How to make walking hking sticks by hand guides details

Excerpt from the beginning of How to easily make unique walking and hiking sticks by hand.

Ok, we all want to rush straight into Making Your Own Unique Walking Stick. However, we need to cover a few things first. Please, before you jump into things, read this section that has important information on various aspects of the hobby that you need to know before you start. 

         The guides are assembled in a manner to progressively take you from basic stick making, through wood burning images to carving.  It is a building process and it's highly recommended to review each chapter before you get started.  Many useful tips and tricks are revealed along the way that will give relief from hassles to make this hobby a great past time.

         Each How to make unique walking sticks and staffs guide Chapter will have a question and answer section. The Q & A area is reserved to answer questions by people just like you who need additional help; have suggestions; or just have a general question answered about stick making.  

         The making hiking sticks and walking staffs guides are designed to give you the knowledge to create unique walking sticks, hiking staffs or wizard staffs with little or no previous stick making experience.  If you have questions, need additional help or want to offer suggestions, please go to our blog.
 
       Many of us did not know if the walking stick wood could be worked. Is the walking stick wood the correct height? Or weight? Diameter?  We rushed home and started to work on the walking hiking stick and staffs What happened? In many cases the end result was trash. The wood cracked. It was too heavy or too short. In some cases we damaged the stick while trying to do something with it. In the end, frustration took over. Did this ever happen to you?

       Walking stick making is a great hobby or even a side business.  Who needs frustrations? With a bit of knowledge you will learn what to collect and how to work it. Let's get started!

How to hand make hiking sticks and staff ferrules

   How to make your own walking sticks ferrules takes a bit of knowledge, however, when compared to rubber bottoms they add a special finish to your walking stick or hiking staff project. The majority of the store bought walking sticks and even custom made ones that you see in specialty stores have those ugly rubber bottoms. Rubbers great  if you are walking on cement or hiking on dry asphalt but a steel tipped copper or silver ferrules add extra ground stability and added traction in when hiking.

    Metal ferrules are especially helpful when climbing steep terrain, crossing ice or water.  If you snow hike add a large metal ring right above the spike for added stability in deeper drifts.Depending upon your hiking stick making project you may want to use a steel (silver), copper or brass ferrule to accent you hand made walking stick or hiking staff. However, the tip should always be steel on your walking stick or staff.

   The image to the right shows you a finished hand made ferrule as describe in the how to make unique walking and hiking sticks staff guides.  It uses commonly found hardware items (metal pipe, screws, nuts, etc.) and simple tools to create the walking stick ferrule. Yes, over a long time the ferrule wears down if used on a hard surface, but that just gives you an excuse to work on you favorite stick again or make a new walking stick or hiking staff  for yourself.

How to make a walking stick - wood buring images

When you make a hiking sticks or walking staff you may wnat to consider wood buring images or patterns ont he wodo to create interesting designs. teh above image is a close up of a simple pattern that wraps around the walking stick.  Its give the walking stick the southwest Indian design look. Using simple geometric shapes, lines and repeated patterns will give your walking stick making project unique.

Wood burning kits come in all ranges from simple kits that start around $25 to professional ones that cost hundreds. When selecting your kit look at the wattage and the tip selection. The image to the right uses a tip that has grooves to create the parallel lines. The walking stick guides gives more details on how to create images and even free hand  wood burning not following a template.

Combine wood burning with wood carving or painting. Making hiking sticks and walking staffs if not just cut, sand and add a rope handle. Your walking stick making projects can include fancy wood staining, wood carving, wood burning, rope weaving a handle and much more. Making your own walking stick from wood collected on vacations will even bring your vacation home with you by creating a lasting memory. it's a great way to bring family members together learning how to make unique walking sticks, hiking staffs and other projects with left over walking stick wood.
 

Wood carving make a Fall Leaf walking stick

Transfer image on to walking stick to carve

   This is a project added to the walking sticks guides earlier this year. Its a Fall leaf project. Basically you transfer images on to your walking stick and then wood carve the images. The actual making walking stick project has several leaves on the stick arrange around (5 leaves). The instructions include selecting leaves sizes, how to transferring the leaves images, actual wood carving of the wood walking stick leaves, painting and a extra finishing touch of using copper wire.

