How To? Make Feathersticks....

Marion David Poff

Marion David Poff

Joined
Oct 8, 1998
Messages
5,403
Hey gang,

I have never made a feather stick, to the best of my knowledge...

So, what are your best practices?

How do you do it?

Marion
 
You may find it easier to flatten out a side of the stick first before you begin. I start with a thicker cut to give it a solid base so that it's harder to shave off the curls. I find it best to brace my knife hand against my thigh and move the stick up and down the blade. Adjust the angle of the blade to make the curls thinner or thicker until you find the sweet spot. I also tend to turn the stick slightly after each pull so that it's cutting into the newly cut corner and this gives me finer curls. I don't always do this, but often. I'm not great at it, but it works for me.

I find that scandi grind works best for me, also if you could find a softer wood like basswood, then it's easier to do and helps you to feel better about yourself...at least it does me.
 
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What KuRupTD said! That's much better than my lame and confusing explanation, and I'm a visual learner so that's more helpful.
 
Marion David Poff said:
Hey gang,

I have never made a feather stick, to the best of my knowledge...

So, what are your best practices?

How do you do it?

Marion
Click to expand...

Hey Marion

The others have given you great advice! WHat some youtube vids on how to make feathersticks! But what helped me the most was repetition..Practice, practice, practice! If you have time, get some sticks about 1-2" thick, and giv'er. You'll get the hang of it in no time.
 
Gaurdian_A1 said:
Hey Marion

Practice, practice, practice!
Click to expand...

+1 on the practice. I've been doing it all winter. Won't light the woodstove with anything but birch bark, fatwood curls, jute, and feathersticks. I've tried different techniques but I like to have the wood stationary and move my knife. I'm still learning. :thumbup:
 
That's a good video, but I'd warn against many of the other youtube featherstick videos. More than one shows feathers with no curl to them at all!

1.)Kneel on the ground
2.) If you've batoned wood in half to get to the dry stuff, you'll already have a flat surface with a 45 degree bevel. If not, carve the wood until you have this surface to work on.
3.) Hold the top of the stick in your non dominant hand, with the other end of the stick on the ground.
4.)Hold your knife in a "hammer" grip. As you start to carve the feathers, there should be more pressure applied keeping the blade close to the stick than pressure pushing the knife down, if that makes sense.
5.)Try and maintain the same angle all the way down, so the blade doesn't bite too deep. This will allow you to create long curly feathers.
6.) Tilting the tip of the blade up or down with each feather will allow you to use a slight slicing motion with each cut, this also creates numerous curls that spiral off to one side.
7.) I keep my arm staight when feathering, pushing down with the shoulder and upper body. I feel this gives the best control.
8.) Once you have completed a feather, twist the knife blade so that the feather is pushed up almost 90 degrees to the stick, this means you'll be less inclined to cut off your other feathers each time you carve a new one!
9.) I use the tip of my blade to carve tiny feathers which will light from a firesteel, igniting the larger feathers. Aim for 3 to 4 curls per feather.

Hope this is clear and helps!
 
beef said:
That's a good video, but I'd warn against many of the other youtube featherstick videos. More than one shows feathers with no curl to them at all!

1.)Kneel on the ground
2.) If you've batoned wood in half to get to the dry stuff, you'll already have a flat surface with a 45 degree bevel. If not, carve the wood until you have this surface to work on.
3.) Hold the top of the stick in your non dominant hand, with the other end of the stick on the ground.
4.)Hold your knife in a "hammer" grip. As you start to carve the feathers, there should be more pressure applied keeping the blade close to the stick than pressure pushing the knife down, if that makes sense.
5.)Try and maintain the same angle all the way down, so the blade doesn't bite too deep. This will allow you to create long curly feathers.
6.) Tilting the tip of the blade up or down with each feather will allow you to use a slight slicing motion with each cut, this also creates numerous curls that spiral off to one side.
7.) I keep my arm straight when feathering, pushing down with the shoulder and upper body. I feel this gives the best control.
8.) Once you have completed a feather, twist the knife blade so that the feather is pushed up almost 90 degrees to the stick, this means you'll be less inclined to cut off your other feathers each time you carve a new one!
9.) I use the tip of my blade to carve tiny feathers which will light from a firesteel, igniting the larger feathers. Aim for 3 to 4 curls per feather.

Hope this is clear and helps!
Click to expand...
:thumbup: This is exactly the method I settled on. Works well for me.
 
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