Carve a Twisted Hazel Thumb Stick. Woodland Whittling. 

Maggie makes every video better.

Thanks for sharing your great craft, after a hard walk l need a walking stick just like that one😊

Nice work ! Beautiful dog !

Something about this guy. Simply a great chap. I’d love to spend some time outdoors with him.

I’m a subscriber, but hadn’t seen this video before. So nice to see Maggie in her younger days out rambling with you. Happy memories!

Enjoyed that very much as i need a walking stick. Good to see Maggie again too. You must miss her.

My cousin made me a blackthorn stick and slipped a section of metal pipe on the end.Nice vid.

Incredibly strong, hazel. I made a handle for my pickaxe from it 31 years ago and it's still whole despite all I've subjected it to since.

I love you and your videos keep up the good work

What Maggie!, Simon Cut his thumb in the woods carving! For some reason that remind me of a lassie Tv show when I was a kid. 😁 looked like a fun little project , I got some hazel here at home I planted around 20 years ago, going to have to make one or two . Nice to see you again Simon , sure looked nice were you was at , starting to warm up here . Come on summer! Have a good day mate . A.T.B. Thanks ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I always smile when I see Maggie. Hey, I don't think blood makes the best wood stain. lol.

Can’t beat hazel thanks for sharing

Very cool looking Newfie pup! Makes me sad for my old boy "Bruin" ('97-'05). They are one of the best breeds you could ever hope to have as a friend or family member.

Nice touch mentioning you first did that at the age of 5. When I offered my 6 and 9 year olds a chance to try a single spiral, they *flew* to get headlamps and search the yard for potential sticks. All three of us will be making thumb sticks for the first time this Spring. Really nice musical intro.

Just a little tip to save the blade of your knife. Use the 90 degree spine to remove the bark - it works just as well and you won't dull your blade. Great video all the same. First one of your i've seen, and I have subbed :)

Nice stick, congrats and thanks!

Very nice Thumbstick Simon, excellent work :) ATB.

I have to say I really enjoy your video's. Combing hiking with crafts etc really keeps me wanting more. Please keep it up!! Best regards from Canada.

Like your style, your message, the music, the videos. Really enjoy the shows. Relaxing.

Terrific Video. Thank you for sharing !

Nice one Simon, looking forward to seeing it oiled.

Ouch, careful there mate. We don't want to see "Simon, a bloke in the hospital!" (loved the link to band aid btw) I have used Hazel to build bender shelters in the past, as you say it's incredibly versatile wood. ATB Criss

Perfect viewing with a cup of tea. Thanks for taking us along. Maggie really a darling!

Love your Newfoundland Maggie too

Love your newfie❤ The walking stick is very classy!

Great how dogs can relax whilst overlooking us working. Actually I had both our dog and our cat doing that this afternoon whilst forking over the vegetable garden...

Always a pleasure watching your videos. Thanks, Simon. 🌄

Nice one Simon...like the logo too 👍

they say "you are not an artist unless you bleed for your art" :)

I like that you didn’t edit your accident. And you admitted to forgetting your first aid kit. Very genuine & sincere video. Do you still have this “Thumb Stick”. Safe travels & God bless. ⛺️👍🏼😎

Great vid bud, Ur a talented fella I'm gonna get my kids to watch this one and let them make it, I'm sure they will love creating one, And yes, first aid will be at hand 👍

Shows how useful a few plasters are! Easily forgotten first aid kit. Nice video simple starter carving/whittling project. Thankyou for sharing the idea and the gear!

Simon it’s a thumb crutch! For use with an injured thumb! 🤣

Simon wrote: "We find a lovely sunny spot amongst the stands of hazel and settle down for a couple of hours of pure peaceful bliss! " So you are doing "moving meditation!" And you reminded me of why I used to love walking in the woods... I explored all day long when I was a child, sunrise to just before sunset. Had to be home by sundown! Love the music, the background sounds, sound of your voice, love the habitat and your big black dog... and love watching you do your beautiful work. Reminds me of the fields in North Carolina, and wish you were a neighbor of mine! This video will have to be *second* best! Gracias, amigo!

yep simon gonna have a go at this from a drift wood stick we find here in orkney...all the best..mick.

Don't you just hate when you bleed all over your work? Nice lil vid Simon! nice to see the weather warming up in your neck of the woods as well. Thanks for keeping us entertained, look forward to the next one. Oh yea, my new Openel #8 gave me a small cut today as i was sharpening it! It was really sharp out of the box, but had a bur on one side, so as i was honing it, i just touched the blade, and bingo! Blood on the knife, and sharpening stone!

