Besom Making
The besom maker was/is a country tradesman who makes brooms from bundles of birch twigs (or in some parts of Britain, heather) which are traditional bound on to a handle with skeins of cleft willow, lime or bramble. Nowadays some broom makers use wire or plastic string to bind the twigs. Birch brooms are still used for sweeping leaves from grass. Also known as a broom maker or broom squire.
Tools
besom grip
Several different holding devices are used for compressing the bundle of birch twigs or other material ready for binding, including a pair of circular jaws mounted on a block to grip the bundle of twigs. Other broom makers assemble the bundle of twigs on a shaving horse, using the foot-operated vice to hold them. Also known as a broom horse, broom maker's vice, broom maker's pincers or knee vice.
bond poker
A curved blade, about 7" long, gouge-shaped in cross section like a basket maker's hollow bodkin, and fitted with a wooden handle. Used for threading the loose end of the skein or wire bond which holds a broom head together. The bond poker is pushed under the bond, and the end is passed down the hollow of the blade and then tied.
bond splitter
An egg-shaped piece of hardwood with the end formed into three cutting edges. Used for splitting the withies for binding besoms.
