finish for walking stick

[pignuts]

I've just finished carving a walking stick from hazel and wondered if anyone out there can give me ideas for a finish that isn't a modern day varnish..something more natural that seals and protects but would bring out the grain and detail well..
cheers

 

[falling rain]

How about vegetable oil?

It works for spoons. The spoon I use all the time I carved from Ash and the grain has become more beautiful the more I've used it and re-oiled it from time to time.
When you say you've carved a stick, do you mean there is bark left on it? Not sure the oil would soak in or penetrate the bark too well. Give it a go.

 

[bombadil]

Danish or linseed oil.
Fairly cheap and reliable, danish oil being more expensive but better at water repellence. My trusty hazel stick, (currently by my side as I'm just about to go on a mushroom foray ), is 3 years old and has been finished in linseed oil. The saying goes !treat it once a day for a week, once a week for a month, once a month for a year and once a year for life!!"

 

[pignuts]

cheers for prompt replies i'll head off down the hardware shop...yes i have left some of the bark on when carving it, my only concern with the linseed oil is it wouldn't necessarily stop the edges of the bark where it's been carved from peeling off or damage. Any thoughts?

 

[Pignut]

Try sealing around the edges of the bark with a little pine sap mixed with ash. natural and fairly tough!

this will also work better if you heat the stick a little!

 

[pignuts]

from one pignut to another cheers for the tip.....

 

[Pignut]

No worries!