12/09/2026
I was gifted a few old British Telecom telegraph poles, likely spruce, and thought I’d experiment. I’ve taken a 4‑inch slice and cut it down into Cardigan and Llandovery blanks. The timber’s actually quite interesting — slow‑grown, resinous, and tough from decades of service, with tight grain and the odd knot that gives it real character. It’s lighter than my usual hardwoods, but still surprisingly strong, and it shapes nicely as long as the tools are sharp. I’ve sealed the ends to stop any splitting, and I’m expecting a few resin pockets or hidden checks, but that’s all part of the charm. As an experiment, I think these blanks could make some really distinctive, rustic sticks with a good story behind them.
Happy stick making!
