Anyone ever made a staff out of willow?

[Laurentius]

I know it is fine for cricket bats and all that, but can you make a decent hiking staff out of it? I have been doing a bit of pruning today and have a nice seven foot branch which might do if it does not bend too much as it dries out.

 

[JonathanD]

Yes. I've made and sold a few on here with antler thumb Y.

 

[bambodoggy]

Yep, I made a very rustic willow staff about ten years ago and it's still going strong

 

[Harvestman]

Willow should be fine. Good resilient and springy wood. It should be ideal.

 

[dwardo]

I made a 50lb draw weight bow from willow recently.
Does help to use the right type of wilow.

 

[allrightscud]

I'm not sure what type I have but the willow along my stretch of river isn't very good at all for sticks. It goes very brittle very quick. I've tried all sorts of seasoning tricks for it but its not very good once its drieds out. It becomes too light, it doesn't seem to be very dense and breaks. I guess you'll need to makes ure its the correct variety before you start. On an other note it makes great canes for my climbing beans.

 

[Harvestman]

I'm not sure what type I have but the willow along my stretch of river isn't very good at all for sticks. It goes very brittle very quick. I've tried all sorts of seasoning tricks for it but its not very good once its drieds out. It becomes too light, it doesn't seem to be very dense and breaks. I guess you'll need to makes ure its the correct variety before you start. On an other note it makes great canes for my climbing beans.

That sounds like crack willow, which does exactly what it says on the tin. Try using goat willow instead.

 

[Nice65]

Hang your stick up and tie a weight on it. It'll help it season straight.

 

[allrightscud]

That sounds like crack willow, which does exactly what it says on the tin. Try using goat willow instead.

Just tried what was along my river banking. I've loads of hazel so just use that now. Need to see if I can positivly identify the willow. I was going to plant some stick cuttings this year for fire wood harvesting. Not sure if it'll be any good for that.

 

[chimpy leon]

Cricket bats are made from a very specific willow species (Cricket bat willow??) The ones that are found along river banks are almost always crack willow AKA Salix fragilis which are as the name suggests, fragile. Goat willow is OK although still not particuarly dense.

 

[ozzy1977]

The stands of willows on wet ground and near rivers and streams are quite often cricket bat willows

 

[chimpy leon]

The stands of willows on wet ground and near rivers and streams are quite often cricket bat willows

Yes of course they are.

 

[redneck]

I've made willow sticks, they are lightweight but decent enough..

 

[dave53]

i foraged a piece of willow a few weeks ago thinking it would make a nice stick a week later i threw it away it was crack willow must try again regards dave

 

[hog]

I know it is fine for cricket bats and all that, but can you make a decent hiking staff out of it? I have been doing a bit of pruning today and have a nice seven foot branch which might do if it does not bend too much as it dries out.

Cable tie it to a metal rod or bar untill it dries out then it will stay straight.

 

[Laurentius]

Cable tie it to a metal rod or bar untill it dries out then it will stay straight.

Excellent idea, I have just done that.

 

[redneck]

Cable tie it to a metal rod or bar untill it dries out then it will stay straight.

I've heard people saying things like this before, but in my experience it doesn't work. As the stick dries it shrinks very slightly and the cable ties or string or wire become loose, and the stick no longer remains straight against the bar, also it can leave unsightly grooves in the wood if tightened too tight first off..
The proper way to do it is just let it dry naturally then steam the bends till they are hot and straighten the stick by bending it over your knee, I must have done over 100 sticks this way over my years..

 

[Goatboy]

Just don't stand still too long, it may take root!