Hwo to Make hiking sticks wood selections do's and do nots!

     This is an portion from the how to easily make unique hiking and walking stick guides that discussed the right and wrong woods to collect to make you won walking and hiking sticks or staffs. The actual how to make hiking sticks and walking staff guides has more information on this subject and other aspects of wood carving, wood burning, rope working, ferrule making, staining and other making walking sticks and staffs.

      Try to find Aspen, Basswood, and Butternut as your first walking stick making project. If you live in Canada Sumac would be a good choice too. I have carved various and unusual wood for hiking sticks and walking staffs. Most areas of the USA have various Pines and Firs that would work great. Aspen and willow from Colorado, Utah and other states are among my favorites.

      There is no exact guide to what wood is best for walking stick making. There are pros and cons to all wood types. If you find something interesting not on the above list - try it. Do not use heavy woods unless the end product is for decoration.

       Stay away from porous woods (cypress and other trees common to marsh areas) at first when making your hiking sticks if you plan to carve the wood. These woods are harder to work with and tend to chip when carving. I have a couple of great cypress walking sticks which are extremely light and strong.

Walking stick making proper height and wood collecting instructions

When collecting your walking stick wood to make your own hiking staffs consider the style and the height of the end product. The walking stick or hiking staff should measure, when the walking stick making project is completed, from the ground to a bit under the height of your chin. If you are making power walking hiking sticks then the height should be at a 5” to 8” higher than the level of your hand when you elbow is at a 90 degree angle.

It always better to collect wood from recent fallen wood or from an area being cleared. Usually you will need to cure the wood for 6 to 12 months before you start making the walking stick. Unless you like the look of the bark peel the wood as soon as you collect it (within 1..2 days). Otherwise if you try to remove the bark from your walking stick making wood it will take much more time and effort.

When stripping the wood try to peel not pry of the bard if possible to prevent damaging the wood you plant o use to make you hiking staff.  Do not start to sand the wood until it cured otherwise the moisture in the wood will clog up the sanding paper. The how to make unique walking stick guides is a great resource of information and instructions in all phases of walking stick making.  Whether you need to know what type of wood to collect, how to cure the wood, carving wood, staining, wood burning images, creating you own ferrules, and other custom walking stick making instructions.

Self collecting walking stick making wood

Once you select the wood you want to harvest fro your walking sick making project be careful to prevent damage to you and your future walking stick.

       How to cut: First remove any branches on sticking out from the limb you plan to harvest to make your walking stick. Start with the small branches and then tackle the larger ones. Support (hold) the branches you are cutting off to prevent splinting of the main limb. Use your saw blade to slow cut the branches. Do not rush through the branches which may cause damage to the area you plan to use for a walking stick or staff making.

       Once all the branches are removed, measure how much of the limb you need and mark it with your knife. If the walking stick project sapling or branch is large you may get two sticks out of it or use the thinner parts for a different project.

       Now, hold the limb you are harvesting above and away from the cut mark firmly. Use your saw blade to start a cut straight across it - do not cut all the way through. Now, score all around the trunk (cut through the bark).  
Flamboyant Tree Limb with a cut all around the limb.
  
          Once you score the complete trunk then continue to cut through the limb. You score the limb first to prevent bark/wood ripping. The straighter you cut across the less likely the wood will splinter. When selecting the wood for your walking stick making project make sure it the right type. Not all wood is good for a quality hand made walking stick or staff. Use the how to make unique walking stick guides for reference when collecting your wood.

         Always cut away from your body!  Remember you are in the woods and a deep cut could be costly!