Stickmaking : A Complete Course

The foremost book on the craft, now revised. Stickmaking: A Complete Course has long held an excellent reputation among stickmakers and stick enthusiasts as a leading book in the field. Now in this new, revised edition, the authors have updated the original with expanded sections on how to make and source tools and formers, and where to find materials. The revision brings Stickmaking: A Complete Course one step closer to becoming the stickmaker's bible, with a more comprehensive coverage of the history and tradition of the craft.

Remarkable examples of the traditional walking stick. The exceptional handcrafted sticks showcased in this book will open you up to whole new ideas about these elegant and useful pieces. You’ll learn how to select suitable wood for your project, from specific timber to alternative materials, such as antlers. You’ll learn how to season, shape, and carve wood, plus discover a range of coloring and finishing methods.

Essential projects, now updated. The twenty-two projects featured here offer choices for every type of stick and have been updated and expanded to include more detailed coverage of tools, moulds, formers, jigs, and materials.

Why make sticks? What makes a good stick? Perhaps you hadn’t thought about making sticks before but this book – filled with projects as well as the history and philosophy of the craft – will open your eyes to the beauty and practicality of stickmaking for beginners and enthusiasts alike.

Andrew Jones has spent his life as a farmer in West Wales. An uncle cultivated his interest in making sticks and encouraged him to enter his work in local craft shows. Andrew specializes in making horn crooks and Cardigan walking sticks.

Clive George has had a life-long interest in stickmaking and a move to a small holding in Wales led to a fortuitous meeting and eventual collaboration in this book.