The Stanley Cup is the ultimate prize for the true blue ice hockey fan. A lot of people dream of holding the large and shiny trophy in front of a cheering audience. Mastering the game of ice hockey is one thing, but before you even go there, you should have a hockey stick that will help modify your game.
The hockey stick is a long, curved wooden stick used for scoring in an ice hockey game. You will se that it is quite expensive if you check the displays of sports stores. Made from various materials, the hockey stick has standard dimensions (163 x 72 x 6) that can help improve your shooting stroke. If you plan to make a hockey stick yourself, you should be aware of its standard dimensions and the type of wood used for the best hockey sticks. Most of the time, the brand name of a hockey stick greatly influences its price, which is why creating your own hockey stick is always a good idea.
Wooden Hockey Stick
The wooden hockey stick perfectly suits beginners due to its feel and natural properties. It is also the cheapest type of hockey stick to create and purchase since wood is a lot cheaper than carbon fiber and Kevlar.
If you are still in the process of learning hockey, the wooden hockey stick is your best choice. Even though it has lower accuracy compared to other types of hockey sticks, the wooden hockey stick has the least margin for error. You will be able to mold your game in no time if you use one.
Materials Used:
high quality plywood
wood glue
fiberglass coating
sandpaper
chisel
saw
tape measure
pencil
paper
First, sketch the dimensions of your hockey stick on a piece of paper so you will have a guide. Outline the dimensions of your hockey stick on the plywood sheet then cut it accordingly using a handsaw. Once you get the initial wooden layer, repeat the whole process until you get several layers thick enough to form a hockey stick when joined. Use your chisel to make the edges finer and a sheet of sandpaper to make the surface completely smooth.
When your wooden layers are ready, join them with wood glue. Wait for the glue to dry then wrap your entire stick with a thin layer of fiberglass coating. Now, your wooden hockey stick is ready. Hopefully, your game will be ready as well in a few months time.
Graphite Hockey Stick
Graphite is the most popular material for hockey sticks since it is more durable than wood and less expensive than Kevlar. The main lines of almost every hockey stick manufacturer are composed of graphite hockey sticks. Most probably, your hockey idols currently use graphite hockey sticks to score buckets of goals and win several Stanley Cups. If you feel that your game is pretty competitive, then it is highly advisable that you build a graphite hockey stick.
Materials Used:
sheet of carbon fiber
boiler
hockey stick mold
silicon injections
graphite cleaning solution
stickers
Strange as it may sound, it is easier to create a graphite hockey stick than a wooden hockey stick if you have all the right materials. All you have to do is to mold graphite into a hockey stick and presto, a brand new graphite hockey stick.
Grab the sheet of carbon fiber and place it inside a boiler. When the metal melts, transfer it to the hockey stick mold. Insert several silicon injections into the molten metal so that your stick will have the distinct feel of wooden hockey sticks. Once the metal melts, you will have your very own graphite hockey stick.
If you want it to look like the sticks endorsed by your hockey idols, apply graphite cleaning solution on your stick’s surface and place a few stickers near the handle. Make sure that your hockey game is as striking as your new hockey stick; otherwise your peers will see you unworthy to hold such a stick.
Kevlar Hockey Stick
Kevlar is the most durable among the three popular materials used for hockey sticks. Used in bulletproof vests, Kevlar is known to stop bullets and speeding hockey pucks without bending or breaking. The Kevlar hockey stick is the sentimental choice of the most powerful strikers in the game. If your machismo has broken several wooden and graphite hockey sticks, then you should create a hockey stick that matches your muscle.
Materials Used:
Kevlar sheet
boiler
hockey stick mold
cleaning solution
stickers
To create your Kevlar hockey stick, you must first get your Kevlar sheet and place it inside the boiler. Set the temperature to over a thousand degrees Celsius and wait for the Kevlar to melt. Usually, it takes a significant amount of time before Kevlar thoroughly melts, which is why you can leave it for awhile.
When the Kevlar is completely liquefied, transfer it to the hockey stick mold. You can check the molten Kevlar’s consistency to make sure that you are getting a very durable stick. Once the Kevlar hardens, you’ll have a hockey stick that is virtually unbreakable. You can now slap and smash hockey pucks like the Incredible Hulk and not worry about damaging your hockey stick.
A hockey stick is durable and improves the accuracy of your shot. Spank and slap like a pro with your do-it-yourself hockey stick.