     Adding copper wire after the leaves are painted gives the walking stick that added touch. The copper wire accents the leaves colors and really take the stick from an simple carving to a truly unique walking hiking stick or staff.  The project is design for people who have completed the carving section of the how to make unique walking and hiking stick guides. If you are new to making hiking sticks then this is not a project for you. It contains several steps and process that requires some basic carving knowledge. It is a beginner level  carving project for a person who has done some basic wood image carving of walking and hiking sticks.

   Making you own walking stick or hiking staff is easy if you know the process. As in any hobby, learning about the hobby is half the fun.  Why settle for a mass produce store bought stick when you can make one with your own hands.

walking hiking stick making inlay stone metal into stick

Tools how to make hiking stick inlay

    When making your own hiking sticks do not limit yourself to just staining the wood, carving an image or drilling a hole for a cord. Why not inlay rocks, a compass, metal or crystals when making your own walking staff or hiking stick?

    The image to the right shows all the tools you need to inlay an object onto a wood hiking stick. The carving knife, marking pencil and the actual item you plan to inlay.  If you know basic hiking stick wood carving techniques then you can inlay an object.

    The object to the left is a piece of agate on a Stirling silver plate. The silver plate is flat so I will create flat spot in the hiking stick first and then mark the shape of the object on the flat wood area. Next I will remove the wood from the area which I plant inlay the object. The how to make unique walking sticks and staff guides details inlay projects giving you complete step by step, picture by picture details on the process. Also, it includes special steps to make sure the object stays attached because if you just use glue you haev a good chance of losing your inlay.

Walking hiking sticks making stick woold left over project

How to making hiking sticks and staffs wood left over projects.  Making you own hiking stick is a blast especially if you collect the wood yourself. However, what do you do with the left over pieces of wood?  Why stop at just making your own hiking stick when you can make a wood knife? Wood vase? Wood tree holder or even a walking stick stand to hold your many self made walking sticks?
Some of these ideas are detailed in the wood left over project section of how to many unique walking and hiking stick yourself guides. The above wood knife  is an additional hiking stick project project that takes left over wood and a comfortable place to whittle wood.  The over all length is determined you your left over hiking stick material. I have used pieces as skinny as 2" round and as long as 14 long (Bowie design) to make my wooded knives.

There is no set rule in width, length or even if it needs to look exactly like your hunting knife. There are hundreds of styles of real knives so why limit yourself. Maybe make a wood knife that resembles a sword or a dagger?  Or use a big piece for a bowie knife design.  However, a word of warning, it can cause injury just as in the Dracula movies wooded knives/stakes can kill. When making your own  wooded knives keep them away from children. If you are showing a younger member of your family how to make them make sure you give them reminders about the danger of the knives to prevent injuries!  Enjoy your hiking stick or walking staff making hobby and  please if you have questions let me know!

Trading making walking sticks and walking stick wood

Several people haev asked about trading walking sticks wood collecting in different different regions. Its sounds like a great idea due to the fact there are always a few local wood used in hiking stick making not available in all areas. In my area, Southeast Florida, everything is a tropical wood. No maple, aspen, birch, popular, alder or other woods found in areas which get cooler weather. The only time I can obtain non-tropical hiking and walking stick making wood is either during trips or purchasing them online. Yes, I do collect some wood here in my area. In fact many of the wood I collect can not be found any place else in the USA except in the southern parts of Florida area.

One of the great things about making your own walking sticks and hiking staffs is using different woods. Yes, can you stick to the woods for making walking sticks or hiking staffs from your are but it will limit your wood working experiences. Wood hiking sticks from in a wide range of wood colors, harnesses and shapes.  Once wood from my area is use to is ornamental olive tree branches. the branches naturally grow in a minor zig-zag shape and it has thorns. Once the thrones are removed the natural shapes and strength of the wood makes it a great walking stick making material.  Another great one with a yellowish wood tone is flamboyant which is a natural canopy tree in our area. its very strong and once you learn how to work it makes a great hiking or  walking stick for anybody collection. Another one is king or queen palm tree fans. The trick is to collect them when they are just about ready to fall and to gets ones from trees that are many ears old. Palm fronds make unique walking sticks but you need to control their curing to make sure they do not split.

The point to this post is to see if there is interest to trade wood for hiking stick making. If you have an interest in trading walking stick making make a post here and if enough people respond then I will help with walking stick trading (add a are ion this blog for trading ) through this blog.  Creating making your own walking sticks and hiking staffs may become a great way to meet others with similar interests.

