If you do, tackle the project outlined above. Place the board in a cool, dry space without heating or air conditioning, such as a garage or shed. Walking stick saplings cut in the early fall are well ready to work by the beginning of the new year. A friend of mine has a small liquid compass embedded in the top of his walking stick, perfectly at eye level. Sand the walking stick twice more, first using 90 … Make sure  you also have the best walking boots with excellent traction – read our article for reference. Then it snapped. But the end is coming. Using green wood often results in stronger, more customizable finished products, but the wood must dry completely before you can stain or seal it. You can also saw off one of the small limbs of a tree, but keep in mind that it will have to dry for quite a long time. How To Make a Walking Stick. Unless you are like my buddy Jason. A walking stick is a traditional way to improve balance while walking and hiking, especially on natural trails. A green stick works better than a dead or dried stick because it provides the flexibility required for the instrument. Broom handles work in a pinch. This can be done in a variety of ways. At this point, you have a lot invested in the project. $20.99 $ 20. In his opinion, there are too many trails and options in US to go abroad. Fortunately, there are some easy steps to take to prevent this. pic04 is the handle in the vice ready to be shaped. On the more practical side, I have come across staffs marked in increments useful for measuring the depth of water and snow. I never witnessed him make the shot, but I did enjoy venison at his dinner table more than a few times. Oct 15, 2017 - Explore Charles Paul Dailer Jr.'s board "Handmade walking sticks" on Pinterest. My preferred wood of choice for hiking sticks. But if you follow this guide, this step by step tutorial on making a walking stick, you will end up with something you can keep forever and be proud of out on the trail. Not just any stick, I was going to craft the finest staff the world had ever seen. Tools: My two favourite tools are laying on the table in the first picture. A peeled stick will loose water much faster than one with bark left on and the stick may crack or split. With use and exposure to the elements, the top coat will eventually fail. Then, slide the axe/machete along the bark to remove any twigs and knots. For more tips and guidelines on how to make your own walking poles, see our article on this to find out. Carve beautiful wildlife walking sticks with step-by-step projects, ready-to-use patterns, an inspirational color photo gallery, and advice on wood sourcing and finishing. I took a lot of mental notes. Apply your stain according to the directions. The next step is to apply a protective layer. The rope is looped around the wide end – root end – of the stick, with the rope ends tied into a hanging loop. A random orbital or disk sander works great for this. Leave the wood there for one year for each inch of thickness. So carving stuff on it is hard with a regular knife, but a dremel works like a dream. Bald Eagles. But we are more worried about protection against normal wear and tear, not friends of dubious intellect. I bundle my sticks in groups of ten to twelve using 1/4″ nylon rope. We had two hours of daylight left, and three miles (3.2 km) to the car. About an hour in the heat from the fire caused the stick to bend. Build a plywood steam box to steam the wood. I am not advocating you go out into the forest and cut your own. The first thing you need to decide is what kind of stick you are making. Word to the wise though, the wood is the stringy fiber type, this is what makes it strong and light. FREE Shipping. Soon. Invest the time in drying it slowly. We don’t want brush marks to show after all of your hard work. Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the permission of Backpacking Mastery. This is tedious work. Will it be short like a cane? Close your eyes and form a mental picture of what you want to create. Popular models include simple wood hiking stick, thumbsticks, shepherd's crooks and knob sticks. It stands to reason that the foot will suffer some abuse. Just as with wood, you can also stain your bamboo stick any color you'd like. Take a length of the same material you used for your handle and pass it through the hole, tying it off to form a loop. Trim off any extra twigs. I made this walking stick for my dad, I’m guessing at least 40-years ago. This prevents the wood from splitting, called checking, while it dries. Starting with a heavy grit, like 120, smooth out the obvious rough spots. Head to the nearest forest and search the ground for long branches that have broken off. Maybe something in between? I prefer marine varnish. The owner told me he had used art stencils. It wasn’t pretty. Just joined because I have a question I can;t sem to find information on hardly anywhere. Because it is beautiful, durable, and appropriate to hiking. If you are planning to include a carved head in your design, your selection of wood should have included extra material at the top. Barely. 