Walking stick making has developed a great hobby for some and
for others a part-time/full time business. They make great holiday gifts and
specialized help for people who are not as young as they use to be. Making my
own walking sticks and actually using it if one of my hobbies has given me many
hours of enjoyment.
Relatives and friends
continually ask me for help in making their own sticks over the years has been
making hiking sticks for fun, gifts and my own use. I try to collect unusual
woods over the years and even make a few out of Queen Palm fronds. The last one
I make (two weeks ago) was from birch I collected over 3 years ago. I have
birch, aspen, pine, flamboyant, oak, bottle brush, drift wood and other wood
ready to work. Some of the hiking stick and staff making wood is over 6 year
old.
Remember to cure your wood before making your walking stick and
some wood such as diamond willow I would wait a good year before creating a handmade
hiking stick. Why cure the wood? Wood will
shrink and even possibly crack so it you make your hiking stick from uncured
wood you are asking for problems in the future. Think about the time you will spend only to
find out late that a crack has developed in the middle of your carved hiking
stick.
My current project is using cedar limb and I’m carving the walking
stick! Cedar smells great while carving but you need to wear a mask if you are
using power tools!
