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How to choose the right wood for a walking stick?

I'm glad Talfuchre mentioned that he liked maple. It's one of the few trees I can recognize that I find in my area. Lots of oak around here, but it's hard to find a nice straight piece. I'll be sure to get a nice maple stick next time I'm out.
 
Yeah TF, you should make a DIY walking sticks and staves thread :thumbup: Would love to see pics. I have this hickory walking stick that I just love, but I really want to make a few for myself and as gifts to friends.

I have the same problem as you Myright, with tree/wood ID....:o Good thread :thumbup:.
 
One thing I struggle with is Tree identification without the leaves.


I know the bark of ones that I was exposed to a lot as a kit (sassafras, oak, maple, and so on) - but down here... Sheesh...

When I am looking for standing dead - there are no leaves to help me identify. Frankly, I don't care - almost any wood makes a great looking walking stick.

TF
 
Talfuchre said:
One thing I struggle with is Tree identification without the leaves.


I know the bark of ones that I was exposed to a lot as a kit (sassafras, oak, maple, and so on) - but down here... Sheesh...

When I am looking for standing dead - there are no leaves to help me identify. Frankly, I don't care - almost any wood makes a great looking walking stick.

TF
Click to expand...

Coming from you that is very reassuring for a noob like me. Thanks :thumbup:

I'll head out and grab one of my fence posts and start whittling her down ;)
 
I made sticks from Sassafras this summer - takes a stain terribly and looks like ass.... BUT - if you leave it alone - sand it back a little and just poly it - it looks GREAT!.

TF
 
I've had a bamboo walking stick for 35 years. It is very light and very very tough. It works perfect for me. Drill a couple of holes in it and run some cord through it if you want to so you can sling it on your pack, or just walk with it. I won't use anything else
 
xbxb said:
I've had a bamboo walking stick for 35 years. It is very light and very very tough. It works perfect for me. Drill a couple of holes in it and run some cord through it if you want to so you can sling it on your pack, or just walk with it. I won't use anything else
Click to expand...

Hear a lot about bamboo walking sticks, I really need to try it out one of these days :thumbup:.
 
Quite dissapointing today. I went over to my sister's and had my my parents watch myright jr. for a bit. I went out to check out the tree and it is BURIED in vines, weeds, etc. and is also in a marshy area and we had a huge storm last night.

I tried to get in there but I would need much more time to clear vines, etc. to get close enough to get a decent limb. There was nothing small enough and straigh enough to use as a staff, that I saw. There may be some in there but I couldn't get in there. The outer limbs seem to be dead or dying but they are still producing fruit which is pretty darn weird.

Hell - maybe I've got the wrong tree..... Here are some pics.

I barely had enough room to stand so the pics aren't that great.

001-11.jpg


002-11.jpg


003-11.jpg


004-12.jpg


005-13.jpg


What do you guys think?
 
It looks like Osage to me. Some of those limbs off the main branches look straight enough.
 
Some of them.

The hard part is getting to them. I wasn't equipped to clear brush for a few hours getting to the limbs so I'll have to go back.
 
Borrow a long reach limb lopper (the one with the saw on the end):

Snake in there - pick your branch - and cut the one you want - I think you would not have to do much work than that.

TF
 
I knew I liked you for a reason :)

Don't get too excited,, I'm married... ;)

I've got one of them sitting my dad's pole barn.
 
find a hardwood tree not buy a river or a close water source cause of water asorbtion. If men were around beer or whiskey all the time then time and you took it away we would crack like trees. when you peel off the bark to a tree it allows the air to the limb and thats what makes it crack cause the water is trying to escape. if your really paranoid about it then cover the ends of the limb with a candle wax to slow down the drying process and let it dry for a year. hardwood with a tighter grainpattern will split bigger like Oak and Ash. But what can a canadian boy know? can you carve a ball in a cage in the middle of your walking stick?
 
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