How to make a shillelagh - all done in one take no editing - shaping the handle from raw blackthorn

3 day worldwide delivery by DHL / UPS courier with my blackthorn shillelagh walking sticks,
www.paypal.me/mccaffreycrafts
mccaffreycrafts.com - my online shop
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Livestream every Friday 6pm GMT on KZbin
Physical address
McCaffrey Crafts Ltd
Lower Bridge st,
Killorglin
V93 W861
Company Reg No: 725466
If you wish to meet me at my physical retail store let me know in advance so I can make sure I’m there and not off cutting blackthorn

[@Hez.cragzer]

Brilliant videos, please stop apologising for your camera work and lack of editing and stuff, your art and workmanship speaks for its self and I really appreciate the honesty and authenticity of your clips……great stuff 👍🏼

[@AskMarkieMark]

I agree. No talking necessary at all. Just show the work.

[@TheErniejohnston]

The walking stick I purchased from u recently is perfect - I have balance problems and that’s the most comfortable cane I’ve ever owned - the length, the grip, and the comfortable weight 🐬

[@ryanprendergast1287]

The apologizing is just part of the unedited aspect of the video. 😉 He's just saying what he's thinking as he thinks it. If he wanted to edit the video, he could get "just the right amount of apologies" to convey "just the right balance"of humility and confidence. No need to do that though 😊 Unedited works fine.

[@Ukepa]

this "one take" method works well when you show what you're doing at times. I like your "low tech" use of simple tools, too! keeping the bark, marks and blemishes makes for a beautiful natural tree branch look... really nice "McCaffrey Shillelagh" !

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

This is the style I like on sticks the more rustic manual look and it sells well more than any premium over polished wall display sticks. Mine can be used and take scuffs and bruises

[@Lee-ol8gj]

It is refreshing to see somebody using basic hand tools as I do.

[@CutterStickMan]

Gonna be a awesome Shillelagh! Definitely wanna see the full process in future videos

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

Thanks after this just sanding and adding finish, watching paint dry might not be to interesting lol

[@connorlennon5925]

Please make more videos like this one. And don't apologize for the dead air. I have the utmost respect and appreciation for you sharing your skill and process.

[@CaveMan72]

I liked this video, please make more like this. It shows how much love you put into your craft.

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

I will do if the community is ok with these one take type videos on my phone. Many like the fancy studio with lighting as camera angles but I simply am too busy at the moment . I don’t mind doing these ones as I think they offer value when trying to see the handle you want

[@brainleavy6934]

Everything helps to ensure the art off stick making stays alive and sure this will help someone start 👍🏼

[@JeffGloverArts]

THIS is the art. Thanks for letting us in to see! And, yeah! I definitely want to see the rest of the process!

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

You got it!

[@bibo6826]

Would love to see a bunch of videos on the how its done, from digging/cutting, shaping, to finishing, all the steps involved. Thank you for this video.

[@eddiesvideos3016]

What about doing a video from start to finish with the painting and straightening that kind off thing with be a help to newbie like myself

[@davidwhiren817]

Mr. Francis , this is why I love you !!! Thank you so much for this peek behind the curtains !!!

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

My pleasure!

[@tonynapoli5549]

Thanks for your demonstration Francis very very interesting, would be nice to see the next steps and stages to the finish product. 👍

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

Great suggestion!

[@tonynapoli5549]

@@FrancisMcCaffrey5 It will be a booster for your channel and your sales around the world Francis 👌

[@brianc7846]

Fascinating! That blackthorn looks like seriously hard wood. I would love to see you actually harvest some from the field and explain how you dry it. Please show more of your craft and art.

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

I have some cutting vids on my channel

[@emilymiller7827]

I was also gonna ask about drying it, I've had some neat pieces that cracked after I made them

[@JJLewin1]

Great thanks, would love to see the next stages until it is totally finished. Don't worry about perfecting your video, it is good to see a craftsman at work making amazing traditional items.

[@TP75o]

Great vidi! Really thankful you are documenting the authentic process so its not lost to time.

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

My pleasure!

[@mr.bullionnaire9748]

That was cool. That shillelagh is gunna be a good one 👍

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

Thanks

[@myobs]

I'd definitely be clamping the wood to work on it.

[@brunomaelstrom8823]

Interesting how you make quick decisions and work well with simple tools !

