogwood is a little weird though... No matter how long you let it dry before you work it, It'll go from being lathe-turned dead round to an oval cross section within a few months. It just doesn't want to hold it's shape.

This chap was beech

It isn't that hard. Get yourself some seasoned wood and a few tools. You could get going for twenty bucks.😉