Cross Sticks?

[john s mosby]

I want to make a set of cross sticks. How long do the sticks need to be and what dia should they be? I want to put leather in the middle to hold the forearm.

 

[Rebel]

I use the 1/2" wooden dowels from the hardware store. I think they are 3 ft. long. Work good from kneeling or sitting position. If you want something you can use while standing, you probably need them about 7 ft long, depending on how tall you are.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Mine are a pair of 1/2" white oak dowels that came 48" long right out of the bin at Lowes. I rounded both ends and drilled and set a nail in the bottoms for dirt-purchase, snipping and filing a 1" point on the exposed nail ends. I then grooved and wrapped the tips with linen thread soaked in hide glue to re-enforce them so the nails won't split out. I made a leather "slider" that resembles the middle two fingers of a glove with about 1" of the palm and back still attached. Instantly adjustable and it protects the stock.

That length works good prone, kneeling or sitting.

 

[mowolf]

I split a 6 ft. 1x4 into three pieces and ended up with two sets, one is 6 ft, long and one 3 ft. Glued some leather from an old pair of gloves for the forearm to rest in. Used small finish nail in the ground end with the head snipped off. The taller set makes a good walking stick when collapsed.

Waya :m2c:

 

[john s mosby]

Good discriptions guys, thanks. How did you attach the leather to the sticks?

 

[john s mosby]

Mowolf

You got your answer in while I was typing my 2 lines. I think I'll go with the four foot ones. Thanks.

 

[Rebel]

You can take a piece about 12"-18", depends on how much of a leather pocket you want, long and fold the ends over about 1 1/2" and stitch them to form a pocket like a glove finger at each end, and then just slide one pocket over each end of the stick at the top. Then take a piece of leather thong and tie it around the 2 pieces of wood, about 8"-10 down, just tight enough so you can slide it up and down to adjust the length of the sticks. Hope this makes sense.

 

[john s mosby]

Rebel

I had to read that 3 times but it makes sense now.

 

[Rebel]

Glad you were finally able to understand it. Sometimes a picture is worth more than 1000 words. ::

 

[bearbeater]

Hey
I ripped a 2x4 in half 3 ft long dtilled a hole for a 10-32 screw and wing nutwith big washers. That is all I use for chucks and everything. They will stay in place when you tighten up the wing nut.
Bearbeater

 

[hobbles]

I didn't go with the cross sticks guys, I went with a cedar branch,, it fits on my posable's bag strap,,, can stick it in the ground if ya want,,,

 

[freetrapper20]

I made a set like that once too several years . But I made a half dozen holes so you could adjust the position of the screw and wingnut. Worked good. I still have them. Gonna make a set with just the leather piece next time I get mess'in around.