Carved Staff

What should you do your own hand carved hiking sticks? A pocket knife and a walk in the woods. Make sure your knife is solidly built. You do not need more of a blade of three inches, but it must be strong enough that it does not break on you when you hit a knot in the wood. A locking plate is a good idea too, if you stick to your fingers.

What type of wood should I use? All you want, but be aware of differences. Many people like hardwood hiking sticks because they can be very beautiful once polished. This is fine if you do not mind the extra work it takes to carve hardwoods. Also be aware that they are heavy, better suited for decorating the cabin for use on long hikes.

One of my favorite trees for carved hiking sticks is poplar. It is light, and one of the easiest to work with wood. Young poplars often grow in stands more crowded, then cut a little will not harm the forest. If you cut the spring or early summer, you can almost Peel the bark by hand.

White cedar is a much tougher wood to carve, but it is beautiful, straight, and one of the lightest. In Cedar Swamp, you can find many dead young cedars that have not begun to rot. Cedar lasts forever, it seems, even when used untreated as fence posts.

Towards a carved walking stick

What if you do not know your trees? Find a young tree right in all areas that could use thinning, and cut. A short saw is the best way to reduce your stick. Otherwise, you can use your knife, cutting deeper and deeper in a circle around the tree until you can break it. Cut the piece a little longer than you want your finished hiking stick to be.

How long should it be? A general rule is to have the hiking poles find just below the armpit. It's a personal thing, though. If you want a personal fantasy of seven feet, go ahead.

Cut yourself, removing all the bark. Refine the lower end but not a sharp point. You may leave the apartment above it round, or even carve a spiral design into it. Use your imagination. Almost any piece of sandpaper can be used to smooth and you can apply stain or a poly acrylic finish if you want, or simply leave natural.

If you start with green wood, it is best to let it dry for at least several weeks. Carving it while green can be easier, but it will often twist or bend then as it dries. You can avoid this by tying it to something straight to dry. Each wood is a little different in how they cut and dry.

I wrap the bottom end with leather (with a small nail to hold it) to keep the stick from splitting. I also often put a handle on it. This may be a piece of fabric or leather. Glue or glue and staple. You can also drill a hole thought the stick near the top, to add a strap.

Be creative. Use a wood stove to add to your hiking stick drawings. Drill a hole on top and glue a glass ball in it. Mark inches on it, so you can measure it. Some of my best sellers had pewter animals nailed. Experimentation is one of the best parts of making your own carved hiking stick.