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

Thanks 👍

[@madogmedic]

awesome video. I've wondered how you did the shaping of the "knob" end. I have one of those "shinto" rasps, and i love it. "dead space", no such thing when this kind of video is made. Everything I saw was instructive.

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

Thanks

[@matthightower1570]

This was an awesome video, Mr. McCaffrey! I hope to see more "behind the scenes" videos like this one in the future, although all of your videos are a pleasure to watch.

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

Noted!

[@Rancourt762]

I made myself a shillelagh out of a small maple tree that I dug the roots out. (I was going to make a staff with a cool looking root top, but I didn’t like the shape). I am glad to see that I basically followed the same steps as you. Using exactly the same tools. Looks good. Thank you for sharing

[@Matt-uj6jm]

Thank you Francis 👍🍀🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

Thanks Matt

[@HGates-hl4eq]

I love all your videos. All of your works are fantastic. That is going to be an awesome shillelagh.

[@drewheyman7173]

I have a piece of acacia I just cut for this and boom here you are. My angel.

[@keithcoleman1729]

Enjoyed the video, would love to see till you are finished.

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

Just lots of sanding and watching finishing dry

[@alexsweeney7989]

Great to see the traditional shilleleagh making.. I've a fierce amount of blackthorn in the field, I must give this a go.

[@neilt1917]

Excellent video, i really enjoyed that 👍

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@manfreddoerflein881]

it would be interesting to produce a video, in which you show the complete producerprozess of a shlilelagh from the start until to teh end. ( cut, peeling straighten, painting, .... every step)

[@martinoneill3345]

Fantastic video Francis. You are very talented, producing very artistic work. Well done to you

[@tonystoops7802]

Rocking the b and d workmate 👍

[@badger1296]

This is what I've been looking for.

[@garycurnow3556]

This is pure gold. Camera angles and all. I would definitely want to see more of the process. What do you use to clamp the Blackthorn down?

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

I tend not to depending on the cuts I make you can use a vice or ant clamps. I use them more in straightening the Stick

[@johnlieske8908]

AWESOME JOB 👍👍

[@vinniesdayoff3968]

Very interesting Francis. Thanks

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

Glad you think so!

[@Finny14754]

Great video , keep up the good work

[@John-wo5bp]

Francis you need a log to put your stick on cut a wedge out log so when you stand on stick it won't move about you can also cut a rectangle out use wedges to hold stick inside im not tech wizz either lol 👍🇬🇧🐾🦊🍀

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

It’s was a bit of an impromptu vid I don’t plan it so just kept going

[@John-wo5bp]

@@FrancisMcCaffrey5 I would got angry at job keep moving around have to secure it my new technique works great and bonus is cheap cost nothing for scrap wood and a log 🍀👍🐾🦊🇬🇧

[@KanekiKen-lm1dl]

Great, simple tutorial.

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

Glad it was helpful!

[@thomasbarrett8861]

I for 1 enjoyed that video and will be looking for a chunk of wood to try making 1 myself.

[@elgee3798]

I bought several items and Sargent sticks from him. Very good quality.

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

Right on

[@catherinemckenney6317]

Just found you, subscribed instantly 🤠💚

[@roseannegibson3343]

Awesome

[@michaelshuss9374]

An Irishman in his shop working hard!! 🗺🧤📈

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

Yes true

[@markwybierala4936]

It’s all about finding the object hidden in the wood.

[@gthedrum]

I’d be interested to see how you work the hole feature, on the shaft, near the handle, to bring out its beauty.

[@B-leafer]

Missed your videos.. Don't know why I just found this now.

[@mikeconners1648]

Francis, you need some power tools, sanders, power saws, do enjoy watching you.

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

I do! Making it like this makes more fun to watch

[@mikeconners1648]

Thank you, I do enjoy watching you, I try making walking sticks, not your caliber though. Mike in the states 👍🏼

[@mr.bullionnaire9748]

I think I purchased this one! If not it looks similar.

[@scotsov]

I find that a wee 10 inch tenon saw is much better than those big wobbly hand saws

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

Totally I just grabbed was was handy.

[@scotsov]

@@FrancisMcCaffrey5 even for taking branches, I struggled with the big flexible hand saw and bow saw, but a strong wee compact tenon saw for about 8 euros is so much easier

[@Palmetto705]

Hi Francis Still enjoying the stick I purchased from you a couple of years ago. Ron Park

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

Cool, thanks

[@mannysgamingadventures2686]

You would be very happy with a vise to hold your work whilst cutting!