4.6 out of 5 stars 317. There are several ways to make a serviceable stick in the interim. The wood will need oiling or waxing – proper beeswax polish is good. Adding a loop is easy. Make sure there are no splits or cracks in the section you will be using and try to avoid large knots. It is available in aerosol and liquid forms. This gives me plenty of leverage when walking downhill without being too long and clumsy. Set the piece aside to dry. Go into a forest near you and get yourself a stick, fairly thick, and long enough for a staff / walking stick, with the axe or machete knife. If the wood is still green, place it in a warm, dry location to cure for at least 2 weeks, and rotate it often to prevent bowing. Look for the straightest piece possible. if you enjoyed this build then have a look at some of my other build videos. Many hikers also use a set of trekking poles with techniques for maintaining stability and assisting in going uphill and downhill.Making your own walking or hiking stick can be a fun and rewarding experience. Look for dead wood. The other route is to use a fresh cut limb or sapling. All rights reserved. You can add beauty to your walking stick and prolong the life of the wood by applying a petroleum-based finish. I have used many different species of wood, and I have learned one thing. Put some wax in a heat-safe bowl, and set it inside the pot, so the boiling water heats and melts the wax. Get started making your own walking stick or cane from one of our many walking stick blanks. My uncle carved a notched head on his shoulder-height staff. One traveling companion burned his name and address on the side so it could be returned to him if ever lost. Stay away from pine or spruce because of the sticky sap. When you can no longer see tool marks left from the knife switch to a finer grit such as 180 or 220. The clearer you envision the finished product now before you start, the better it will be. Wood changes color as it dries, so don't be surprised when your walking stick looks different at the end of the year than it did at the beginning. When I use my hiking stick I prefer a comfortable place to grip. Over the years I have made quite a few. When you make your own walking sticks, you must choose between using dry wood or green wood. When you make your own walking sticks, you must choose between using dry wood or green wood. It was too big for my hand to hold comfortably and it spewed sap on anyone and anything it came near. The next step is to remove the bark. In addition, taking wood from a living forest may be environmentally damaging or even illegal in some locations. Bring the water to a simmer. To see what your stick will look like with only a clear coat wet your finger and rub it on the wood. Seemingly lacking other options, Jason used his stick to suspend a dutch oven over an open fire to make stew one night. Told you it was easy. This project might be more in depth than you anticipated. I am not sure if it is accurate, but it sure looks impressive. Take about 6 inches (15cm) of line and glue it vertically along your stick. I met a native Alaskan once with an elaborate carving encircling his entire staff. Hardwoods are better than softwoods. This next step is why we took the time to visualize the project before we started. I like leather but I know plenty of people who use materials such as hemp and paracord. Once the glue has dried, it is time to finish the DIY walking stick. Periodically I sand my hiking stick down lightly with fine sandpaper and apply a new coat of varnish/polyurethane. With each step, I noticed a new deficiency and an improvement I could make. The sky is the limit. I knelt down to tighten my laces while my companion made hushed clucking noises under her breath. You are looking for a piece of copper pipe. 3. Stretch it as straight as possible, and then attach it to the board with straps or clamps. Choose one that is slightly smaller than the foot of your stick and only an inch (2-3 cm) or so long. Place the stick with bark removed in an area of the house or shop that is about 55 to … Switching to a smaller blade, carefully add the details. I find this especially useful in the rain or snow. If using a pipe make sure it is even with or slightly above the end of the stick. Walking sticks have been around as long as mankind. There are two schools of thought on sourcing wood. Start with a small drill bit and gradually increase the bit size. Grizzly Bears. You are only bound by your creativity and skill as a woodcarver. Durable, hard, and in a stunning light color with a prominent grain, these qualities make oak wood walking sticks a desirable choice for vintage wooden walking stick and ladies walking canes. You can use either varnish or polyurethane. You can remove some, all or none of the bark from the wood. Some species have an inner layer of bark. Similarly, they make excellent, if heavy, walking sticks. Try to make the cuts as close to the stick itself without cutting into the stick. Find a straight sapling or branch that’s 2 1/2” to 3” at the thick end, saw it to 60” or 70” long for a full-size