Construction Process
HIKSTIK.COM, LLC takes pride in the craftsmanship that goes into every wood shaft we produce. Quality takes time as we make every effort to provide you with the finest product possible. We take no detail for granted; from lumber selection, grain density and orientation, all the way through to the final finishing touches, you are assured of top construction quality resulting in a truly exceptional wood lacrosse handle.
Wood Selection
Our research and testing led us to the choice of a few select
species of wood for HIKSTIK shafts. Hickory, ash, oak, and purpleheart have the
certain
characteristics that are necessary for a strong, durable lacrosse
shaft. Since we believe this may be the most important step in our
process, we use a notable lumber vendor who is in the business of providing
high quality wood for cabinet makers and woodworkers. We search for
superior lumber pieces, rejecting any wood
that does not meet our tight standards: uniformly straight and close
grained with minimal flaws. Photo, left to right:
pecan hickory, purpleheart, and ash.
Initial Shaping
A HIKSTIK craftsman machines our choice lumber into straight, rectangular strips of wood that approximate the height and width dimensions of the throat of your lacrosse head. Our goal during this process is to attempt to have the grain oriented in the optimum direction. This provides the greatest ultimate strength and resistance to impact while retaining maximum flexibility.
Final Shaping
Each rectangular strip is put through a process that allows the uniform cutting of precise angles of the traditional elongated-octagon cross-section. Using our specialized process gives us the highest quality control we need to get the precise shape and dimensions that will give your HIKSTIK a nice, snug fit into your lacrosse head. Once we have removed the corners from the strips we do a thorough inspection (including weight and balance) of each wood shaft before continuing the construction process. Flawed handles are rejected at this point.
Hand-Sanding
The sanding process may start with the belt sander and coarse grit paper to remove any blade marks caused by the machining steps. An electric hand sander and medium paper is used during the next step to assure a silky smooth finish. Fine sanding is done by hand while completing another thorough inspection of the shaft. This is the stage were we get a really close look at the shape, grain quality, wood consistency, and appearance of the unfinished wood shaft; once again rejecting any flawed handles.
Finish Work
We use top-notch Minwax® products to finish your shaft and apply three coats of Clear Shield™; and sanding, by hand, between each coat with automotive finish, superfine grit paper. This part of the process takes a few days to allow the finish to dry and harden between each coat, providing an excellent feel of the HIKSTIK wood shaft in your hands -- well beyond anything available in metal.
Like Us on Facebook