Making A Hickory Walking Stick

If you find a very desirable branch that you d like to use but it s too green cut it and whittle it to debark it but let it dry outdoors for several weeks before treating it and finishing.

Making a hickory walking stick.

Birch ironwood black cherry ash and maple are also very stiff strong woods. Once you find a strong straight piece of wood hickory ash maple work really well. In by backwoods i have cherry poplar and black walnut. Whittle off the bark.

The size shape sturdiness and. Dip each end of. However most common types of oak and hickory will also make strong walking sticks. Find a good stick.

Trim it to length. A few exotic hardwoods also resist bending but. Tightly wrap the remaining cord from top to bottom completely covering the glued on strip and tie it off at the bottom where the line ends. Then across the width of the cane mark 3 4 above and below each joint.

Choosing and cutting 1. Take about 6 inches 15cm of line and glue it vertically along your stick. Measure where your hand comfortably grasps the stick with it upright in front of you. Hardwood from deciduous leafy trees is better than evergreen softwood because it is less gummy.

This is where you will drill to insert the 1 4 side dowels. You can use dead dry wood but it s hard to carve and makes a weak walking stick. Lay the cane flat on it s side and with a pencil along the length of the cane mark the center of the cane 1 above and below the joints. Pour about an inch of water into a pot and put the pot on the stove.

How to dry wood for walking sticks 1. If you can find them cherrybark oak and pignut hickory are among the strongest north american hardwoods. Cut your wood to length making sure both ends are free of splits. Tinder kindling and larger branches for fuel and while you re at it look for a piece of wood to make a sturdy walking stick.

Bring the water to a simmer. Put some wax in a. Shave off any bark you plan to remove with a whittling knife. If you are making the walking stick for your own use stand the stick on the ground and hold it in.

If possible use fresh wood. This nice man explains how to make a walking stick from the beginning of a branch then adds style decorations and accessories to make them all unique if you.