Walking stick question for Ron

Ron,

How did you make the metal tip that is shown on the walking stick you use in your videos? What material did you use, and how did you construct and attach it?

Thanks
 
D

Doc Ron

Joined
May 16, 1999
Messages
422
Hi Howard,

I posted the directions in a different thread... I can't find the thread now.

We try to used SS pipe with the ID of the pipe just a tiny bit less than the OD of the staff. If the staff is round try to shove the tip on... it should shave a tiny bit of wood. Shave the wood to get the almost fit.

Heat the pipe with a torch or BBQ till it is malleable. I use a heavy bench vise to close one end of the tube for about a 1 inch flat area. Re heat the pipe and shove it onto the stick. It should burn it's way on for a tight fit. Cool the end in wet sand or water or oil.... the stick will burn if you don't cool it fast.

Drill two holes in the side of the tube so you can put in either pins (10 penny nails) or screws if you counter sink the pipe.

Drill a small hole, large enough to allow 550 cord to pass through, in the flat area near the tip. This will allow you to use the staff like a spear with cord attached to get your cord over branches etc. Helps you pull down dry wood or hang your food.

I also made a little hook affair that snaps on it and is stong enough to hold my weight. I can hook rock or branches and climb the staff. Good for getting up a tree in a hurry.

If you need more elaboration, let me know.

Hope that helps,

ROn

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Learn Life Extension at:

http://www.survival.com ]
 
Thanks Ron.

That should be enough to get me started on a winter project.

In the past I have just cut convenient walking sticks from downed timber near the trailhead. I have to admit your sticks that combine digging, slinging, trapping, sighting, and measuring abilities have a lot of style. I'll see what I can do about making a little more creative staff myself.



[This message has been edited by Howard Wallace (edited 27 December 1999).]
 
Ron, Howard,
I've been making walking/hiking sticks from ratan (sometimes called rotan I believe).
I found an importer (wholesale) in Holland and he was willing to sell me for my scouts nice strait 9-10 feet long 1.1/8"-1.3/8" diameter ratan with the outer skin still on.
These make very strong, lite and flexible hiking staffs between 4-5.5' long.
The best part they cost only about $8 for 9-10 feet so every scout could afford one.

I haven't yet made a tip like you just described I just turned a bunch of tips on a lathe from 1/2" round steel and after finishing just hardened the tips in oil.

I never realized that ratan would be so hard to sand down but it really is a pain in the a.. to "round off" the tip even on my simple home beltgrinder.

My walkingstaff accepts my Cold Steel bushman cheapo knife as I tapered the tip to fit the Bushmans inside handle. I also wound about 20 yards of 2 mm black nylon around the "gripping area" this really provides a non slip surface.

Again, nice things don't have to be expensive. Keep alive, Bagheera

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We've used everything from Mountain Mahogany and high altitude willow (Free) to oak rake or shovel handles (6-8 bucks). Once I Just bought a piece of Oak plank 6'X 6" X 2" sliced it into three staffs that I turned on a wood lathe.

The very best staffs I have found are Japanese Naginatas in the 6 foot length. They tend to be a bit pricey.

There is a picture on our website I think it is in the Trapping video section. The things show up throughout our videos and site tho'

Solid conduit will work fine.

Ron

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Learn Life Extension at:

http://www.survival.com ]
 
That looks neat, but is rather PRICEY!! I wonder where one could get some aluminum tubing to make one!?!?!

Thanks for the link!



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Plainsman :)
primitiveguy@hotmail.com


 
Nojobtoo..

I've seen the "survival staff". As a matter of fact we show my version of it in our "Primitive Weapons" video. I never knew if Crawford had the idea on his own or copied it from somewhere. I made mine back in the early 70's and showed it to thousands of people and on TV as an example of an innovative but pretty useless tool. It works but I prefer a sturdy staff with a metal point and a couple of good tools.

Mine is made from an old aluminum downhill ski pole.

Ron

------------------
Learn Life Extension at:

http://www.survival.com ]
 
Ron, here is the thread you mentioned: http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum18/HTML/000176.html

What sources do you (or anyone else) get your SS tubing from?

What length in relation to someone's height do you usually find most useful? Without running out to look at your videos, I recall them going about to the top of your head..more or less???

I like the idea of a survival staff that you can use as a blow gun, etc...but a long piece of metal or carbon fiber would not appeal to me in a lighting storm.
wink.gif
...not to mention the price...no matter how reasonable it is for what you get.

Ron, do you always have your walking/digging stick? Does the metal tip pose a noise or slipping problem?

You have mentioned the value as support, throwing as a cord carrier, digging, fending off brush when walking through it. Any other compelling reasons (good enough to convert Greg
smile.gif
)?...or for that matter, disadvantages?
 
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