Jean Turner, RPT
How I Assemble a JbT Walking Stick Kit
Please note:- It is assumed that the assembler has basic skills involving mixing and use of epoxy glue, acetone/denatured alcohol for cleaning up, how to 'finish' an item using linseed oil or varnish.
- Be sure to read, understand and follow all the safety instruction on the products you use.
- This is how I do it. You follow my method at your own risk.
Glue up, finish and ferrule, and you are done!
You will need: masking tape, epoxy glue and card and a lollipop stick to mix it with, a 3mm kebab stick, newspaper to protect your dining room table, acetone or denatured alcohol to clean epoxy glue spills, varnish or linseed oil to finish the exterior and a ferrule to suit your stick.
Assembling a JbT Walking Stick is not difficult - I have done all the hard work for you.
1. Dry fit all the parts:
While I make sure that the parts all fit before I post them to you, you may want to align them in a specific way for best looks. Slide them all together and make sure you are happy with their orientation, then lay out the individual parts ready for installing.
2. Protect against glue-overflow
Using the masking tape, carefully mask the parts on the shank where you are most likely to get glue-overflow. This includes places where you might take hold of the shank with sticky hands, and the handle. Placing newspaper or a plastic bag over thse surfaces and masking them off saves a lot of work later in the process. Fasten a ring of tape around the top of the shank right up against the edge of the shelf.
3. The glue-up
• Mix enough epoxy to coat all the surfaces - without over doing it.
• Use the kebab stick and
rub some on the inside of the bored holes, put some on one end of the rod, and slide the rod into
the handle.
• Spread epoxy around the joint between the handle and the rod, and on the end of the
handle spigot where it will touch the shaft inside the collar. Spread the spigot with a light
coating of epoxy. Coat the inside of the collar, and if it is to be inset, the top edge
(and if necessary the bottom edge as well).
Slide the collar onto the spigot and seat it against the bottom of the handle. Wipe off
any excess which spills out immediately with a cloth and solvent.
• Apply more epoxy to the other
half of the rod, the spigot of the shaft and the end of the shaft and gently insert the shaft
end into the collar. Ease home, allowing excess the epoxy time to spread and squeeze out between the
gaps. Left in - under pressure - there is the risk of your shaft or handle cracking once it cures. Clean it off with
a cloth and alcohol/acetone and remove the masking tape protectors.
• Stand the stick upright, and
balance it in the corner of a room with a 1lb can of beans or similar balanced on top to help weight down
the handle as it cures.
• After 24 hours, finish your stick with linseed oil or exterior varnish,
giving multiple coats. If you use varnish, you will need to renew it every year or two. If you
use linseed oil, it is an ongoing process, oil your stick after every jaunt, and it will last you
for the rest of your life!