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This is a simple kitchen device for mashing, crushing, pounding, and mixing food. I asked my father to make one when I was about seven to help me mix up frozen cans of juice and over the years it has proved to be very useful.
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Signing UpStep 1Get a stick
The stick should be fairly straight, at least 3 inches wide at it's narrowest point, at least 16 inches long, and hardwood.
To find out if your stick is hardwood press the tip of your fingernail into the wood. If your nail leaves a large dent then the wood is not hard enough.
I found my stick at the beach. There is no reason that you couldn't buy a stick, but why should you when wood grows on trees?
If you choose to use "green" wood (wood that has recently been cut off a living tree and is still wet) the wood may crack.
To prevent cracking let your wood dry slowly by dripping hot wax into the ends of the stick and/or storing it in a plastic bag and/or the freezer when you are not working on it. If your piece of wood starts cracking you may be able to undo some damage by sprinkling water over the crack and microwaving it. Do not put wood in the microwave for more than 20 seconds at a time. Let the wood cool off before putting it back in the microwave.
To find out if your stick is hardwood press the tip of your fingernail into the wood. If your nail leaves a large dent then the wood is not hard enough.
I found my stick at the beach. There is no reason that you couldn't buy a stick, but why should you when wood grows on trees?
If you choose to use "green" wood (wood that has recently been cut off a living tree and is still wet) the wood may crack.
To prevent cracking let your wood dry slowly by dripping hot wax into the ends of the stick and/or storing it in a plastic bag and/or the freezer when you are not working on it. If your piece of wood starts cracking you may be able to undo some damage by sprinkling water over the crack and microwaving it. Do not put wood in the microwave for more than 20 seconds at a time. Let the wood cool off before putting it back in the microwave.
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http://www.instructables.com/id/ECQMEA1R5FES9J7IEB/
With a nice sharp chisel even 120 grit would roughen the finished surface. If you're *really* good ( which I'm not ) you don't need to sand it. I also suggest that you use a proper woodturning lathe, engineering lathes and tools really don't work for wood.
Traditionally this sort of thing was made from sycamore wood because it has a nice light colour. Sunflower oil makes a nice finish in my experience