How to self collecting wood for your walking stick making project

This post is a specialized one for the south areas and similar treeless locations. Collecting wood in the south to make your own walking sticks and hiking staffs is a bit more difficult then in northern forest areas. If you live in desert areas it even harder. Here are some it ideas of wood for walking sticks in your areas.

I recently traveled in Arizona  on vacation and unless you live above flagstaff or near the white mountains you haev very little choice in walking stick making wood. One desert guide had a great hand made walking stick she created using Yucca. The yucca and similar plants grow tall stocks which produce flowers. After the flowers die so does the stalk. This stock if collect before it completely dries out make great walking sticks. They are stiff and very light once completed. The trick is to collect the stalk for making walking sticks and hiking staffs get it before it start to rot.

Many cacti have internal skeletons that make great walking sticks and hiking staffs. However, know your plants and area because some collecting laws are very strict and costly if you receive a fine. If all else fails you can purchase a cacti skeleton from a dealer for your walking stick project. Hand making walking sticks while on trips is a great evening project for families. We have met many families on trips while camping and created hand made walking sticks while sitting around campfires.

When collecting wood for walking staffs and hiking sticks  in desert areas do not be afraid to experiential with different things. If you are in an ear with a new housing development check to see if they are removing trees or large shrubs that many contain wood for waking stick or staff making. Not all wood walking sticks are tall - you my consider a short cane style when making your hiking sticks.

How to make hikint sticks self collected wood shape

Walking sticks ready to make then unique

 Many times people ask what shape should they collect when they plan to make a hiking stick or walking staff.  Usually the sticks are straight or slightly curved. But if you look in past posts you will see a few unusual shaped hiking sticks and walking staffs. When you select the stick to make your walking staff or hiking stick do not limit yourself to only collect perfectly straight sticks.

You will notice a few of the walking sticks ready to be worked have various bends in them. Many have branch parts still attached too. When I collect walking sticks to make, I almost always leave  few branches on it to give me options in the future.

Beyond the shape of he walking stick, right after you collect it you need to determine if you are going to leave the bark on or not. It is much easier to remove the bark when the stick if fresh than when it dries up. When making a walking stick you have many design options and styles choices. Do you plan to add a rope weave for the hand hold area of you walking stick project? Or wood burn images or use a fancy staining technique to create intricate designs on the wood? Making walking sticks with your own hand will give your hiking sticks and walking staffs uniqueness. It a great hobby and brings your vacations home with you if you collect your own wood.

Get ready to collect walking and hiking stick wood this fall

Now if the time to start to think about collecting wood for you next walking stick making project. Fall is just around the corner and in some areas in the far north has already arrived. Also, if you are in the eastern part of the US hit by hurricane Irene, first we want to offer our best wishes and second with all the fallen trees you may want to send a bit of time collecting wood to make a new walking stick.

May trees too to damage will never grow back so why not use them for you walking and hiking stick making hobby.  Just collect a few and then set them aside for a few months to cure.Remember to stripe the bark now when they are still moist and easy to peel.  even if you do not recolonize the type of tree it still may make a great hiking stick or staff.  when you store it keep it in a dry place to prevent wood rot and it's always better in doors to keep wood bugs from eating the wood.

If you are learning to wood carve walking sticks, hiking staffs or wizard staffs collect a few extra sticks to practice. Get great ideas and techniques on how to create unique hiking sticks and walking staffs with the guides. If you need help in what wood to select, how to cure wood, stain, wood burn  and even wood carve your own walking sticks and staffs then the guides will be a great help. Learning how to make hiking sticks, walking staffs and even wizard staffs is a great hobby and even a business.

how to carve walking sticks in progress

Here is a work in progress wood walking stick and hiking staff. Once you learn how to create great looking walking and hiking sticks most people start to carve.  It's great to learn how to make your own walking stick using staining,  rope working, wood burning images and other techniques to make great wood walking and hiking sticks staffs. However, when you start to learn how to carve them you gave the ability to bring all the techniques together to make truly make unique walking staffs, sticks and even wizard staffs.

The above image is in the stage of removing excess wood away from the actual images being carved.  You see part of the wood carved hiking sticks salmon and the rocks below.  Once the excess wood is removed the next process of carving the image details is started. On this project I will start carving the rocks on the river bed on this walking sticks. 

