|
DIY
shanks information and price list
ALL
PRICES ARE IN UK POUNDS
Page last
updated Sept 2023 - click on "Refresh" or "Reload"
to ensure you see the latest information each time
you visit.
|
|
|
|
SHANKS
CAN NOT BE SHIPPED OUTSIDE THE UK
|
|
SHANKS
Please
note - if you are ordering shanks and other
items that you wish to match (such as
ferrules, collars etc.) please tell us on your
order form (use the Technical instructions
information box) or email
us and we will do our best to send matching
sizes. If you order incompatible sizes we can
correct them and alter prices before payment is
taken on a card - but ONLY IF YOU TELL US YOU
WANT THINGS TO MATCH. It may seem obvious to
you that they are to match but often customers
buy items for existing projects and a shank or
two for later work. We can not read minds,
though sometimes it would be useful!
It
would also be advisable for you to tell us any
specific requirements regarding shank thickness,
colour etc. as we have quite a selection from
which to choose.
As
soon as you order anything your order form has a
box for "Technical instructions" where you can
leave specifications.
Many of the shanks we
sell are "Seasoned-only" and have been air dried
(typically for anything between 10 months and
two years) or occasionally kiln-dried. (See
lower down for Seasoned and straightened
shanks). Moisture content with air dried sticks
varies but will normally be between 15 and 20%
when measured with a digital moisture meter.
Some further drying is likely if you take the
sticks indoors, especially to very warm, dry
conditions.
These sticks are
graded by us and are not very bent or
crooked - but may still require straightening if
you like straight sticks (see the STICK PRESS
below). I won't send you anything that can't be
straightened if you use my methods - I keep the
really awkward ones to do mysel or sell
as "misshaped". Diameter at the top is typically
around 7/8" (22 mm) to 1 1/8" (28 mm). Most
shanks taper from top to bottom and some have
lots of knots - others very few or none at all.
All have the bark left on, unless stated. I cut
nearly all these sticks myself and in my mid 60s
now I can't cut over 1,000 a year like I used to
and there are times when I run out of some of
them or have to buy them from other
sources.
WE
DO NOT SELL SHANKS FOR FIGHTING OR MARTIAL ARTS
STICKS, SORRY!
|
|
SEASONED
ONLY HAZEL
The most
popular material for stick shanks in the UK and we
try to keep it in stock. Bark colour varies from
pale, silvery-grey to very dark brown, mottling and
striping often shown. Some hazel is very knotty,
some has hardly any knots at all. If you have very
specific requirements please contact us before
ordering.
These graded
sticks have been checked over and any with damaged
bark, dogleg kinks or other serious flaws have been
removed and are sold as "Budget" shanks, which you
will also find below for sale at a much reduced
price.
Most will still require some degree of
straightening and are not often suitable for the
fitting of screw joints in the middle - you need
straighter sticks for those.
35", 42", 48" or 54"
long - put the number of any you want in the Qty
(quantity) box then click on the "Add to cart"
button below the section.
|
|
|
REALLY SORRY
- SOLD OUT FOR NOW, MORE TO SELL WHEN THEY ARE
SEASONED AND SORTED IN A FEW WEEKS.
|
All
shanks are sent by Courier unless you choose to
collect them.
|
|
|
Hazel
shanks are cut and bundled in the woods before
being stored under cover for one to two years to
season.
Hazel Standard
Grade, 7/8th inch to 1 1/8th inch (22 mm to 28
mm) at thickest end.
Hazel Lightweight
Grade less than 7/8th inch (22 mm) at thickest
end.
Hazel Heavy Grade
approx 1 1/8th inch (28 mm) up to 11/4" 32mm at
thickest end.
Hazel Budget Grade
anything from 7/8 inch to 11/4"
(22-32mm).
|
|
|
Maximum
of 6 shanks per order, thank you.
|
|
Other
stick varieties - Seasoned only
|
Less common varieties,
standard grade. We do sometimes have them in
light/heavyweight
|
|
|
ASH Bark
normally grey, sometimes with a green tint which
slowly fades. Lightly sand or scrape the top layer
to reveal a lovely olive-brown
under-bark.
Often very knotty bark -
sand down or leave standing slightly proud. Ash
takes stain very well and can look quite striking
when stained dark brown, the really knobbly ones
looking like thorn wood. Wood under the bark is
almost white.
