Tools For Twig Craft

Rustic Crafts; Twiggy Stuff; Bliss

Some of my favorite tools were never intended to be used in the way they are, but have been adapted to fit the need. Here are some of the best tools for twig craft building in my tool box:

• Rasp - used for smoothing the ends of twigs to prevent the bark from peeling away. This particular rasp has four different surfaces – two curved surfaces and two flat surfaces, one in a rough tooth and the other smaller grooves. I can smooth, take the bark off completely, shape twigs for twig handles, and many other little jobs impossible with a file or saw.

• Bush saws – I have two sizes, so I can pretty much get into a clump of willows or other shrubs and trees and take only the twigs I need without damaging the remaining ones.
  
• Pruning saw – I’m in the process of making a new handle for this one – out of, what else? a twig pruned off an old apple tree.

• Needle nosed pliers – I can use these for cutting the wire, and wrapping the ends into my signature pig tail twirl. Also used for grasping wire to pull through holes to attach a twig handle, or hold a staple in place while hammering.

• Small finishing hammer – this is my preferred hammer, it’s small enough to do very little damage to the delicate bark of newly cut twigs while having enough weight to get the nail into place.

• I also use a tennon saw, which was designed to cut the tennons as in mortise and tennon joints, as well as mitered corners. I like this saw as it doesn’t bind or bend in the tough situations I put it in, like a carpenters saw.

• Carpenters saw – Thanks to my grandfather and great grandfather, I have a selection of carpenters’ saws to choose from. Most used for cutting barnboard in making crafts such as twig handled trugs, barnboard nest boxes and barnboard hook boards.

As you make more rustic crafts, you’ll collect your own favorite tools. Your collection of tools for twig craft will be individually chosen by the artisan - you.

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Rustic Crafts