OT... Poking sticks...

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BruiseLeee

BruiseLeee

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Every now and then I get a hankering to carve a walking stick. What is a good durable type of wood to use for such a thing? Plus where does one order a block of suitable sized material for such a project?

I purchased a pickaxe handle to sort of goof around with first.
 
Bruise-- I have oak and manazanita locally, both of which make fine walking (or poking) sticks. When I need one I just head to the woods and cut one. You can also make a pretty nice walking stick from bamboo or rattan if you want a staff-sized stick, but I don't think it would be very good for carving. What types of trees do you have growing near you?
--Josh
 
Originally posted by Josh Feltman
BWhat types of trees do you have growing near you?
--Josh
Click to expand...

Green ones. :D

Most of the stuff around here is softwood. Pine, etc. Never really thought about going out into the woods and cutting a piece. I guess living in the city I'm scared of being declared an outlaw for poaching the king's lumber...

I could be the next Robin Hoodlike guy and have a merry band of outlaws. :rolleyes:
 
Bruise, my boys & I usually cut walking staves (is that a word? staffs?) from alder. I cut it the same length as I am tall and peel the bark. I've been using the same one for three years now, it's ugly but strong and flexible. These are great for hiking, might get you some weird looks if you walk around downtown with one though.

If you're looking for a more civilized walking stick I'd defer to others like Rusty for expertise.
 
I saw Rusty's headcrusher stick on the HI convention video. It's probably out of my price range at this time. I sort of want to make something mildly classy. This is for waving at young whippersnappers when I become a bitter old man. :D
 
See if you have a "Woodcraft" store around you, they carry a nice assortment of exotics and domestic hard woods. I got a piece of Purple Heart there last year to make a bokken.:D
 
Very nice.

Extra special would be canvas micarta. Looks like wood, practically indestructible (though probably about 60% heavier).

I've seen purple heart broken. :eek:
 
Originally posted by Spectre

Extra special would be canvas micarta.
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You forget me being extra cheap. :) Didn't some thread say that the micarta stuff was full of wonderful chemicals that were no fun to inhale?

Micarta looks nice but also looks kinda expensive. A few bux a linear foot would be in Mr. Scrooge's budget.
 
In the West Ocotillo-In the East Hickory

http://www.desertusa.com/nov96/du_ocotillo.html

http://www.brazos-walking-sticks.com/product/twisted_hickory_walking_cane.html?first=1

Mudcat lyrics
HAND ME DOWN MY WALKIN' CANE

cho: Hand me down (hand me down) my walkin' cane (my walkin' cane)(2x)
Hand me down my walkin' cane, I'm a gonna leave on the midnite train
All of my sins been taken away, taken away.

Yonder comes a man (yonder comes a man) across the field (across the field)
repeat
Yonder comes a man across the field, kickin' up dust like an automobile
All of my sins, etc.

If I had listened (repeat) what mama said (repeat)
repeat
If I had listened what mama said, I'd be sleeping in a feather bed
All of my sins, etc.

Hell is deep, and hell is wide
repeat
Hell is deep and hell is wide, ain't got no bottom ain't got no sides
All of my sins, etc.

Hand me down my walkin' cane
I'm gonna leave on the midnight train

Hand me down my bottle of corn
I won't be home till the early morn
(or "Gonna get drunk as sure as you're born")

I got drunk and I landed in jail (3)
Had nobody for to go my bail

Well the beans was tough and the meat was fat (3)
Oh good lord I cain't eat that

If I'd listened to what my mama said* (3)
I'd been sleepin' in a feather bed

Hand me down my rockin' chair (3)
I'm gonna rock on outta here
All of my sins are taken away

@minstrel @camp
filename[ WALKCANE
DB,BT
oct96
 
Raggie steered you in a good way with the suggestion of alder.:) Without knowing exactly what part of Saudi you're in it's difficult to know what grows around you.
In some parts of Saudi there's a tree/bush called Diamond Willow that makes beautiful sticks.:D
 
Bruise,

Ramin is very strong, attractive (for a blond wood), and super cheap.

John
 
There are some woods near me where there are various types of pine, birch, hazel and so on. The forestry commission are usually felling around that area, so its nice and easy to find a dead, straight staff, its fantastic. I went there the other week and found what must have been a tree a short time ago, it must have been 20 feet long, 3 inches thick at one end and 1 and a half at the other, so I took off about 6 feet worth, also picked up a lovely 5 feet of silver birch, going to make two beautiful staves (that is the correct conjugation right?) with those two. I am not so sure about specific wood types, I tend to find something that looks nice (the birch is beautiful, the wood is so white!), smack it against a stout tree to see how brittle it is, chop it, sand it, finish it and thats it.
 
Originally posted by Spectre
Bruise,

Ramin is very strong, attractive (for a blond wood), and super cheap.
Click to expand...

Lemme get this straight... You want me to make a walking stick from instant noodles? ;) :rolleyes:

What if it rains? Do I use the flavor packs for finishing? ;)

99 cents for two at Safeway. Enough for two canes. :D



I looked it up I think another name is Kingwood. I'll have to find an exotic wood place.
 
Originally posted by StmmZaum
...smack it against a stout tree to see how brittle it is, chop it, sand it, finish it and thats it.
Click to expand...

I wonder what I should use to cut the wood? I'll have to bring a saw. :D ;)
 
Ahh, Bruise, let me let you into a little secret. There are these weird curvy knives, brand new idea, they are called cookeries or something. Anyhow, they are really good for chipping, you can get one from www.himalayan-imports.com. Well worth getting one or ten!
 
I couldn't possibly buy one of those. The torture knives scare me. :eek:

Perhaps if you were to loan me your sgt. Karka bilton for a decade or two... ;)
 
Bruise, I'd have to say Hickory if you could get it.
Baseball bats and tool handles (axes, hammers, sledges, etc.) are mostly hickory.
It's real tough stuff, and dense too. ;)
 
LOL, Bruise, its at times like this I wish I were clever enough to come up with witty retorts ;) . Maybe it is just getting late, I had better get some kip. One thing I was wondering, are you planning on carving the stick once you have it? If you are, any idea what or how?
 
I did get a sledge handle to play with last week. Now comes the pain of shaping it. The picture in my mind will probably not look like the finished product. You'll probably see it on ebay listed as "lump of hickory". Starting bid 14 cents.
 
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