Australian Wood Review – June 2017

38 Australian Wood Review

PROJECT

Bespoke

Winding Sticks

How to make and use an essential workshop aid.

Story by Charles Mak.

A

wind* is a twist in a board. To test for twist, winding

sticks or strips are commonly used. But any two

pieces of material that have parallel edges can also be used

to diagnose a twisted board or assembly. I have seen, for

example, journeyman levels, extruded angle aluminium,

steel rules or even framing squares used as winding sticks.

Many craftspeople, however, take great pride in making

their own winding sticks from choice hardwood.

My first pair of winding sticks – two straight, parallel

battens cut on the tablesaw – has seen its fair share of use

as I moved to dress more of my own wood in recent years.