Making A Hickory Walking Stick

Cut your wood to length making sure both ends are free of splits.

Making a hickory walking stick.

If you are making the walking stick for your own use stand the stick on the ground and hold it in. You can remove some all or none of the bark from the. Hardwood from deciduous leafy trees is better than evergreen softwood because it is less gummy. Find a good stick.

Then across the width of the cane mark 3 4 above and below each joint. Bring the water to a simmer. Tightly wrap the remaining cord from top to bottom completely covering the glued on strip and tie it off at the bottom where the line ends. A few exotic hardwoods also resist bending but.

Pour about an inch of water into a pot and put the pot on the stove. Whittle off the bark. Dip each end of. Take about 6 inches 15cm of line and glue it vertically along your stick.

Put some wax in a. The size shape sturdiness and. Green wood is too bendable to be effective as a walking or survival stick so only collect dead wood to make for possible staffs. Once you find a strong straight piece of wood hickory ash maple work really well.

How to dry wood for walking sticks 1. However most common types of oak and hickory will also make strong walking sticks. Shave off any bark you plan to remove with a whittling knife. A good walking stick starts with a good piece of wood of course.

If you find a very desirable branch that you d like to use but it s too green cut it and whittle it to debark it but let it dry outdoors for several weeks before treating it and finishing. If possible use fresh wood. Lay the cane flat on it s side and with a pencil along the length of the cane mark the center of the cane 1 above and below the joints. Tinder kindling and larger branches for fuel and while you re at it look for a piece of wood to make a sturdy walking stick.

If you can find them cherrybark oak and pignut hickory are among the strongest north american hardwoods. Choosing and cutting 1. Birch ironwood black cherry ash and maple are also very stiff strong woods. You can use dead dry wood but it s hard to carve and makes a weak walking stick.

Measure where your hand comfortably grasps the stick with it upright in front of you. In by backwoods i have cherry poplar and black walnut.