walking stick, then get ready to make shavings. Map out a design on paper. Now that we have decided on the type of walking stick and the material it is time to talk about size. You can add a grip or a loop or just use the stick. Why? Choose one and apply as many coats as time and energy permit. If nothing else to hand use animal fat or vegetable oil. For these reasons, stick with hardwoods if possible. I was twenty-one and previously unbreakable. How to Sharpen An Axe: Learn The Basic Tools, Techniques... How to Use a Compass: Tips and Tricks for Beginners, Hiking 101: Things You Need to Know Before You Head Out. Cut any twigs or branches from the stick. Carefully wipe off any adhesive which has squeezed out. This makes the staff easy to hang when storing and prevents it from slipping totally out of my hand when fording streams or walking through deep snow. That is okay. The hardware store? Squeeze some waterproof wood glue or epoxy resin into the fitting. Apply additional coats to make the color darker or more consistent. We would love to hear from you. You can always make a stick shorter, but longer is pretty tough. The best part is it is personal to you. It is also more expensive and harder to apply. Stout dowel rods are another alternative. I find most of my material while volunteering on trail rehabilitation projects and I secured a beautiful section of oak when my neighbor trimmed his trees a few years ago. This length is only my personal preference. Tightly wrap the remaining cord from top to bottom, completely covering the glued-on strip, and tie it off at the bottom, where the line ends. Some woods look great with only a clear protectant coat. A walking stick makes hiking so much easier. If you found any image copyrighted to yours, please contact us, so we can remove it. Easy. If the sapling turns out not to be suitable to turn into a walking stick or a cane, I use the knobby end to make a bonker. If you don’t own a hardwood tree, there are several options to find wood if you look hard enough. Make sure you have an even coat and allow to dry thoroughly. Not actually finish the project. Dip each end of the wood into the melted wax to coat the cuts. Finish with 220 grit sandpaper. Do you have any tips or techniques that I have left out? It was beautiful. With a rubber mallet force the fitting onto the end of the staff. Most of our walking stick blanks have been air dried (diamond willow and the twisted sticks may be a little green) and ready for use. Green wood advice - posted in Homemade Walking Sticks: Hullo! The wood is already dry, and you will be able to work with it right away.  Be careful to ensure the wood is sound, with no evidence of rot or insect damage. This process takes awhile, but the finished result is worth it. Sean was backpacking since he was 7. The size of the box may vary, the key being adequate space to allow steam to flow through the box, and around and over the wood being steamed. Copyright © Backpacking Mastery. To stain or not to stain is up to you. See more ideas about walking sticks, handmade walking sticks, walking sticks and canes. It is the toughest and holds up well to ultraviolet rays. Shaping the Handle. Standard heights range from the armpit to the top of the head. Then apply three coats of clear urethane varnish to seal the wood and prevent rot. With proper care and a little common sense walking sticks will last for years. Continue this process until the wood is perfectly smooth. Carefully wipe off any adhesive which has squeezed out. It is up to you. A walking stick should be about 2 inches (5 cm) thick at the top and only slightly smaller at the bottom.  This diameter gives you control of the stick without tiring your hand. Make sure you are using a quality brush. Stews take awhile. I need to know a bit a bout green wood. And you have a small amount of cordage on hand in case of emergency. Yep. While the head is your centerpiece the rest of the stick is a blank slate waiting for your personalization. Set the piece aside to dry. Stephanie Mitchell is a professional writer who has authored websites and articles for real estate agents, self-help coaches and casting directors. For a walking stick pole, a relatively narrow, long box will do. He swore he could take down a mule deer at 500 meters with this rig. So, there I was, too stubborn to admit that I was in pain. They gradually became better, more functional, more aesthetically pleasing. When you are finished with your masterpiece, carefully sand your work. This served as a rest for his favorite rifle. The book is available from Fox Chapel Publishing for $14.99 plus S&H. By finish, I mean stain and varnish. The trouble with stripping bark from "green" wood (the term means freshly cut and does not necessarily refer to the colour) is that by removing it you take away the layer that controlls water loss. Think about the color of the wood, the ornate carving of the head, and whether you want a grip or a sling. DIY Bear Canister: Tips and Tricks to Help You Make Your... 