Thank you so much! It's nice that you don't have so much an ego to not show us novice cutters who are new to the game to give us a bit of inspiration to Make what we want! Bless you my friend! Thanks to teach a man to fish to eat for a lifetime!
im going to continue watching your videos thank you Francis McCaffrey for sharing your knowledge an skill to teach a beginner like me how to craft quality shillelaghs
I wish to Lord we had real hardwood here in the land God gave Cain. Your an amazing craftsman brother and I pray for nothing but peace and prosperity for you and yours. Keep preserving the culture, the young ones comin after need it.
So there's really no Canon for each single piece, leaving time for the Artisans' mulling over the grain and heart wood patterns to get the best effect. Glad to see folks still using hand tools, and not relying so fully on power tools as many do. That saw I'm sure could spin some tales and make bandsaw blanch all rosie from its yarns. Great content. Your secrets are safe with me, just like the Leprechauns' precious horde. Fare thee well my friend.
Hey Keith, I’m also on the Northwest coast (Washington) and figured no blackthorn grew here. I’m wondering if you know the name of the bush you found here that might be similar to blackthorn? I’ve seen lots of knobby bushes and scrub trees that would suffice for a shillelagh but haven’t worked with any of them yet. Any suggestions would be much appreciated since I’m new to the Pacific Northwest. Aloha from Washington. 🤙🏼
@@Woodstock271 hawthorn grows in some areas not in my area but down by Oregon coast I am told. I have found some wood unknown that has been fun to work with
@@keithpegg7825, Thanks for the info. I doubt I’ll be searching the Oregon coast for hawthorn but that sounds like the same family of hardwood. I’ve noticed along most windward coasts along the ocean that many of the trees are stunted and gnarled by the wind and salt air. I’ve worked with a lot of manzanita but it’s almost impossible to find a straight enough piece for a shillelagh. I’ve made elaborate walking sticks from apple, cherry, and when I lived in Hawaii, out of Koa and Kiawe (mesquite) wood but the shillelagh is very simple and keeps its bark. I’m basically trying to copy an old shillelagh from Ireland that we had in the family for over a century. Guess I’ll find a suitable hardwood here and stain the bark black to look like blackthorn. Mostly a fun and nostalgic project. Thanks for the reply and happy carving.
As a complete novice, I'd be tempted to use a whittling knife on it after roughing out the shape with the saw. It's _especially_ tempting since I don't own one of those nice Japanese rasps (maybe someday!). In your experience, is there too great a risk of tear-out or slicing off too much material by accident using a carving knife?
Francis quick question, have you ever grown your own blackthorn bushes an if so how many seeds you need to grow a blackthorn bush. I read some where it's a handful of seeds to grow a blackthorn thorn bush is that accurate. I ask alot of questions I know I want to learn the right way by a knowledgeable an skilled shillelagh maker such as yourself
You make beautiful shillelagh brother would you at some point make shorter shillelaghs my mom is short reason I call her a leprechaun lol but short. Hopefully you craft your beautiful shillelaghs at least 30" to 31"
I've always been fascinated with this very interested with this art especially craft and final result iz the wood from the blackthorn oor other species 🙏🫶