yew staff

[mentalnurse]

i have a yew walking staff that has been finished off but has a kink in it, its been seasoned but dident know if there is a way to straighten it, i have read that the use of a hot airgun can heat the wood before straighting it (on greenwood) will it work when dry? i think the wood is 3years old.

 

[woodstock]

How did you finnish it off

 

[mentalnurse]

How did you finnish it off

it was hand rubbed down and finished with sand and seal

 

[rancid badger]

Not certain but I suspect the hot air gun method might blister your sealer. I'm wondering if lots of boiling water might do the job?
Don't set to, on my advice though! wait a bit and see if we have any stick masters on board
Really like the staff, by the way,any chance of a closer look at the top?
best wishes
R.B.

 

[bushman762]

Looks like a bend it would get from being stood up against a corner I found that out from experience

Now I hang my long bows up...

Cheers

 

[weaver]

You have sap wood on one side and heart wood on the other. Most woods around here dry and shrink more in the sap wood than the heart. Looks like yours did the opposite.

You can use a heat gun and watch it very carefully to keep from blistering the finish or checking the wood or a steam heat will be much safer. You can always refinish if you bung it up. It's fairly easy to make a steam box, ask if you need some direction.

Get it hot all through and bend it back straight or a little past straight. Keep it straight well past cooling and it should stay. Some people would go to the trouble to build a form to clamp the stick in place while it cools. I think for just one piece with no more bend than that you can work it out by hand. You can reheat it and bend more if it needs it.

 

[mentalnurse]

thanks, to one and all,i think a big pan of water and a few teatowels will be in use tomorrow. will let you know how i get on.

 

[mentalnurse]

well a stockpot full of boiling water a few teatowels around the staff and some tin foil to seal in the steam and i have a strightish staff. thanks for all the input.