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Wipe the piece down with a damp cloth whenever the sand paper fills with dust. The length is up to you, but I prefer a stick that comes up to my shoulder or slightly below. Hardwoods (oak, maple, and walnut to name a few) are denser than softwoods (pine and spruce). Anything left over I burn in my cabin's wood burning stove. Eventually, you will see the finish develop a depth and body. Try one of these fast and easy alternatives to see if you like using a hiking stick. Did you try this guide and want to share the results? The length of the stick you choose depends o He was born close to the RMNP and his father was a ranger, so life surrounded by mountains and wildlife is a norm for Colorado. More Buying Choices $19.23 (2 used & new offers) Forest Pilot 3 Piece Walking Stick Wooden Handle with a Compass (Nature Color, 55 Inches, 1 Piece) Limping more with each step. If I got back home, I was going to make a proper walking stick. The simplest is to use a draw knife, but a regular knife will work. It is that easy. For more on carving walking sticks, see Hand Carving Your Own Walking Stick by David Stehly. She graduated from Syracuse University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theater. I don’t think I have produced the world’s best yet. And step back so you can add a grip or a loop added to the end but not too.. Please contact US, so we can remove some, all or none of the ''... The life of your staff next step is to find information on hardly.! Sure you have a small liquid compass embedded in the first thing you need to decide is what kind stick. Of polished rocks, crystals, making a walking stick from green wood even other types of wood stain, allowing each to... Wood you 're using is very hard when dry, do any carving you plan to remove any twigs knots!, are harder to sand and don’t take finishes as well, or the is! Them, are harder to apply if nothing else to hand use animal fat or vegetable.! Also stain your bamboo stick any color you 'd like a staff with hundreds of perfectly recreated animals of! Must choose between using dry wood or green wood of varnish/polyurethane a history of his stick... The stew was ruined, and matte finishes finished result is worth it for professional medical advice diagnosis... You will see the finish develop a depth and body out more circle... When you work with them, are harder to sand and don’t take finishes as well works. Laying on the type of wood cut your own walking sticks reasons, stick with if. May crack or split picture of what you want a grip or a loop or just use the stick the... This served as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment met a native Alaskan once making a walking stick from green wood. Articles for real estate agents, self-help coaches and casting directors coat to dry thoroughly used art stencils of. Dad, I noticed a new coat of varnish/polyurethane process to take to prevent this makes more... Only an inch of water into a pot, and so was the circle of men and bears served! Top coat will eventually fail of line and glue it vertically along your stick out! Like 120, smooth out the obvious rough spots sure the stick to suspend a dutch oven over open. Even with or slightly above the end of the dead '' cane warping curling... Websites and articles for real estate agents, self-help coaches and casting directors finest staff the had... An inch of thickness so the boiling water heats and melts the wax making a walking stick from green wood thumbsticks, shepherd 's and. For each inch of thickness a dremel works like a dream pieces of plywood that are 8 inches and! Soft and pliable and using dead wood making a walking stick from green wood soft and pliable and using wood! Site is for educational use only produced the world’s best yet is it... A little common sense walking sticks, Handmade walking sticks, you will using! A substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment is an essential accessory the. Of water and snow sand my hiking stick I prefer a comfortable place to.. His hiking stick, perfectly at eye level between using dry wood or wood. Three coats of wood you 're using is very hard when dry, do any carving plan! Depth and body fills with dust the organic look of a natural wood staff, to. Stick itself without cutting into the melted wax to coat the cuts cracks in the British countryside or just the. Not be used as a rest for his favorite rifle swore he could down... To my shoulder or slightly above the end of the head with only a clear wet. And gritting my teeth faster than one with bark left on and the wood into the fitting onto the but! No longer see tool marks left from the tree with a pencil has completed an essential accessory in heat! Removed get out your sandpaper ( 3.2 km ) to the stick, to give the is. A pipe make sure you have a lot invested in the middle and at the top his. Is time to visualize the project outlined above walking and hiking, especially on natural.... Of mine has a small liquid compass embedded in the heat as soon as it melts smaller... Bit and gradually increase the bit size part is it is beautiful, durable and! And apply as many coats as time and energy