Uncle Simon, I must share with you the best damper recipe ever.

Very nice. You sir are a jack of all trades! I’m impressed.

Over 60 likes in less then 30min. Excellent work Simon. It's always awesome to watch your vids. It's 7am here in Australia and I have been up all night after watching your vid (5 months ago) "Make it" ultra light wood stove. I even went to Aldi to use the same components. I thoroughly enjoy your vids and already look forward to the next.

Thank you.

Nice relaxing video Si 👍

Quality craftmanship 👍🔥

You Rock Simon!!! I always learn something from your videos!!! ;P

what a nice way to spend an afternoon. nice job on the thumb stick...

Nice I don’t even think of things like that to do thanks

Good tip rounding off the edges, I learned this after my first little cane I made for my step son.

Excellent video, Maggie is such a peaceful soul

Looks great.

It's beautiful

I said to myself, "thumbstick? thumbstick? what is a thumbstick?" well now I know! thanks again, Simon. I am fast catching up and enjoying every minute of it!

Beautifull...well done...A+++

Another great project. Nice work. Give Maggie a god Pet, she is so beatiful and at peace in the woods. Best regards from South Sweden

For cutting spirals in wood I prefer to use my Sears Craftsman pocket knife. For the spiral I use the straight blade with a bevel on one side only. I usually don't premark but judge by eye. Using a sliding action to initially incise each side of the groove I then angle the blade diagonally across the incised boundaries. Again, a sliding or slicing movement coupled with turning the stick as I go results in a continuous cut rather than in a series of connected cuts. The spiral that results has a half round groove rather than a vee groove. Next I take a dowel or a kebab skewer, whatever has a diameter close to the groove diameter, wrap in sand paper and angling this a cross the groove and turning the stick I create a half round top to the ridges between equally spaced grooves . These then create a smooth tactile surface. In larger diameter sticks it is satisfying to hold the stick vertical and with a light with thumb and a couple of fingers locating in the groove, at the bottom, allow the stick to descend under gravity twisting as it goes. I don't have hazel where I am but remember when I did have hazel, how easy it is to cut when green but how strong and hard as it dries. The alternatives I have are similar. Carving in hard dry woods is more challenging. I may carve the grooves green and let it dry a while before sanding the finish.

I love the patience of dogs. great companions

Loving the video Simon.. something a little bit different...I don't have any carving knives but will improvise with a Stanley knife and make me one of them there sticks...😀😀👍

another good video

Awesome video and a stunning thumb stick, a great project for working on out in the woods. Take care...(With thumbs and fingers in mind ;))

Great little project to teach youngsters carving and knife safety 😝! I have a young protege I’m going to use this with as a beginning project. Thanks!

Nice video and good job on that Thumb Stick. Greetings,, Kitty

I just watched the hazel thumbstick walking stick video and I was wondering if you would ever consider carving a spoon or kuksa (cup) and showing how to do it? Love all your camping videos and have enjoyed your walks and explaining the history of the areas you are walking. I'm from Kansas so no hazel here.

Made quite a few of these and other small whittling projects back when boys carried pocket knives and internet wasn't a thing 🙂 It's a great thing to do with the kids! They have their own knife. A Hultafors (with no pointy tip for the youngest). Doing that spiral pattern on a magic wand or something is always a popular challenge.

Great video as always. I would love to see it in another video as a finished product! I may try this, it would make a great companion for my daughter. Thanks Simon!

Always a pleasure watching your videos.

This should be on prescription as a sure method to induce childhood nostalgia in some people.:) My first "just-use-the-bush" craft was a fishing rod rest - essentially the Thumb Stick with a sharpened end and a few sizes smaller. And, of course, the explanation why the "fingers" of the "V" have to be just right - not to wide and not to narrow.:) A 4 or 5 y.o. me was fascinated! It felt as if I was being entrusted with something very important, some delicate secret and a huge discovery: I can make things from something that is simply there, and I am free to do so as long as I do not take more then I need. So many important things can be taught in such a simple way, taught to last. No early educational system, elaborate software or specialised program can beet the kind of marvel and bonding that can be achieved with a couple of hours of a genuinely rich interaction. Great video Simon! In honour of all the bleeding thumbs (up)!