Once all the details are carved then wood will be prepaid for staining or painting. Learning the steps in how to make unique walking sticks but hand is important to prevent frustration with this hobby. How to make walking sticks and staffs guides is a great A to Z from collecting the wood, sanding, curing wood, staining, wood burning images, carving and much more.  Getting back to the above carving: I plan to use train modeling paint that works well on all types of  wood and comes in many many colors. I will not apply a clear coat first o the wood. I want the colors to run/mix together to give a more natural look on the salmon. Look for the finished wood salmon walking stick project images in the future to get more help with yourmakning walking and hiking sticks by hand yourself.

How to make walking stick and staffs handles to give a custom look

Walking making stick handle weave

Learning how to make complete walking sticks, hiking staffs and wizard staffs by hand just takes a bit of practice and help in learning the techniques. The image to the left is a weaved hand holding area of the walking stick or staff that serves as two uses.

First, wood is porous and the coatings you place on the wood (shellac or varnish) to protect the wood are damaged by hand oils and sweat. By placing a weave rope hand hold area it protects the wood from damage. Yes, the rope will over time collect the dirt and sweat. However, once you learn how to weave rope when you make a hiking stick or staff you will be able to make a new hiking stick or staff hand hold area quickly. Its part of the how to make walking sticks learning process as explained in the guides. It is easier to replace the rope than to sand down the wood, re-stain it to make the rest of the stick and re-coat with a clear shellac or varnish.

Second the rope can be used in emergencies if needed. If you use the correct type of rope as detailed int he how to make unique walking sticks and high staffs guides then you can unwind it and use it for emergency litter making, climbing and other 100 uses for rope in a survival situation. You never know when a piece of rope can save your life when in the woods hiking and camping. Store bought hiking sticks do not compare to the customizations you can do when making your own hiking stick.

How to make walking sticks, hiking staff or wizard staffs wood spirits carving

How to make your own walking stick wood spirit.

Hand carving your own walking stick, wizard staff or hiking staff jsut takes a bit of practice and patience for a beginner. the image to the left is starting to show the shape of the face. when designing your wood spirit face do not worry about if it looks just like the one you are trying to copy.  Many people who learn how to make your own walking sticks are in too big of a rush to go from not ever carving anything to right to hand caving a face or similar carving.
 
You need a bit of experience on simpler wood carvings and how to use wood carving techniques.  If you go straight to carving a walking stick wood spirit then expect to ruin some of your sticks collected or producing a less than satisfactory result. Learn the basics first including all aspect of how to hand make unique walking and hiking sticks.

  The wood spirit to the left is a simple design about 20% completed done an a piece of Aspen wood about 2.5" in diameter. 2.5:" diameter means you are working on a carving area about 1.5" wide. That is a very small area to put great details of a complete face. If you are just learning how to wood carve walking sticks keep the design simple at first. Remember, many of the images you see in books and on the web are faces that are several inches across don by master carvers.

Just think how easy is it to make a pencil drawing of a wood spirit. If you are not artistically include your pencil images are not that great. Now try doing it on wood. its easier to use a pencil than a wood carving tool. However, with the right training just able anyone can make a good looking walking stick wood spirit. Just the how to make great unique walking and hiking sticks staffs by hand guides for step by step easy to follow directions. Remember this is a hobby and even a possible a side income opportunity. Enjoy it and take your time to learn the how to make quality unique hiking sticks and wizdard staffs  by hand.

How to make Wood Carved walking sticks eagle

Carving a eagle head on your walking sticks can be as detail or simplistic as you desire. Do not get discourage if your eagle does not come out like you see to the left or in books. Start with a simple designed and as you learn how to wood carve you hiking sticks and walking staffs add details.  The walking stick eagle carving to the left is about 75% completed. it will receive some more details around the eyes and further back to give it a look of an slim lined eagle head as if its diving on to prey.

Some people get caught up into putting to much details in their carvings. Remember when learning how to make making your walking sticks, hiking staffs and Wizard staffs start simple and then build as you learn how to better carve wood. In fact, we do not recommend carving wood until you learn how to developer other skills including wood burning images, staining techniques to create shadows images, making your own tips, handles and other parts of your hiking sticks and staffs.

When this eagle wood carve hiking stick is completed it will have a two tones: natural wood color on the beak area and then a darker wood stain from the part on. Then I think beyond the eagle part the wood will be left natural . When you learn how to making your own walking and hiking sticks you will gain ideas and learn techniques to give you many different options on how to finish your hiking stick making project.

