Mike'S Stick - And Pallet - Shack

Hand-crafted walking and hiking sticks by Mike. Commissions accepted. UPDATE JAN 2015 - Now also playing with upcycled pallet projects!

A hobby that's got a bit out of hand! I harvest sticks (shanks) from local woods every winter, mostly hazel, some ash, rose, beech and oak, season (dry) them for at least 12 months in a drafty, covered place outside. They are then straightened by heating in steam (great Heath Robinson contraption made from a length of plastic pipe and a wallpaper stripper steam generator! I also harvest and season thicker sections of local wind blown hardwoods to make handles, although I also buy in quite a lot of more exotic and patterned hardwoods from a supplier in North Yorkshire. The handles and shanks are joined by using a traditional peg (mortise and tenon) method, rather than the nasty threaded rod method used by some stick makers.

I make shorter, walking (street) sticks and longer hiking staffs. Various handle types for both sorts, including knob sticks, Cardigan handles and one piece affairs.

Sticks take between 5 and 10 hours to complete and I charge between £40 and £60 depending upon complexity and materials.

Let me know if you have any questions or wish to order a stick for yourself or as a present. Unless it's already made and in stock, I can't really do 'rush' orders as most of my work is done at weekends in daylight hours only.