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

I’m quicker without one as I can make the positional adjustments faster and less dents from the vice in the wood

[@B-leafer]

Watching you work, I'm thinking a battery powered "saw-zaw" might do you well, making controlled cuts faster and easier. Fyi Well done!

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

Thanks for the tip!

[@patrickkelly9721]

Received two of your pieces yesterday (Thu). Won't be home until Sun to open the box. Christmas in April

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

Enjoy!

[@patrickkelly9721]

Got home from the road. Opened the package and the crudgel came out first. Bad thing was, my son wanted to see the walking stick. The cudgel is (was) his birthday present. He saw it, he got it a few months early. The walking stick is for me. It is exquisite. Lighter than I expected, but that's not a bad thing. After working with it a bit, I discovered it fits my left hand perfectly. I use a cane in my right hand, lol. Now that I know little features to look for, I'll have to buy another. Thank you for making a bit of my familys heritage available.

[@bobbyavent7215]

Next time turn the table so we can see the cutting action. BUT I still enjoyed. Thinking about trying myself

[@seangere9698]

I like this style of video. I was able to find a source of Blackthorn close to where I live and was able to get a couple of pieces, but unfortunately, the city I live in came by and cut it all down to only 500mm above the ground. It was on the border of private and city land, and the city cut down not just what was on city land but what was on private land as well. The land owner came home to find his whole hedges alond the street cut down after 56 years of growing them. He was not happy, to say the least. He has another property with a huge Grove of blackthorne that he said I can go through and take whatever I want as long as I don't cut down whole trees. He hasn't been able to get to them in 15 years. I am allowed to root any of the smaller plants that are growing between the mature plants, so I might be able to find some nice rootballs to make some nice, nobly walking sticks.

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

Best time to cut is winter he very careful as it’s dangerous

[@seangere9698]

@@FrancisMcCaffrey5 Yeah I only cut for walking sticks during the winter and luckily right now here in Germany we are still experiencing winter weather but not for much longer. So I have been clearing out the younger plants that are growing wild and keeping a few here and there that I think would make nice looking walking sticks. Most will take about two years to properly season but there are a few that will take longer do to thicker material and or larger rootballs or cross sections for the handles, but with all good things it takes time and time I am definitely willing to wait. He has allowed me to go through his old cut stock that he wasn't able to get to before his started hurting too much to continue making canes, walking sticks, and Shepards croocks. So I at least have some stock that I can start work on while I wait for this seasons and the last two seasons cuttings to fully season. He has seasoned Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Hazel and one other type but I'm not sure if it is Whitethorn or something else. Yeah I wear leather gloves as well as a leather welding jacket/apron combo when dealing with Blackthorn thickets as well as I wear leather boots an a hard hat with a mesh face shield. I have enough scars from past dealings with Blackthorn on my arms and hands that I have definitely learned my lesson to last a lifetime. I have been making a few walking sticks here and there over the last 10 years but it was mostly to make them for friends and family more then to make any money from it. It's only been the last 4 years that I have really thought about turning my passion and heritage into an actual business. I'm just in the process of building up locations where I can rotate gathering materials from and having enough pieces to last me a season or two before I really start selling.

[@jamesconnolly5465]

Made one about 30 years ago out of black oak

[@toddmccafferty6670]

I am so excited to learn about this! I just had a hip replaced and made a cane out of a maple sapling and it has worked extremely well while I recover. I stumbled across the Shillelagh walking stick somewhere online and then found your KZbin site. I'm excited to get started making a Shillelagh but I don't have access to any Blackthorn wood. What type of wood would you suggest I use as an alternative to Blackthorn? Iowa has a multitude of different hardwoods but I would like to use whatever is most like Blackthorn. I will stop by your shop on my next trip to Ireland and take home a few blanks. Thanks for the great videos!!

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

I think you have Bradford pear there

[@loril.mangold8160]

I think I would make that ball comfortable for the thumb grip

[@Panicagq2]

Great video- and I loved the Alec Steele 'great anvils' reference lol eta: Have you tried a japanese style pull saw for the little cuts? I love mine...

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

Not yet! They look good I just have so many saws. At Christmas my family members usually buy me some.

[@Rupertblade]

Very interesting, thanks. In Italy where I live it's difficult to find suitible branches of blackthorn to build a shillelagh but hawthorn is easily available. What do you think of using it for a shillelagh instead of blackthorn?

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

It’s against my religion to use hawthorn as a shillelagh

[@jamessullivan271]

I want to come to your house in Ireland so you can walk me through it.