Walking sticks ad on how to make projects hiking sticks and canes

Recent review of website has yield a great number of add-on's to walking sticks. However the add-on usually very costly such as add a compass for $16 or a bell on the stick for $12. Bells are great to make bears know you are around but $12 for a small bell that costs $14 in a dollar store? So it has leather attached to it. If you are making your won walking sticks and hiking staffs you can give your wood hand made walkgin stick the custom add-on's for next to nothing.


Making your own walking sticks is a great hobby. Why spend a ton of money on simple walking stick making customization items when you can do it for 85% less?  Look at the previous inlay of a stone. Instead of a stone put in a compass!  When you create your ropes handle slide on a bell!  Learn how to make you own custom walking sick and staff tips for the bottom of your own hand made walking hiking stick or if you prefer rubber go to your local hardware store and look for chair/table leg floor protecting rubber ends. Why pay $5 to $10 for these when they cost less than $1 each?


Many people want a holistic walking stick so in-lay a magnet and use copper wire wrapping techniques explained in the how to make unique walking and hiking stick guides. Use the rope weaving techniques and attached a stone or beads to the handle of the walking stick.  Or better yet wood burn images images or make a wizard stick with wood burned symbols and inserted crystals. There are no limits to the customizations you can add when making walking and hiking sticks by your own hands.

How to make walking sticks inlay insert rocks, magnets adn crystals

Inlay cut stone or magnet in walking hiking sticks and staffs

Here is another inlay of a stone into a walking stick.  When making your own wood walking stick or hiking staff you can insert stones, crystals, magnets and add top handles will a few techniques. Are you learning how to make hiking sticks or staffs for Boy scouts? why settle for the ordinary hiking stick when you can make a unique personalized walking staff or stick by adding wire, rocks, rope, wood burning designs or staining.

It not hard to learn how to make unique walking sticks using simple instructions in the How to make unique walking and hikgin sticks by hand guides.

When collecting your walking stick wood look at the dimensions of the wood. The skinner the wood the harder it is to do things to it when making your hiking staff especially when carving walking sticks. The walking stick image with the inlayed  lagoona agate is approximately 2" x 3" in size. It tapers down to 1.5" inches. depending upon the wood selected you may need thicker wood. If you collect hardwood for your walking stick making project then it can be thinner. However, if you are working with pine, aspen, willow try to get ones that do not taper down to beyond .5" in diameter.

Making hiking sticks with magnets or compasses on the tops require the same though. Get the magnet or compass and then collect your wood to make a hiking stick or walking staff. guides to making walking staffs and hiking sticks out of wood using carving, wood burning, rope work, inlay objects, staining and other techniques is a great way to enjoy the hobby. Collecting hiking stick wood and then only to have it ruined makes for a frustrated hobbyist.  Just as in any hobby there are techniques and methods to working with the material and the surest way to prevent frustration with a new hobby is to get guidance. The inlayed stone above uses wood carving, staining and stone anchoring techniques. No the stone is not just glued to the wood (gluing stone to wood does not hold!). It uses simple techniques learning when making unique walking staffs and hiking sticks.

walkgin Stick Septor staff and wand making project

How to Make Magic Wand walking Stick septors

Earlier I posted the start of how to make walking sticks and magic wands with inlaid crystals. Here are four finished pre-shellac finished wands. Three of them have quartz crystals and one magic wnds has a tourmaline crystal (its a gem) securely inlaid on the ends using techniques described in the how to hand make wood walking sticks and staffs guides.

One of the most important steps is the method of securing the stones to the wood. Just gluing them doe not work. Its a simple process of wood carving, a bit of rock grinding, and other steps detained in how to make walking sticks guides. NO the wire does not hold in the crystals on the end magic wand.

In addition,. three wands have copper wire wrapping with the ends of the wires hidden from view.  The how to make walking sticks, hiking and wizard staffs goes through A to Z starting from how to collect walking sticks wood, sanding, staining, carving, stone inlay, wire wrapping and best f all wood carving great sticks.