OUT OF STOCK
|
|
|
BLACKTHORN
Very hard wood with deep reddish brown, purple
or black bark - often very knotty. I only cut a few
of these each year so stock soon runs
out!
True Blackthorn,
Prunus spinosa.
Thickness varies from
around 22 to 30 mm thick at top. Heavyweight
shanks are over 30mm and can go over
40mm.
Many Blackthorn shanks
are oval or flattened in cross-section rather than
circular, making it more difficult to get a neat
joint with the handle or head unless a spacer or
collar of some sort is used. Please note we don't
have collars to fit heavyweight
shanks.
|
|
Maximum
of 6 shanks per order, thank you.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
STRAIGHTENED
STICKS
PLEASE
NOTE: WE CAN NOT SUPPLY STRAIGHTENED SHANKS
ONLINE ANYMORE. WE HAVE A SMALL NUMBER AVAILABLE
AT A TIME FOR CUSTOMERS VISITING THE SHOP IN
HELMSLEY, NORTH YORKSHIRE.
|
|
SHANKS
CAN NOT BE SHIPPED OUTSIDE THE UK
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stick
Press
|
|
|
Stick
Press with a stick in a vice - you need at least 3"
(80mm) between the jaw faces for the press and a
stick to fit.
Below: Very bent stick
before and after straightening with the press. It
took me less than 10 minutes to straighten this 54
inch blackthorn stick!
We don't normally cut sticks this bend but
blackthorn is worth having, no matter what it's
like!
You need some
form of heat to soften the sticks before
straightening.
See my video
on YouTube showing how to use it: https://youtu.be/zG8-0ildYmw
|
|
Epoxy
putty
|
|
Two-part epoxy - mix equal
amounts of adhesive and hardener together to start
the setting reaction. The mixture sets slowly,
starting off quite soft like Plasticine and slowly
getting harder. In effect you have an hour or so
before the mixture gets too stiff to work and it's
pretty hard after three hours and can be handled
after that. Black or white can be found on the
TOOLS
page.
|
|
|
Epoxy
liquid Adhesive
|
|
Similar to "Araldite Rapid"
but much cheaper! Five to ten minute working time,
full strength achieved in 60 minutes. Setting times
are slower in cool conditions.
Great for fixing heads and
handles to shanks and for fitting screw joints and
collars/spacers. Also good for filling hollows or
cracks in horn handles - or mixed with wood or horn
dust for filling larger spaces .
Perfect for fixing glass
eyes in heads and many other uses.
Price £2.40 per
pack
|
PLEASE NOTE: PACK TYPE AND BRAND MAY VARY AS
WE'RE STRUGGLING TO OBTAIN "NORMAL" SUPPLIES DUE TO
MANUFACTURER DIFFICULTIES AT THIS TIME.
|
|
Wrist
straps
|
|
Nylon with elastic loop,
fits most sticks. £4.20 each
Black or brown
available (Click on circle to change) if we are out
of stock of your chosen colour we will send the
other (unless you tell us not to).
|
|
|
Leather
Lace
One
metre length of brown leather lace
|
|
|
|
Read
about it
|
|
|
|
Wading staff conversion
kit. All the bits you need to convert your own
stick into a Wading Staff. Kit includes lead sheet,
shrink tube, nylon parachute cord, clips, pins,
brass screw and rubber ferrule (23 mm unless you
ask for different).
Instruction sheet for fitting the kit
included.
To see my wading sticks
click HERE
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shrink tube 38 mm (1
1/2") diameter, for wading staffs and many other
uses. Black, in cut lengths of 20 cm (8") or 1m
(39")
Amazing stuff! 38 mm diameter shrinks to 19 mm when
heat is applied (I use a paint-stripper gun) but
length stays the same. Just slide it onto the stick
and apply heat gently - increase the heat until
shrinkage begins.
Forms a tight plastic
cover. Can be used on metal, too. Stops soft wood
and cane from fraying. Makes metal "warmer" to the
touch.
|
|
|
|
|
|
For abrasives look on the
TOOLS
page
|
Special
offer prices only apply when ordering
ONLINE
|
|
Email
|
See
question and answer page about making your own
sticks
|
|
Index
page
DISCOUNT CODE
|
|
|
|
|