strongest, hardest stick for strikes, etc.......

K

Kelt

Joined
Aug 8, 1999
Messages
707
other than the harder plastics- what would you vote as the hardest, heaviest, strongest wood for use as a palm stick or improvised weapon- i'm making my own type of low-profile "toy" and need to find the right kind of wood. I'm gonna order from Kris Cutlery most likely (any other ideas); not looking for rattan.
Kamagong; Yakalwood; Ebonywood- what gets your vote??
Thanks!!
 
Kamagong aka Ebony. FWIW, I have seen it break but it took some real effort.
Coccobolo and a good heavy mahogany.
 
Okay- so Kamagong is the same as Ebony? cause they seem to be listed separately in the catalog. The Kamagong seems to be pretty strong...
 
I don't think Kamagong is the same as Ebony, though I'm not an expert of woods. I would definitely have to say that Kamagong is very heavy and strong ... hey, I'm a poet and didn't know it!
wink.gif


Another one you might want to look into is Lignum Vitae (sp?). It's a very dense hard wood from S. America I think. It seems to have a lot of the same properties as Kamagong ... most importantly it's very dense, durable and heavy (like Kamagong it's specific gravity is greater than water - ie it won't float). It even turns dark brown to almost black in color with exposure to air just like Kamagong and I think I read that it turns pretty easily. I almost wonder if it isn't a least closely related to Kamagong. Any how, it doesn't sound as rare as Kamagong, so it might be easier and cheaper to get. If you can get some, you could probably find a local wood worker to custom turn whatever type of piece you want on their lathe. That way, it will be exactly what you want and it will be somewhat unique.

I have a URL on my PC at work that gives more info on Lignum Vitae and other exotic hard-woods. I think you may even be able to order the wood on-line. I'll post it in the AM.

Hope this helps.

Dave Fulton





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Full Contact Martial Arts Association.

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."


 
If you want the strongest possible wooden stick, you won't turn it, but rather follow the grain and carefully scrape it down after splitting it out (if you start from a large piece of wood). Those of you who have been around tobacco farms have probably seen hand-split sticks that were thirty, forty, perhaps even fifty years old. To have one of these sticks break is a rare occurence because while they are not usually straight, their grain is intact. The newer, sawn sticks are nowhere near as durable and often fail under even small loads.

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"I am not, really."
 
KELT,

Kamagong is the hardest and heaviest wood that Kris Cutlery sells. Get one of the 18" Serrada sticks, then cut it down to palm stick size. I don't think you'll have any problems with breakage if it's around 6" long.

I ordered some palm sticks(made with different shaped ends) from Michael Enad. They are made from Walnut and African Wenge wood. Send him an e-mail for more info. Here's his website:
http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Rink/8337/index.html


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K. Williams
Modern Arnis Student
AKTI Member #A000978

[This message has been edited by K Williams (edited 06-06-2000).]
 
If you're around California try Manzanita wood, cheap and strong. I've had it puncture tires in my 4WD. Sometimes sticks are available in pet stores, as the wood is impervious to parrots chewing.
 
Wow! Thanks to everybody for the great responses! Think I'll try the Kamagong; basically just need to drill a hole right down the center of the stick. I may also use a piece for Koppo stick-work, depending on how thin i can get it without compromising on its strength.
 
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