The wood uses in the magic wand making project above is willow collected in Utah a couple years ago. The wood was too thin for a wood walking stick staff so I cut it into 5 pieces to make wizard magic wands for friends who are we into the Harry Potter movies and books. The magic wands with the large quartz crystal and the tourmaline (dark crystal) crystals were kept in my collection of walking sticks for reference for how to make walking sticks, wizard staffs rock inlays.

I added the complete project to the how to make wood walking sticks and staffs guides as a bonus project. this is the second project recently added but not advertised on the website. To do this walking stick making project you will need to know  how to wire wrap, a bit of simple wood carving, sanding, inlay stones, staining and  other techniques in walking stick and staff making. If you want to make wizard sticks the process and techniques are the same. In fact, the wands are miniature wizard staffs.

Walking Stick carving and making left over projects

Making wood walking by hand is a great hobby, however, if you are like me you have a bunch of left over wood or sticks to thin to use as walking hiking sticks or staffs. There are many left over walking stick wood projects to do including making wooden knives, miniaturize flower vase's,  wood spoons, forks, wood combs, wizard wands, candle holders, wood carved Xmas tress and much more. In the previous post we described making wizard wands using the same techniques as you would with making walking and hiking sticks and staffs.

One favorite project is make wood knives or making wood flower vases. My daughter loves the vase's and she has a small collection of them in her room with fresh cut flowers.  The vase project is shown in the walking stick how to make guides left over section. My son and I have contests on unique wood knife whittling and carving. He uses the techniques detailed in the how to make unique wood walking and hiking stick guides for ideas and how to's.   I will post some wood whittled knives next week along with an update on the wizard wands scepters.

Do you have a great left over hiking stick making project?  Please feel free to post it here. We are always looking for new ideas on hiking stick making styles and project. have a great weekend and happy walking stick and wood carving!

Minature hand made walking sticks - magic wands septors How to Make

Magic wand with tourmaline crystal soon!

One of the great things about the hobby of making walking and hiking sticks from wood is discovering what to due with left over wood.  Recently a friend asked me to make a couple magic wands for a Harry Potter group. At first I though I did not know what to do. However, after a bit of simple research I discovered they are basically small (very short) tapered walking hiking sticks. Making hiking sticks, walking staffs and scepters all use the same wood working carving techniques.
All the images are WORK IN PROGRESS. I will do a post of finish ones in the near future.

Long Magic wand hand made

The images are the start to a magic wands or scepter using the same techniques used for walking sticks. Basically you find the limb, remove the bark and then start working on your miniature walking stick or magic wand. The one in the above image will have natural unaltered quartz crystal inserted just like the how to make unique walking sticks guides details and even some copper wire wraps around the top. I was told copper wire and crystals are highly desired collectors and user of magic wands. The main difference between carving or making a magic wand as compared to a walking stick is the style. magic wands have sections that taper into a round point.

Magic wand making with quartz and silver band

Beyond that you can using the same carving, inlay, wiring wrapping techniques as detail in the walking stick making guides.  If you have nay comments or quotes please fell free to post them for a quick reply!

 When making walking sticks on of the least explored parts is the actual making of the hiking stick leash or holding area. Many people settle for a simple string or leather cord through the wood. However, if you are making your own walking or hiking stick why settle for an ordinary hand leash or cord?

The image to the right are cords available online from several sources. they come in many colors, styles and even widths. You buy the walking stick cord making material by the foot or yard.  www.Strapworks.com is my favorite. Type to match the cord color to the wood or own hand made walking hiking stick style Are you making a southwest design? Wood spirit hiking walking stick wood carving? Or using a staining walking stick making technique?

When you get the cord feed one end through your home made walking stick and then use the palm sewing tool sew the ends together. It's simple and adds a great touch to your hiking stick making project.

Trick: heat the end for the strap with a match to prevent fraying of the cord.

Now if you really want a custom look when making your walking  hiking sticks then learn some simple rope weaving techniques, such as the one in the walking hiking stick making guides. Rope weaving handles and walking stick hold areas prevent hand slippage and gives you added versatility.   Making hiking sticks from wood you collected from the metal tips, carving, staining and even handle making is a great hobby for all ages.  Hwo to make walking hiking sticks and staffs encompasses wood collecting, curing, staining, carving, rope weaving and many other techniques to make unique one of a kind walking and hiking sticks staffs.

