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.
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.