[@michaelgaoghagan3700]

Since the black hawthorn is a sacred tree in Ireland with a deep mythology, what are the rules for cutting down hawthorn branches without being cursed by the fairies? (I remember a tree was saved in the 90's from being bulldozed for a road. They actually decided to build the road around the tree instead.)

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

I just got testicular cancer so the fairies took one of my testicles 4 weeks ago

[@bertweinstein4668]

Maybe a Japanese saw would make your work faster and easier?

[@adamworley196]

Great vid. I'm gonna like and subscribe after this question: You got a handshake like a bear trap, ain't ya?

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

Yes

[@clarksargeant8446]

Hello! What kind of rasp are you using?

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

Shinto

[@redfan15]

Awesome video. 2 questions from America. Do you work it green or dry? Is blackthorn hard, heavy or just used for its character?

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

Dry , it’s a dense heavy wood with a tight wood grain

[@christopherort2889]

Very cool video. Do you ever sell your work? I'm in the USA.

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

Yes I do! mccaffreycrafts.com

[@seamus33cork]

Good video I'd say you could do one at your own speed and wouldn't even need to talk through it and I'd watch it and I'd say plenty people would too

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

Thanks James I was worried people would find it boring

[@seamus33cork]

Relaxing

[@joecontreras5068]

You could have done all that with a skil saw since you were in a pinch for time- would have been much faster

[@stegmonjurvinweirdt1834]

I've seen a lot of shelaleigh videos. Makets always (from I've seen) remove anything resembling a crook, even if it's elegant and doesn't overbalance the over all piece. I understand shelaleigh are/were not normally made with a crook because, it can break easy during combat. My question is- Do makers like to break that rule? Or is it no longer a "shellaleigh"?

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

Uk stick makers usually make crook handles and shepards crook. It wasn’t a part of traditional stick making here.

[@stegmonjurvinweirdt1834]

@@FrancisMcCaffrey5 ok

[@brownbear992]

Is that a Mass Effect Andromeda T shirt?

[@paulcarter2388]

What type of rasp is that.

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

Shinto

[@dfcvda]

what size is that rasp please?

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

Just the standard size

[@gingebrien2408]

Well as a wannabe carpenter and a we Irish that cherishes my shillelaghs loved watching. How is the Bacho saw? Didn’t know they made them. What do you use to bring out the black of the bark. Back in the day I heard they would cure the wood in the back of the chimneys and the bark would absorb the door from the fires and that made the bark black. Is there any truth to that?

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

There was one report of a guy doing this that made it into a book. There were multiple ways to blacken the bark from shoe polish to grease or paint

[@loril.mangold8160]

Is the stick even LONG enough??? for a person to lean on? Unless it's 4 1/2 tall old man

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

It’s not a walking stick more of a cudgel

[@miaouew]

my favorite thing about the shillelagh is how victims of it can be described as having been "shillelaghed". what a fun word

[@clarkabrpi3428]

No need to continue to apologize every 5 minutes...once is more than enough. lol

[@kirkcavenaugh758]

Don't worry about the "dead air". There's a market for the whole process.

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

Thanks

[@arisaka9963]

I don’t get it. I’m a woodworker and an engineer. It looks like you just saw off a branch or two, smooth the cuts, and there you go. Pretty sure most of us could knock that off in 30 minutes.

[@FrancisMcCaffrey5]

I did it in 19’mins in the video while talking ! It’s a dangerous poisonous wood to work with it hard to find and you must season it for years. It’s funny that you think is so easy. It’s hard work and I make alot more money than an engineer lol.

[@josephstone7429]

Why carry a club when I can carry a gun ?

[@user-od4yx3or4u]

Why drive a car when you can drive a tank. Why carry a handgun when you can carry a rifle. Why carry a knife when you can carry a club.

[@josephstone7429]

@@user-od4yx3or4u lol

[@waaagh3203]

My cousins in Carrickmacross want me to make some shillelagh because I do wood working projects. I told them I don't think I'm allowed since I'm American.

[@mukhumor]

A useful accessory for these uncertain time.

[@poopy.butthole]

I just moved to a somewhat unsavory neighborhood and I'm planning to make a shillelagh from my neighbors acacia tree that is overhanging my property. I need something for when I take my daughter for walks. A shillelagh walking stick looks innocent enough but if need be, I could put an assailant down for a nice long nap with a swift clock to the temple.