Wood carving: How to make walking sticks and staffs

Walking stick making is a great hobby , but just like all hobbies if you have set it a side for a few months you will become rusty. Here in South Florida the winter is reserved for most do it yourself type people for home remodeling and landscaping projects due to the summers excessive heat and wet weather. this past winter/spring was no exception - I spend most of the time time doing landscaping projects around the house so I have time to enjoy the summer. As a result, when I do start wood carving hiking sticks and staffs in late Spring or Summer I need do some practice projects before using my good wood to make walking sticks.

I usually start with simple wood carving projects and wood burning images on small pieces of wood. carving wooden knifes is a great starter because it uses wood of similar diameter as when making walking and hiking sticks.  Carving wooden knives take about 1 to 2 hours each depending upon the size of the knife and the hardness of the wood. in addition, I carve wooded vases as described in the How to making unique walking and hiking stick guides  bonus projects and decorate them using wood burning techniques from the same hiking tick making guides.

Walking stick making encompasses may wood working techniques. some people just sand, stain and then put a hole through the wood walking stick. While people who make walking stick making a long time hobby use rope weaving techniques for making handles/grips, wood carving and staining to design unique walking sticks designs and finish their walking sticks with their own hand metal made tips and caps.

Whether you plan to make this a long time hobby practicing wood carving, staining and other walking stick making techniques is always a good idea first. when collecting wood for you walking sticks project on your vacations or around your are collect a few extra sticks. Practice wood carving on the extra sticks and start with simple designs. Otherwise you may wreck one of your favorite sticks  by making a wood carving mistake. Have a great summer!

How to make Walking Stick wood carving project

In an earlier post I showed this stick when it was collect and stripped of bark. Now that it is properly cured/dried I started to make this wooded hiking stick carving of a elk. Wood carving hiking and walking sticks take practice and you should always tried on practice walking staffs and sticks first.

  The first step when making your own wood walking sticks is selecting the wood and maybe even envisioning the end product before you cut the tree branch or sapling. Branches and roots are not things in the way but added enhancements to your own hiking stick making project. Notice the way the branch was left on when collecting the willow branch to the left. I did not think of an elf before I collected the wood to carve for the walking staff or stick. But from experience I know to leave some branches on to give design options when I started to think of how to make a hiking stick.

When I collected the willow I stripped the outer layer and did a rough sand. Then I left the wood to cure for several months (this one was actually left for a year). The shape and the under curve of the wood walking stick gave me an idea of either a deer, elk or other animal with antlers type. I did a quick search on the net and selected a elk that had a big white circle around its eye area. Collecting the wood to make hiking and walking sticks is only half the fun. Learning how to stain, inlay, rope work and carve wood to make unique walking and hiking sticks is a great hobby and a way to bring you trips home with you.

Wood carving walking sticks making beginner tips

Making walking hiking sticks is a great hobby. However, you can not always collect your own walking stick wood from vacations due to restrictions and problems bringing back long sticks on planes. First, if you are a beginner to wood carving walking and hiking stacks staffs stick with woods known to be easy to carve:  basswood, willow, butternut, aspen and similar woods. Hold off carving diamond  willows, walnut, hickory and other more difficult woods until you have some experience.

One great place to obtain reasonably price walking stick blanks is on ebay. Ask is the wood is green, air or kilm dried.  Depending upon the wood this make a big difference.  Some walking hiking stick woods when green work well, however, you may discover a cracking problem as they dry.  Also, cure your wood first before working which is explained int he how to make walking stick guides.

If you live in an area that receives heavy spring storms, look for fallen limbs and other wood in you area. If you are a beginner do not worry about the type of wood just look for ones that have the right size and shape to make walking hiking sticks and staffs. When I first started I just collected wood and experimented. I live in a tropical area (Southeast Florida) which usually means the woods are either HARD, very sappy or spongy/porous which are hard to work. However, just by trying different woods I discovered Flame Buoyant that has great color and it can be to wood carved walking hiking sticks! Is it a wood for beginners hiking stick caving - no because it's stingy. However, once you do learn to make hiking stick you are rewarded with a very strong great color hiking stick made by yourself.

Finally,m do not rush into carving wood spirits hiking sticks. Learn the basic how to make hiking sticks skills from wood selection to wood carving unique walking sticks. I know several walking stick making people who do not carve at all. They use staining, rope, inlay or other hiking stick making methods and tun out fantastic one of a kind walking sticks.

