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Antler tipped Ishi stick
Otoe Bow:
I watched a gentleman at OJAM do Abbo knapping and he had an antler tipped Ishi stick. I should have payed closer attention as to how it was made, but I didn't. Last night I started making my own but I need some suggestions. Here's what I've done so far.
First I cut a 21" Hickory handle off a cheap-o garden hoe, (got it on sale for $4 plus a shorter handle works better for mixing concrete in a wheel bar for fence posts anyway ::) )
Then I cut a tine off a deer antler shed about 7" long. I figured the extra length would give me some longevity for filing the end down with use. The base of the tine at the cut was about 1/2" so I drilled a 7/16" hole in the end of the handle a little over an inch deep. I used my farrier's rasp to reduce the diameter of the tine so it will fit in the hole snug. I'm then going to set the tine in the hole with glue (recommendations?) and then wrap the end with rawhide (again recommendations please) so that the wood will not split. If you have pictures or discriptions of your Ishi's that would also be great too.
I hope to have it done to bring with me to the Classic next week to help reduce his rock pile. 8) Your suggestions and expertise is appreciated. ;D
Mike
Hillbilly:
Mike, I've seen a couple made by splitting a piece off the end of the handle, hollowing it out a bit and putting a reduced piece of antler in. You tie it back together with buckskin, rawhide, or something. I've been meaning to make myself one if I can think of it one day when I'm not lazy. :)
Otoe Bow:
Thanks Steve. I may not glue it in so I can replace the tine simply by removing the rawhide.
I did what little work I've done on it last night when I slipped out to the "Man Cave" to get something I'd left out there, (That's also where we keep the dog food ;D ). Sometimes working on my stuff is like digging a tunnel out of a POW camp. You have to do it a little at a time so the "mein Herr Commandant" doesn't notice you're gone. >:D
I'll try and post some pic's this weekend if I get it done. I don't have any rawhide lace handy so I'm going to have to pick up some at the Tandy Store.
Mike
carpenter374:
i dunno about the flaker, the best one ive made so far is copper wire. but if youre buildin fence try fillin the posthole with dry concrete mix. tamp it good and you can put panels or wire on it that day. the ground moisture even in the desert will set up the concrete in a day or two.
Otoe Bow:
You know, I've never heard that on the concrete. I've been setting them, letting them cure, then welding on the braces and then stretching the wire. Some are as deep as three feet with three bags of Quickrete per hole. I'm kind of like my Granddad who use to make his living as a carpenter. He used to be accused of nearly cutting his boards in two by using so many nails. I tend to over engineer every thing I do too. :P
Same deal on the pressure flaker. There is probably easier (and better) ways of doing it, but "hell for stout" is the way I build just about every thing. I guess that's why I don't do flower arrangements. ;D
Mike
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