Walking Stick Making With Bottlebrush Wood

Here in Miami, Florida the Bottle Brush (really a tree) is used in the area as an decorative tree. Its thick curved bark is an attractive enhancement for wood carvers. Also, it good for hiking stick making and staff making. However, you see very little done with it with walking and hiking sticks making people.

One main reason it is not a popular wood for walking stick making is because it's hard to fine good straight section that is not to thick. Also, I takes a while to cure due to the hardness of the wood. But if you do get your hands on a good hiking staff Bottle Brush limb section then you will fined its provides hours of walking stick making enjoyment.

The actual wood is very attractive with a darker heartwood cores which gives great contrast when making hiking sticks. If you plan to completely peel the walking stick give yourself some time because it does not peel well. Once peeled start with 80 grit paper to get all the makes off your walking stick or staff.

Now what should to do with you Bottle Brush walking stick or hiking staff to make it unique? The contrast with the bark makes it a prime candidate to make a walking stick wood spirit. You will need to make sure you have sharp wood carving tools for you hiking staff due to the woods hardness. It does wood carve in most directions well and once finished is a very strudy walking sticks or staff.

Another option is to stain your wood walking stick using a pattern technique or wood burn images into the wood. Or create an decorative rope wrap as handle or around the stick for your hiking staff hand grip area.

if you have any questions concerning making walking sticks with Bottle Brush or other woods please post your question here. Happy holidays and remember to grab a couple Xmas trees before they get picked as trash for walking stick making in January.