Walking hiking sticks making using paint to finish project

One area I did not cover in the How to make unique walking and hiking sticks extensively is colorizing your carved wood walking stick project.  I could barely do the paint by the numbers. However, I have learned less is better in making hiking sticks wood carving stick out. The how to make walking stick guides does cover how to make things appear older or how to use white/gray paint on beards is you desire. 

Look at the previous posting covering carving a walking stick fall leaf project. You will notice that each leaf is painted to make them stand out. Carving walking walking sticks takes a bit of guidance a some practice. The fall leaf project carving of the walking hiking stick staff  is a project designed for a beginner wood carving project using the techniques learned in how to make unique walking hiking sticks by hand.  It uses many of the guides ideas from the basic walking stick making to the wood carving.

The image on this posting shows the paints used on the fall project. Notice I using model train paint designed for wood box cards and other train wood projects. The great thing about train wood paints is the variety available and shades. The main thing I want you to remember is to SEAL your wood before applying he paint unless you want the paint to flow along the grains and into areas you may not desire. Again, practice you walking stick making on spare wood or left over wood to prevent destroying work you already completed. Use how to make walking stick guides and bonus material.

If you have a walking stick carving how to questions please post it here. Thank you and enjoy the hobby of making unique walking hiking sticks and staffs.

How to make walking sticks and staffs carving wood

    One portion of making hiking and walking sticks and staff is wood carving. Several people have requested information on how to start carving walking sticks wood spirits even before they know the basic of how to make a walking stick or staff. This is a big mistake. Wood carving images on hiking staffs and walking sticks with details takes practice.   Just like painting you need to know basic hiking stick making how to's before jumping into portrait painting.

   First you need to select the right wood and we highly suggest aspen, basswood, willow and similar wood for making your walking stick.  Stay away for hard woods at first because they require more effort to carve and more knowledge of wood grains.

  Now use practice branches smaller pieces of wood to carve basic shapes. Try to carve straight lines around the walking stick. Then do simple wood carving such as one described How to easily make unique walking an hiking sticks guides. I have seen many people trying to do more detailed wood carving then their experience and destroy great walking sticks and staffs. Making hiking and walking sticks is a great hobby. Take it step by step or you may fall into the trap of becoming frustrated with the hobby.

  if you have questions or suggestions please post it here for a quick response. Have a great time making your wood hiking sticks and walking staffs!

How to make walking sticks: Collecting walking stick wood to carve

First, not all wood is good for carving. In addition when collecting wood for hiking stick making the time of year plays a factor in most parts of the US. First, if you are in a snow bound area look fro fallen branches to wood carve practice and to used to make a hiking walking stick. Remember to cure the wood first. In other words, collect wood for hiking stick making now to use in the summer or even fall.

If you live further south now is the time to look for tree trimmings.  This is the time people start to think about spring  storms and tree trimming.  Walk around your area for trimmed oaks, popular,  cypress, fruit trees and other trees for walking stick making. In fact, I have talk to neighbors while going through their piles and now I have them looking for branches the right size/shape for me. I get on the average 20 to 30 great walking stick branches each season to making hiking sticks and staffs.

Check out the How to Making unique walking and hiking stick guide for details information on how to easily make unique  walking sticks and staffs. Learn how to carve wood, use wood burning to make images on wood simply, create you won rope handles and metal ferrules. It does not take any special skills to learn to wood carve a walking stick.

Wood Carving and walking sticks

Stop do not throw away your Christmas tree.  Wood carving walking and hiking sticks requires practice.

However, if you are like me, I do not want to practice on wood I self collected. In stead at this time of year I grab a few disguarded christmas trees for walking stick making carving practice wood.

    Once you collect the trees cut off all the branches then cut the tree into three sections. Once cut you will need to let the wood cure before carving or wood burning images. I would suggest at least 2 months of curing time before you start the practice walking stick carving making project. yes, you can make a walking stick out of the Christmas tree however, they are usually too thick at the bottom and require quite a bit of wood trimming for your hiking stick.

Once its cured you can split the larger sections and practice wood carving. Again test the wood first to make sure its cured. the how to make walking and hiking sticks guides gives more details on wood selection, curing, carving and other walking and hiking stick making processes.


Actually collecting your wood hiking stick or staff is only the beginning. If you are looking for a great how to make hiking and walking sticks for to  www.walking-hiking-sticks.com . You will a complete guide and many bonus material on how to make unique wood walking and hiking sticks by hand