Any secrets to a good feather stick?

[peripatew]

I haven't spent a whole lot of time attempting to make feather sticks, but when I have I don't have much luck. Is there a trick? My fluff curls end up being thick slices. Any tips or howtos on making them? I've tried using a variety of knives, but seems I'm the problem! What wood? Fresh or dried? With or against grain? Anything else?

Thanks!

L

 

[mindwip]

Well if your not doing good with any knives i would take a look at how sharp your knives are. You need a sharp knife to do it. By sharp i mean close to razor sharpness, that will make all wood carving so much easer. You should be able to "slice" paper with little effort not tear it.

Green wood seems easer to cut for me but either way a sharp knife will help, as far as grain, go along with the fibers of the wood not across. Fibers run up and down a tree, so make your cuts up or down. Adjust your angel of your cuts to get thinner pieces

 

[k_estela]

To make them long and curly, start at the very end of your piece of wood. Carve off the edges that you create trying not to take off too much material with each pass. I tend to pull the wood towards the blade along with gently pushing the blade down the wood. This constant pressure keeps the blade from jerking and breaking the wood off half way down the curl. Don't attempt to create deep cuts and only use enough pressure for the blade to dig in and let the sharpness of the edge do the rest of the work. I've done fuzz sticks with both green and seasoned wood and both will curl as long as they are carved right.

Good luck!

 

[lotoblades]

Well first you do need a reasonably sharp edge, doesn't have to be hair popping but it doesn't hurt! If your curls end up thick, and your knife is sharp, it pretty much means you haven't found the right angle, put the edge to the stick just a few degrees steeper than the edge,experiment until you get the feel for it. Once you get the right angle to make thin slices, you can make different kind of curls, by simple slicing straight up the stick, which will make curls that loop inside there selves or or slicing with the tip of the knife angling back towards you, which will make curls that look like corksrews. And DRY WOOD! Green is easier to cut, but it dosent curl as well, and it doesent burn ad well if at all! Poplar is my favorite for making fuzz sticks.

I'm not sure that made anysense, if not I'll try to post some pics.

 

[KiljoyKutlery]

I recomend a RAZOR edge...I believe that a dull knife is useless..or handicapped to its original pupose. I sharp edge will do most of the work for you..after that, follow Kevins instructions. Gene

 

[pitdog]

Even an edge which will not shave hairs will make feather sticks, they may not look as good as some posted on this forum but they will work, in a survival scenario are we really bothered how they look ?
I also prefer to have a slightly thicker " working edge " on my knives as you will find it lasts longer and is less prone to chipping....JMO !!!

 

[bearthedog]

Even an edge which will not shave hairs will make feather sticks, they may not look as good as some posted on this forum but they will work, in a survival scenario are we really bothered how they look ?
I also prefer to have a slightly thicker " working edge " on my knives as you will find it lasts longer and is less prone to chipping....JMO !!!

I agree and will add try not to have your thimb on the spine. It seems natural to do so but keep a forward grip for better control.

 

[GEC]

I have used green and seasoned. I have a lot of success using a tight V grind or (even better) scandi grind. I haven't got the chance to use convexed yet, but that might change soon. I think the key factor in this is to practice when ever you get the chance. So now you can use this excuse to go camping more.

 

[Myal]

sharp cutting edge , and practice really help

I was messing around with a machete making fuzz sticks for the hell of it

its a LOT easier with a smaller blade tho ...

 

[k_estela]

Here is some fuzz stick porn

I made this one with this STOMPER knife on the MLK Winter trip this past January

And this one with my trusty BRKT WLC school knife

 

[CWL]

I would suggest using a thin knife as opposed to thicker blades, easier to maintain the right angle for shaving rather than cutting into the wood.

Try using a smaller knife for better control, Moras even a SAK or similiar folder will work great.

Rather than a round stick, go ahead and use a flat board for practice.

