Winter is the best time to cut most of your shanks as the sap is low making seasoning the timber easier. Remember that you must have permission from the land owner before cutting any timber from woodland or hedgerows. A wide range of timbers can be used to make shanks, the most popular among stick-makers is Hazel because it grows fairly straight and is strong and light in weight. Other popular timbers are Ash, Blackthorn, Birch, Holly and various fruit woods. Seasoned shanks can be straightened by wet or dry heat. Hot air guns are very popular for heating shanks, below is an example of a simple steam heater. Contact me if you need any advice
