making a walking staf

[troyka]

I've just been for a walk in my local woods, and cut me a sycamore staf.

should i leave it to season or can it be used now? its green wood and im planning to strip most bark if not all and wax it at some point. i want to decorate it a little too.. maybe some pattern carving.

this is my first ever attempt at wood (apart from dream catchers that i make with my youth groups)

i guess im looking for any advice, for a newbie with limited tools and knolege .

 

[Elines]

There are more experienced people on this site than me but when I wanted to make a walking stick I went to see a bloke in the village who has been making walking sticks for years with bison horn/antler handles/carved wooden handles etc - the works.

He told me to let the wood season for a year. His reason was that if you need to straighten (or I guess bend the staff) then if you do this while it is green it will revert (or tend to revert) to its original shape.

Incidentally he suggested bending it by using – say – a paint stripper hot air gun to focus heat on the bit you wanted to bend/straighten. He also said you could use a cooker hot plate or an open fire if that is easier for you. You heat up the bit you want to change and then adjust it/bend it over your knee while it is still hot.

I followed his guidance and it worked for me – but other people with more experience may have alternative views/advice.

 

[Ogri the trog]

If you allow it to season, it will get a lot lighter in weight and somewhat stronger.
Before long you'll have a number of them in different stages of drying, decoration, size etc.

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[blacktimberwolf]

I make the odd walking stick now & again from hazel, I just saw them off the bush, cut them to the required length ( from the ground to the arm pit) & width & start to use them as such, I keep them inside when not being used & then after about 6 months they're nice & dry & ready for any further work such as carving, staining or linseed oiling.....I suppose everyone has their own methods.

 

[woodspirits]

hiya bud, you might want to give 'cliv' a buzz, he makes some crackin' staffs

 

[Barn Owl]

I've certainly used sycamore and stripped it straight away but never carved it.

 

[Bluemerle]

Same as blacktimberwolf. i have sticks laying about from green through to 10 years. some decorated, some partly decorated etc. the trouble is i keep finding the "Perfect stick" i suppose at the end of the day its just a stick, and theres always another around the corner, so start using and you will soon have a collection!!

 

[Barn Owl]

It will be holding more moisture just now though mind.

 

[mwnci]

So what is the right kind of thickness? Thumb thick or wider?

 

[Elines]

just start with one and see how you go - you might decide that you want to whip some paracord etc on it as a handle and then you will want to start with a thinner one, maybe. There are plenty of potential staffs/walking sticks out there and if you get one 'wrong' you have gained experience from your 'mistake' and lost nothing.

 

[troyka]

thanks for the advice guys..
ive set it aside for now to dry, i intend to inlay a micro compass in the top just to see if i can, here is a pic http://flic.kr/s/aHsjv5cMy3

also some para cord things

what would be a nice darker wood to use for a stick? i may make a mobility stick at some point as i suffer with a bad back sometimes.

 

[troyka]

So what is the right kind of thickness? Thumb thick or wider?

ive done for about 22 mill at the bottom (my 22mill rubber Ferrel fits on it) to about at a guess 1"1/4 at the top

 

[mwnci]

ive done for about 22 mill at the bottom (my 22mill rubber Ferrel fits on it) to about at a guess 1"1/4 at the top

Thanks very much, I will keep my eye out for suitable lengths.

 

[Melonfish]

I dont really bother waiting a year for the lengths to season, i usually cut in the the winter (i was actually coppicing when i got mine) and by late summer they're ready to work with.
A tip if you're using hazel is to hang the staffs tied round a broom handle to help em straighten as they dry.