 

[Myal]

the secret is practice
and knife shape , style , grind , and sharpness , also blade material

for the hell of it , and cos I had time to kill I figured Id do some research

I had a piece of cruddy plantation pine roofing batten , full of knots , horrible grain , brittle nasty wood , nothing uniform about the timber at all .

I also have a steadily growing collection of under $20 knives that I pick up from all kindsa places , so I figured I would have a go at making feathery stuff on the stick and see what worked best

first up is an AU$10 Excalibur "Judge" it was actually a bra knife for my Mother but she used the knife that much the thing lost its clip and a screw or two ... now she carried a gerber in her bra ...enough about my mothers bra , this is the knife and the result :

it cut the wood OK , but the feathers didnt feather much , the knife is small and uncomfortable to hold in my kinda big hand it did OK but I probably need to practice more with it to do it any justice

Next up was my Okapi , AU$12 it did OK , the wood seemed more brittle than the rest where I tried it , but it took off curlies OK , a lot more dropped off than hung on but anyway , here is the result

my eating knife , another Okapi , a slip joint , about AU$15 worth , it did OK suprised me actually , I got more respect for it now .

My opinel volunteered next , its a little #10 , and cost me $5 IIRC a few years back now .

next up is a little thing I made myself , it wanted to have a go so I gave in and let it , it seemed to put in a good showing for itself

work in progress , limited by how many pics I can stick in one post ..to be continued

 

[Myal]

I have a marttiini that needed exersize , I want to mention that I have been hesitant to use it much because its a cheapo stainless job that cost $15 on ebay , it is however a good knife , as much as I am not a fan of stainless , I am impressed with this little knife .

still more to come but the pics are still uploading and I gotta go get the kids from school

 

[Evolute]

Boxcutters work well.

 

[Myal]

Ok the saga continues ... this is a damascus liner lock , camel bone handle , nice to use , seriously nice to use and a tad shy of $20 to buy IIRC.

it was actually easier to use than the Marttiini was .

Next was a damascus knife that I picked up cheap , actually got a bunch of them and gave them away , they cut seriously well , now Im regretting having give them away , shoulda sold them instead

I cut the slices , but they didnt curl out so I actually went back and shaved them into smaller slices , I dont know if I could have done that with any of the other knives I tried out ...

Someone mentioned that a thin blade helps , I figured I dont have a much thinner blade than my okapi GP .. so I gave it a go it did OK

finaly the one that was easiest to use , cut the best , and was all round winner I guess ... its an old thing that looks like a marbles job that I got off ebay for a bit under $20

well , thats my contribution anyway ...
maybe itll help someone ...

 

[MRpink]

Here is some fuzz stick porn

I made this one with this STOMPER knife on the MLK Winter trip this past January

And this one with my trusty BRKT WLC school knife

Good knives, but even better handler! I couldn't do that with a great knife.

 

[Guyon]

 

[nephildevil]

a ...bra knife?

lol

first time i hear about that

and a lil earlier i read something about pushup/water bra's i never heard opff before

what is this ...bra day!? prob just me having spring isssues

And who the hell gives away damascus knives for free
here is a fuzz pic of my little and only damascus

with mammoth bark scales

 

[Myal]

I give them away , Im busily converting my family and friends from being kinda anti knife folk to being knife knuts

there is something about a persons eyes when you give them a knife , like a seriously nice one , the look on their face goes from being suprised you gave them a knife , to suprised at the caliber of knife , to kinda personal deeply touched that you trust them and think enough of them to give them such a knife ... takes about 3 seconds and an eternity at once

makes it kinda worth doing over again , got the bonus of having the recipient going from disapproving of knives in general to being happy to show off their own now .

and yeah , never assume the sweet old lady who looks so harmless is not armed .. that gasp and hand to breast gesture can be something more than a helpless gesture ....

 

[Myal]

here is a fuzz pic of my little and only damascus

with mammoth bark scales

Nice knife tho , seriously nice knife