How to make hiking sicks self collected wood

    Spring is here now and its time to check your walking sticks that you are curing from the wood collected in the fall. Depending upon your location and wood type you need to cure wood self collected for making walking and hiking sticks. Curing properly greatly limits wood splitting and cracks than can destroy a walking stick making project. Most people collect walking sticks wood when the sap is not flowing because it decreases the time it takes for the wood to cure and the chances of cracks as the hiking staff dries out.

    Wood should be cured in a climate controlled environment that is low in moisture. Here in south Florida this means inside a home with A/C. We are in a tropical environment and curing walking sticks outside is not an option with our high humidity.  If you are in an arid area you can cure the wood for your hiking stick making project in a garage out of extreme heat that can cause warping of the walking stick wood. The walking stick guides give more details on how to cure wood including methods to prevent wood warping.

     Yes, depending upon the variety of the wood you are collecting you can collect during other times of the year. Collecting wood to make walking sticks is half the fun with this hobby. Whether you want to make a hiking staff, walking stick, wizard stick or walking cane it better to prevent hobby frustration and problems before they happen.