Tom,

I will have to try the Stanley Shaver. I have never used one. I generally peel the bark with a draw knife and/or sloid knife, then do some quick shaping with a spokeshave. This surform may make some of this a bit easier. I may get one of these to rough out the fir staff I am seeing at the top of my tree.

I generally find myself evaluating branches as I walk among the neighborhood and parks.....Lots of sticks out there just waiting to be revealed. Thanks for the tool tip.

I wish I could machine some ferrules...so far I have only done copper pipe fittings. I saw that Cold Steel sells steel ferrules for a reasonable price. I am thinking of ordering a few for the bag of sticks that are still works-in-progress.

Out here my choice of woods is not as extensive as yours. Residential trees of various sorts, dogwood, maple, alder, cherry, other fruits and nuts, and then the various conifers. I have my eye on the perfect branch in a cherry next door....a few more years and then it is going to need trimming <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I have some wisteria vines that are well dried, greatly crooked and waiting for some work....surform may be required.

Randy