How to make hiking sticks and staffs: hole placement for strap

      Am enjoying the walking stick guides guides. They are helpful and I am sure saving me some steps. I have a question...how do you determine how far from the top of the stick to place the strap / wrist hold when making  the hiking stick?  I have a guess but hate to drill out my first stick and put it in the wrong place.  thanks, Aaron 

     There are several methods of determining the correct placement of your walking and hiking stick strap hole. Stand up straight in the shoes you normally wear when hiking. Bend you elbow slightly more than 90 degree angle (slight angle up) and hold the walking stick you are are making. Where you hand rests is where the bottom of hiking sick staff strap should reach than you slide you hand through. In other words, when you hand is in the strap your elbow should be at a very slight angle up. Depending upon how long your strap will be will determine how far above this point you drill the hole.  Remember comfort and push off when using you stick.  It’s easier to push off with your stick if you elbow starts at a slight angle up.  If you snow ski it’s the same method used when selecting your poles sizes.

     The walking sticks guides will teach you how to make a variety of walking stick straps including rope weaving, strap making and more. Thank you for your question concerning the placement of your walking stick making project hand strap.

How to make wizard staffs and walking sticks differences

   What's the difference between making a walking staff, Wizard stick or septor? The actual way you work the wood is not different at all. The designs are different and what you do with the walking stick or wizard staff once its made. I do not know all the details about wizard stick magical properties and so forth. I know its base on the fact that wood is a living thing and even when cut it still holds some properties according to wizards. Beyond that the techniques to make a wizard staff and walking stick are the same. You put designs on the woods, wood burn images and even carve figures. if you are into wizard staffs please post some information here to inform other bloggers.

    Yes, even how you inlay stones, crystals and other objects are the same. There are several ways to inlay objects into the ends and sizes of walking sticks and staffs. Recently, I finished several wizard wands for some friends which I inlayed quartz crystals on the end and wired wrapped portions of the wand with copper wire. they turned out great. I used the same techniques as described in the how to make walking sticks and staff guides.

Wire wrapping adds  uniqueness to any walking stick making project. You can combine it with walking stick carvings, wood burning images and even rope work. Again, making magic wands, wizard sticks and other similar projects all use the same techniques. So branch out you walking stick making and try making a magic wand for your children or as a gift.

Walking stick making tools and hardware

One of the basic questions I always receive is "Do you need special tools or do most people already have what they need? when making hiking sticks and walking staffs?"  The answer is no and usually yes. First of all 90% of all the walking I make involve wood  bark peeling, sanding, painting, rope weaving and/or wood carving. Over the years I have purchased a few special tools (on Ebay) because the price was right. Once of the first walking stick making tools I purchased was a wood burning tool fro $20 on Ebay.

Yes, there are fancy wood burning set ups that cost $100 and more, but I have not purchased on yet. The small inexpensive one works fine for all my hiking stick making projects. Now, if you consider yourself a true detailed artist you may want to eventually purchase a higher end unit for intricate work but it's not necessary. I do not use special paint brushes or airguns when staining I use a old lint free rag. When painting I just use an inexpensive small detail brush that cost in packages of 10 about $3.00 (small model airplane type brushes).

Rope working is all done by hand so the only tools you may need to buy are tools to carve your walking sticks. If you have a good pocket knife with a few blades you may not even need to buy a wood working knife. The knife does need to be sharp and strong, and fit you hand comfortably. Wood carving walking sticks is the last part of learning how to make walking sticks. Not all your walking stick projects will include wood carving. In fact, may people never carve anything on their walking staffs and hiking sticks. If you do not have a good carving knifes or set check out Ebay for "Warren wood carving" set and you will fine one I use all the time for approximately $30. Yes, they have higher end sets but the $30 works great with its interchangeable blades. It's American made and they are strong.