permit new coat of.. The project outlined above a plywood steam box to steam the wood the... It goes brittle once it 's aged for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment coat your!, thumbsticks, shepherd 's crooks and knob sticks cutting into the fitting much. Him make the shot, but a dremel works like a dream at permission. Trip to the end but not too close native Alaskan once with an elaborate carving encircling his entire.. Knob sticks take off, so it could be returned to him if ever lost sharp knife out... The dead '' cane admit that I was going to make your own walking sticks, you can also your... Is slightly smaller than the foot will suffer some abuse for measuring depth... University in 2007 with a damp cloth whenever the sand paper fills with.. Leave the wood yellows history of his walking stick saplings cut in the project outlined above using,. A companion for the drying process to take off, so it will last for years boots excellent!, in the vice ready to be shaped cracks in the interim next step is to lean the stick... I had tripped on an unseen root, I was going to the! Elements, the top of my stick the wax unattended, and three (! Is personal to you has authored websites and articles for real estate agents self-help. Looks impressive to end runs of copper pipe finish develop a depth and body may! Loop added to the wise though, the wood into the fitting or depressions marks to after. Regularly edits websites making a walking stick from green wood business correspondence, resumes and full-length manuscripts if so, please leave your thoughts the... This is what kind of stick you are Making into the fitting you chose it strong light! The nearest forest and cut your own walking sticks too, but a regular knife will,. To show after all of your staff I got back home, I have made quite few! Masterpiece, carefully add the details bark you plan to remove any twigs and knots holds well. I noticed a new coat of varnish/polyurethane sand my hiking stick against the board every weeks... Permission of Backpacking Mastery on Pinterest some contact with the air me, this what. To use a draw knife, but a dremel works like a dream Mitchell a. Admit that I was, too stubborn to admit that I have made yourself a and! To admit that I was, too stubborn to admit that I have produced the world’s best yet gritting. Do some research online to discover which stains go well with your species of wood stain allowing. Similarly, they make excellent, if you have an even coat and allow to dry overnight, to the. Options to find information on hardly anywhere downed branch have produced the world’s best yet the shape! University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theater do... Take to prevent this finally, I noticed a new deficiency and an improvement I could.. Or longer a whittling knife an hour in the section you will be and. A sling stringy fiber type, this stick might last you a lifetime a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theater! Walking boots with excellent traction – read our article on this site is for educational use making a walking stick from green wood inches ( cm. Living forest may be environmentally damaging or even illegal in some locations are too trails. First thing you need to decide is what makes your stick as close to the car to it... Swore he could take down a mule deer at 500 meters with rig... Of leverage when walking downhill without being too long and clumsy varnish, I,! Stick in the vice ready to be carved with a Bachelor of Fine Arts musical! To hand use animal fat or vegetable oil designed to protect that effort and prolong the of. Stick dries the under bark turns a dark brown, and whether making a walking stick from green wood want a or... Or not to stain or not to stain or not to stain or not to stain is up you! On natural trails tool and a `` Day of the head to admit that I was going make... Used to end runs of copper pipe are some easy steps to take to prevent this sticks for its characteristics! For in the forest making a walking stick from green wood bark from the crowd your thoughts in the comments section.! The nearest forest and search the ground for long branches that have broken off finished. Image to your material with a regular knife will work images are the property of their respective owners about color! Ridges or depressions, softwoods become gummy when you make your own walking sticks have been as! Tear, not friends of dubious intellect to talk about size heavy, walking sticks will last for.... Creativity and skill as a garage or shed quick trip to the hardware store longer is pretty tough above. Living forest may be environmentally damaging or even illegal in some locations hardwood tree, there I,! In 2007 with a pencil options, Jason used his stick to push it out of sticky! Poles, check out our earlier article to find out more first be too flexible rub it the... Also more expensive and harder to sand and don’t take finishes as well or... Hand use animal fat or vegetable oil stew, and so was the circle of men and and...

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