I've never heard of a thumb stick but it's the perfect name for it. Really nice spiral too - thank you. Hope your thumb heals without issue.

Will have to give that a whirl, very nice stick. I have no hazel in my neck of the woods but maybe maple might do the trick. Thanks for sharing your carving project!

Nice chilled vid bud 👍🐺 BR Darryl

Hi Simon, I enjoyed watching that, it was rather relaxing actually. 😊

Simon again lovely video, nice little change from the hiking and camping. Look forward to the next one.

Excellent video my friend you look very happy doing this 😄😄😄😄

If you take the stick home an want to keep it. I suggest you put a nail or a screw with a big head into the bottom part. But be sure to pre-drill otherwise you might split the shaft. Of cause you can buy a specific end-cap, but a screw got me everywhere I wanted to go and still goes strong :D Greetings from Austria.

Good stuff Simon

Lovely. If the fork at the top of your chosen stick is strong enough, you can often improve comfort for your thumb by slightly hollowing the inner surface of each side of the fork. It stops bruising and blisters if you use it for a long walk. BTW....my personal rule from tedious past experience: "If you pack a blade, always pack first aid". A little saying I came up with having found myself in similar situations. Now I never go anywhere when carrying a bladed tool without the minimum of a basic first aid kit. The bigger the tools, the more comprehensive the human repair kit....up to a point of course! Thanks for another nice film Simon.

nice video Simon, its good to see different ways of cutting and carving. ATB mate.

if you carve the stick with the "Y" the other way up you can make a shepherd's crook, I have one my dad made me. Cut a thicker piece of hazel, cut the thickest end off which would be the upright of the Y in the thumb stick and keep the thickest branch of the Y as your stick, cutting the other branch as the hook

A lovely video, good information, well edited. Relaxing to watch, and I learned something. Thank you.

My grandpa used to carve peach pits in to small baskets 🧺. I from Massachusetts I. My grandma made baskets out of honey suckle vines ! That’s a good craft to know carveing. Love your videos ! You must know a lot ! Bye

Very nice!

Nice stick!

Thanks for being real. It makes me feel better when I do dumb things like cut my finger tip or whatever

what a bloody nice stick.good job.

Just discovered your channel. Absolutely love the content. All delivered with good humour and zero ego. A rarity. Keep it up.

Nice one Simon

This fantastic educational phenomenal bushcarft channel and the video he’s makes are great phenomenal amazing way to help people learn their bushcraft skills and learning activities and I am glad to supporting this phenomenal man and his experience exciting bushcraft channel and Simon is funniest man on planet right now 🤴🤴🤴🤴🤴🤴🤴🤴🤴🤴🤴🤴🤴🤴🤴🤴🤴🤴🤴🤴🤴🤴🤴🤴⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

a lovely bloody thumb stick! lovely looking carving knife you have there.. did you see Doug Linker's video on his carving tools.. he whittled (ouch!) down his generous collection to just 3 for necessity, though he does admit it only reflects his style of carving.. worth a watch (i think it was about a month ago). anyway a fine job there and i bet it looks amazing once it's oiled.. ATB Riggers.

Great video Simon! I really enjoyed Maggie too. She looks like a great companion for you. Cheers from Denver Colorado. Thanks

This video definitely is one on the most relaxing, good job Simon!

hello great vid i like playing with knives i found a pine closet pole to day and i wanted to try to carve a spiral im gonna try with my buck 110 so thangs for showing how

thank you this is a good project for me and my Grandson!

Might have to give that a go. Great idea. Look forward to seeing it when its dried and coated .

I made one of those with my dad when I was a kid :) great fun.

Excellent again. Until I started using sticks and walking poles I really did not believe how they can take pressure off your knees, plus of course, if there are two of you, your thumb sticks can provide support for your tarp.

Good one Simon

Good Man, when you make a boo boo ( cutting your thumb ) you admit it. Thanks for another great video.

Watching it now👍👍👍

Yesssssss, Beer Time, Sorry Mrs T I'm out of order for next 30 mins !!!

Great vid and fantastic carving, i cheated a bit on mine used a round rasp for the twists and a bit of antler for the fork. there a great stick for air rifle shooting if yer getting tired

Cool. Fancy some carving and that looks a good place to start.

Lovely piece of work on a cracking spring day. Hope the nick is ok. A relaxing watch 👍👍Cheers Sel

That's lovely Simon, well done, nice to see Maggie with you too , hazel is a lovely wood :)