How to Make Shaker Brooms
Shakers were known for their simple and functional living. It is no wonder that they redesigned the broom to make it more efficient for sweeping flat floors. The Shakers were called the United Society of Believers in the mid 1820s, when they started to manufacture brooms. Shakers made brooms from broom corn, a type of sorghum. They changed the design of brooms from round to flat and used wire to fasten the handle to the broom instead of the previous woven technique.
Things You'll Need
- 1 x 4 x 6-inch board
- Saw
- Vise
- 1 large handful of broom corn (sorghum vulgere) stalks
- Bucket
- Drill
- 1/4-inch drill bit
- 3-foot-long straight oak handle, 1.5 to 2 inches wide
- Wire
- Two 1 x 6 x 12-inch boards
- Ball of twine
- 6- to 8-inch steel or iron needle
- Pruners
Instructions
-
-
1
Fashion a course comb by cutting teeth in the end of the 1-inch board at 1/2-inch intervals. Use a saw to cut down 1 inch at angles to form the teeth across the long side of the board. Precision is not necessary in this creation.
-
2
Secure this comb into a vise with the teeth exposed at the top of the clamp.
-
-
3
Draw the broom straw across the comb to remove the seeds.
-
4
Cut the stalks of the sorghum 6 inches from the brush portion; this is the end where the seed heads were formed.
-
5
Place the stalks into a bucket of water; allow the water to come up to the brush portion, covering the stalks.
-
6
Place the 1/4-inch drill bit in the drill.
-
7
Drill two holes in the middle of the oak handle. Place the first hole 1 inch from the end and the second hole 4 inches from the same end.
-
8
Tie wire through the hole that is 4 inches from the end. Place a large handful of stalks around the handle. Wrap the wire tightly around these softened stalks and twist the wire to knot it.
-
9
Make another wire winding starting at the other handle hole and wrapping around the stalks in the same manner.
-
10
Place the brush portion between the two 12-inch-long boards and press into the vise. Work with the handle down at an angle, so that you can flatten the broom corn securely between the boards.
-
11
Thread the twine through the large needle.
-
12
Four inches below the handle winding section, start to sew a row of stitches across the broom brush. Initially knot the twine and tie the loose tail back into the sewing. Push the needle through at a repeating angle to achieve movement across the broom head.
-
13
Make another row or two of stitches across the broom, causing it to flatten and become firm in its composition.
-
14
Trim the head flat with pruners.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
The stalks can initially be pared down to make a smaller, tidier shank on the broom handle.
You can make three or four windings to secure the handle to the broom head; you will need to drill a hole for each winding.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit nice new broom image by terex from Fotolia.com
