DIY Shanks, Ferrules and Accessories accessories (2024)

Tools and accessories for making sticks

Page last updated OCT 2024 - click on "Refresh" or "Reload" to ensure you see the latest information each time you visit.

IT IS ILLEGAL TO SELL KNIVES TO ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN OR TO SELL THEM BY POST AND WE'VE DECIDED TO STOP SELLING THEM.

Best selling safety glove offering outstanding mechanical performance and a high Cut Level 5 protection at an exceptional price!

REDUCED PRICE!

REDUCED PRICE!

REDUCED PRICE!

8 mm Drill Bit

Hardened steel twist-drill bit for use with 8 mm studding.

Forstner Drill Bits

14 mm drill bit for drilling out 'socket' in handles and heads for peg joint and 13mm dowel.

16 mm (5/8") drill bit for drilling out 'socket' in handles and heads for peg joint and 16 mm dowel.

Epoxy putty

Two-part epoxy - mix equal amounts of adhesive and hardener together to start the setting reaction. The mixture sets slowly, starting off quite soft like Plasticine and slowly getting harder. In effect you have an hour or so before the mixture gets too stiff to work and it's pretty hard after three hours and can be handled after that.

Colour when set is pale grey.

Black Epoxy putty

As above but black. Useful for setting objects in plastic where you want a black background or for reparing buffalo horn. Can even be used to make spacers and caps for handles!

White Epoxy putty

Superfine consistency for extra detail. Useful for setting objects in plastic where you want a white background or for reparing antler. Can also be used to make spacers and caps for handles!

PACK TYPE AND BRAND MAY VARY FROM PICTURE SHOWN.

Epoxy liquid Adhesive

Twin SYRINGE type.

Faster setting times of 5-30 minutes, full strength achieved in 16 hours. Setting times are slower in cool conditions. You should be able to glue up at least six to ten handle/shank joints with each pack.

I use this for fixing heads and handles to shanks. Also good for filling hollows or cracks in horn handles or mixed with wood or horn dust and used to fill larger gaps.

Perfect for fixing glass eyes in heads and many other uses.

Price £2.40 per pack

PACK TYPE AND BRAND MAY VARY FROM PICTURE SHOWN.

Epoxy liquid Adhesive

Twin TUBE type.

Slower setting time of 30 to 60 minutes, full strength achieved in 24 hours. Setting times are slower in cool conditions. You should be able to glue up at least six to ten handle/shank joints with each pack.

I use this for fixing heads and handles to shanks. Also good for filling hollows or cracks in horn handles or mixed with wood or horn dust and used to fill larger gaps.

Perfect for fixing glass eyes in heads and many other uses.

Price £2.40 per pack

Below: Weak solution used to darken pale bark on hazel.

Below: Strong solution used to "ebonise" turned ash.

Van Dyke Crystals 50 gm packet
enough to stain dozens of sticks!

Used to make wood stain, add crystals to water to make stain from pale brown to almost black - the more crystals you add, the darker is the stain! Brilliant for darkening pale bark or for bringing out grain in peeled or turned shanks or for darkening pale carvings. A really strong solution will "ebonise" wood to make it look black.

Natural plant extract - made from walnut shells! Fast drying and no chemical odour, clean brushes (and spills) with water. For more instructions on use see these notes

Abrasive tape. Much longer lasting than sandpaper, used for smoothing shanks, handles, horns and carvings. Sold by the metre

COARSE tape sold per metre.

MEDIUM tape sold per metre

FINE tape sold per metre

ABRANET Abrasive Mesh

This was introduced to us by one of our customers and we were so impressed we immediately started stocking it! The Aluminium Oxide abrasive is presented on a fine mesh which allows the particles of wood or horn to drop through (use dust mask or dust-extraction unit where possible) so making the material clog less often.
We sell it in packs of FOUR pieces of a single grit size. Each piece is 70 mm x 125 mm (approx. 3 x 5 ") and can be folded or torn into thinner strips. It works well on horn as well as wood and antler and has quickly become our favourite abrasive!

We stock the four sizes we find most useful - 80 (VERY COARSE) and 120 (COARSE) grit are most useful for starting off and the 400 (FINE) and 600 grit (VERY FINE) are great for finishing, particularly on horn and antler, where it can be difficult to remove those last scratches before polishing. If you still need a finer finish we would recommend the POLISHING KIT below.

Horn Polishing kit made in the UK

Complete kit which will fit in a standard electric drill. Comprises two buffing wheels, a coarse and a fine grade compound and a spindle that fits any standard drill.

Replacement Block of brown Coarse Polishing Compound to go with our wheels
Only £3.60

Replacement Block of cream Fine Polishing Compound to go with our wheels
Only £3.60

NEW Additional Block of pink (sometimes Yellow) Super Fine Polishing Compound to go with your wheels for that extra glossy shine!
You need to have a good finish before using this or you'll be wasting your time!
Only £3.60

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