Wood Sticks and Long Term Storage

[Neo5370 132]

I am somewhat seriously considering custom SW SOP's and the min. order apparently is 12 sticks.

I don't break sticks very often so is there a good way to keep wood sticks "fresh"?

I remember a thread a while back on this topic and someone said nothing short of an overgrown humidor would do the trick.

But could I get away w/ plastic wrap, a few stick bags and putting them in a cool dry place?

Also, they'd be SW 7000's so would the fiberglass sort of seal the wood?

Thanks in advance!

[sherwood21 0]

Dumb Question:

By SW, do you mean Sher-wood, or Stiff Whip?

[Neo5370 132]

haha sorry............yes, Sher Wood, and don't worry, not a dumb question.

[Chadd 916]

Take the tape off right after every game or practice. Any moisture in the tape will help break down the wood.You may also want to paint the blade with pro-toe or something similar to help seal it.

[Neo5370 132]

Gotcha............now would I have to worry about the unused ones? Cuz 12 would last me for a long long time.

And is the wood in the shaft portion subject to becoming brittle or soft from varying levels of humidity? I know enough to keep them out of extreme conditions or the sun.

Again, for the unused sticks.

Thanks :)

[golfpuck 0]

when in lived in california, i tried keeping them in the bathroom, so they would atleast get steamed once a day when i showered

[Neo5370 132]

Ohhh, so dry conditions are bad for wood sticks?

Guess I've got a lot to learn

I mean other than drying your blade after use of course.

[sherwood21 0]

haha sorry............yes, Sher Wood, and don't worry, not a dumb question.

Hah, allright then. Good luck with the woodies.

[Chadd 916]

Ohhh, so dry conditions are bad for wood sticks?

Guess I've got a lot to learn

I mean other than drying your blade after use of course.

Too dry will dry out the sticks and too much direct contact with water will make the blades soggy. As long as you use them up within a year you should be fine. Just avoid really drastic extremes in conditions.

[opus22 0]

Take the tape off right after every game or practice. Any moisture in the tape will help break down the wood.You may also want to paint the blade with pro-toe or something similar to help seal it.

whats protoe and do most lhs's have it? im trying to find ways to make wood last longer. i put a strip of the clear stretchy tape on the bottom before the regular tape - then like you say i take off the tape every game. does the pro toe give it a coating? is it heavy?

[golfpuck 0]

if you take the tape off every game, wouldnt you spend more money on tape than a new stick???

[Dan_The_Man_16 0]

I retape my sticks every game and practice, doesn't cost too much, buy tape in bulk. Try spray painting your sticks bottom 1/3. Like ponty said it helps keep them stiff, and I could see that helping with keeping water out too.

[Chadd 916]

if you take the tape off every game, wouldnt you spend more money on tape than a new stick???

$2-$3 for a roll of tape is still cheaper than a new stick. I find I get 4 or 5 games if I rip off the tape right away as opposed to the 2-3 games I normally get with wood before it turns to rubber.

[sherwood21 0]

Take the tape off right after every game or practice. Any moisture in the tape will help break down the wood.You may also want to paint the blade with pro-toe or something similar to help seal it.

whats protoe and do most lhs's have it? im trying to find ways to make wood last longer. i put a strip of the clear stretchy tape on the bottom before the regular tape - then like you say i take off the tape every game. does the pro toe give it a coating? is it heavy?

Protoe is a shiny coating material that you use on your skates to keep the nylon caps from ripping. It should be at your LHS for 10-15 dollars (CDN), it's made by Bauer and some other companies have their own variations.

[predshockey17 0]

I keep all my woodies in my garage. I live in Michigan so in the winter they are good. When summer comes around I put them in my basement.

[jimmy 194]

Unless you're in a dry hot climate, I wouldn't worry too much. If you have a basement, storing them there would be fine. I have some NOS Titans in my store that are years old and some Pro stock goal sticks as well. They are fine. I play with them when I bored. They are not dried up or rotted or weak at all.

[Jackymc 0]

I was trying out some wood sticks this winter and I left them in my garage along with my other composite sticks. I was trying out a sherwood 5030 and a Hesp. 50/50. The Sherwood turned to mush after a few months of ice. The shaft would have a permanant curve on it after I flexed it and not rebound. The 50/50 on the other hand (cause I wasn't using it) started to warp on me in storage. The 50/50 has a strip of carbon fibre on one side of the shaft I guess to stiffen it when you shot. The stick is warped in the direction of the carbon fibre as if it was pulling it in tension. We had a pretty humid winter in Vancouver this season.

Correct me if I'm wrong but it seems to me that the humidity is bad for wood.. :(

[tokes 0]

Ohhh, so dry conditions are bad for wood sticks?

Guess I've got a lot to learn 

I mean other than drying your blade after use of course.

Too dry will dry out the sticks and too much direct contact with water will make the blades soggy. As long as you use them up within a year you should be fine. Just avoid really drastic extremes in conditions.

Yep, a totally dry place will be bad, but on the otherhand a moist place like leaving them in the bathroom isn't good either. Someplace fairly cool and natural in humidity is good. I have always left wood sticks on a shelf in my garage. They stay fine for quite a while in there

[jimmy 194]

I pulled one of those wood sticks off the shelf in my garage recently and used it in an emergency. I bought it in 1982. Over the years it's been in my garage in the heat of Texas, the humidity of the florida keys, the wet of the pacific Northwest, and the New england cold. It worked just fine, and is still solid.

[Eazy_b97 1]

The 50/50 has a strip of carbon fibre on one side of the shaft I guess to stiffen it when you shot. The stick is warped in the direction of the carbon fibre as if it was pulling it in tension.

You're not referring to the reverse "bowing" of the shaft are you? I'm by no means overly familiar with the Hespeler 50/50, but I believe its supposed to bow in the opposite direction you shoot.

[Jackymc 0]

You're not referring to the reverse "bowing" of the shaft are you? I'm by no means overly familiar with the Hespeler 50/50, but I believe its supposed to bow in the opposite direction you shoot.

Yeah the 50/50 is bowing in the opposite direction that you flex the stick when you shoot. Maybe the humidity made the wood soft and the carbon fibre is pulling it in that reverse direction. <_<

[Chadd 916]

You're not referring to the reverse "bowing" of the shaft are you? I'm by no means overly familiar with the Hespeler 50/50, but I believe its supposed to bow in the opposite direction you shoot.

Yeah the 50/50 is bowing in the opposite direction that you flex the stick when you shoot. Maybe the humidity made the wood soft and the carbon fibre is pulling it in that reverse direction. <_<

That's intentional, they are supposed to be like that.

[Jackymc 0]

Really? I guess I didn't notice it when I bought it.. So they're warped when they come into the stores?

My sherwood is mushy though. It doesn't rebound like any stick I know. Do wood sticks normally "die" like that?

[Eazy_b97 1]

"after a few months of ice" anything I use usuall dies.

[Chadd 916]

"after a few months of ice" anything I use usuall dies.

I wish most fo my stuff would last a month. A sher-wood lasts a few periods for me.