Walking Staff

[Simon1]

Hi Guy's,
Wondered if you could give me some advise, I am looking to make a walking staff but was wondering what is the best wood and some prep advise would be handy :lmao:
I would like to make it a sturdy staff not a thin walking stick if you know what I mean so any tips would be appreciated :You_Rock_

[lardbloke]

My old man used to make his own walking sticks, nice and rustic like. The only bit of advice I remember was to insert a horse shoe nail into the bottom and dont varnish the top bit that you hold as it can rub. He also used to drill a hole through the stick and attach a length of leather so that you can wrap it around your hand when scrambling about to gain extra purchase and not loose it.

[Klenchblaize]

You can’t go wrong with hazel. It is a joy to cut with a knife and when fully seasoned is very light.

Happy witling!

[Simon1]

Thanks for the advise guy's :You_Rock_

[falling rain]

I'd go with Hazel too. You can carve the top to round it off, and drill a hole as already mentioned and put a leather bootlace through to make a loop to go round your wrist. Nail an old (used of course) shotgun cartridge to the bottom of the staff and the brass makes a durable base that won't wear out

[Hoodoo]

Well, I don't want to be blasphemous here but...for long treks, I like a Sherlock. (http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?productId=980&storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&langId=-1&color=&img=/media/471038Lrg.jpg&view=large) Light weight reduces arm fatigue big time and you can adust it perfectly to your needs. And unlike many twist lock types, this one will not give under heavy weight.

As for the hand strap, it needs to be flat, imo. Either a flat piece of leather or nylon strapping. A flat strap will cradle your wrist and be very comfortable over the long haul.

[C_Claycomb]

That is a nice looking staff Hoodoo.

I have made a few sticks, very plain and utilitarian. I like hazel better than ash, and either better than sycamore (hey, I was young then!) I took my favorite stick to the Lake District last summer, but before going I fitted a brass ferule to the tip. What a stupid thing to do! It made it absolutely worthless for walking in over the rocks, and in the Lake District that is a big problem. The brass just skated off. I ended up cutting a green hazel and using that for the rest of the trip. The end of that green stick gripped, but it broomed out to about double the diameter of the original stick. A rubber foot would probably have been better, rather than using metal

[falling rain]

That is a nice looking staff Hoodoo.

I have made a few sticks, very plain and utilitarian. I like hazel better than ash, and either better than sycamore (hey, I was young then!) I took my favorite stick to the Lake District last summer, but before going I fitted a brass ferule to the tip. What a stupid thing to do! It made it absolutely worthless for walking in over the rocks, and in the Lake District that is a big problem. The brass just skated off. I ended up cutting a green hazel and using that for the rest of the trip. The end of that green stick gripped, but it broomed out to about double the diameter of the original stick. A rubber foot would probably have been better, rather than using metal

Good point about the brass skating off rocks Chris. Depends what sort of environment you're in.

[falcon]

I make a few sticks and agree that while hazel is attractive, ash and holly (peeled or not) are far stronger. Straight blackthorn is beautiful and strong too. I agree with Chris about walking hill-paths and also blaspheme and use a Leki pole in those conditions, where its very sharp plastic and metal point digs safely into crevices between rocks and is safer...

[Cormac]

carve the end of the stick to a little bigger than a piece of copper pipe


heat the pipe and put it on as it cools it shrinks fittin tightly to the wood if need be you can use a wedge to hold it on

[ScanDgrind]

I made the stick I am using now out of Hazel. I like it's lightness when it is fully dried out. I fitted an alpine ferrule to this stick which is a sharp pointy one and I haven't had any problems with it slipping on rocks etc.

It's the one I had with me on Texa Falcon.

[falcon]

I made the stick I am using now out of Hazel. I like it's lightness when it is fully dried out. I fitted an alpine ferrule to this stick which is a sharp pointy one and I haven't had any problems with it slipping on rocks etc.

It's the one I had with me on Texa Falcon.
Ahaa.......I might try fitting an alpine ferrule. You also had a threaded joint to split it into two IIRC without affecting the strength. Nice stick :)

[fred gordon]

Hazel every time. I have a hazel staff that I cut from a small wood in Knoydart in Scotland about 35 years ago. It means a lot to me as it was such a special trip. I went there with two close friends and we had a memorable few days. So, if you can find the hazel stick during a good bushcrafting holiday so much the better. Perhaps we should have a' why my staff is special to me' thread. Would make interesting reading.

[ScanDgrind]

Ahaa.......I might try fitting an alpine ferrule. You also had a threaded joint to split it into two IIRC without affecting the strength. Nice stick :)

Yep, that's the one. I did wonder if having a joint in the stick would weaken it but it doesn't seem to have done. I've put some serious weight on the stick since I've been using it and so far... no ill effects :) . The joint is brass and has quite a fine thread on it so it takes a fair few revoloutions to do up and undo. It does make it very portable when not in use though, you can take it in half and strap it to a pack easily and it fits in vehicles easily as well.

[quarterstaff]

I found a alpine ferrule at a game fair that has a rubber stopper/cover that works great on rock and the like,when in woods or soft ground whip the cover off and away ya go,I'm sure they could be found on the stick making sites and it's hazel for me.
cheers

[Lithril]

My hazel walking staff actually has a leki rubber cap on the bottom. If I'm doing a lot of walking though I tend to take dedicated poles as I can strap them out of the way when not needed.... you can do the same if you cut your staff down and add a thread to it but I'm not sure if it would be as readily accessible as the telescopic ones.

For walking in the woods though you can't beat a hand cut hazel staff.. bliss

Matt

[Ogri the trog]

carve the end of the stick to a little bigger than a piece of copper pipe


heat the pipe and put it on as it cools it shrinks fittin tightly to the wood if need be you can use a wedge to hold it on

Yup, I do something similar.
Taper the end of the stick.
Cut a short length of copper pipe and tap it gently over a mechanics socket that will just fit down the inside of the pipe - the idea is that you end up with a flared end that will go over the tapered end of your stick. Then tap this "ferrule" (using a larger socket if necessary) well onto the bottom end so that the stick protrudes at the bottom to give a bit of grip over rocks etc.

Ogri the trog

[Eric_Methven]

I use hazel mostly. Hazel won't split when it seasons so can be peeled or left with the bark on. I use a piece of copper pipe on the bottom and hammer a few copper roofer's nails in the end to save on wear. The copper also doesn't skite off the rocks when you need to find a grip as it has some 'give'.

Eric

[maddave]

Hazel or Ash for me, but if you're after those new fangled antishock thingys that look like ski poles, Tesco are doing a pack of two for a tenner at the moment :D

[Wettstuff]

I personally use holly and thats what we use as beating sticks on our shoot. We cut and harvest them on a three yearly basis (cut one year left to dry for two). Mind they rarely last longer than 2 years, but they do get a good bit of use against trees and beathers calfs(tough old bu%&ers on our shoot).

Might look for a decent bit of hazel this year tho with all its glowing reviews above

Mark

[Scally]

i love blackthorn a bit heavier than most but for durabiltiy solid as a rock in fact ive just put a rams horn on the top of my old blackthorn and re oiled it come up like new..

[Chris B]

For walking in the woods though you can't beat a hand cut hazel staff.. bliss

MattSo, how long should it be? And how long does it take to dry out?

[Snufkin]

I've an apple one at the moment but it's a little on the heavy side. I've a hazel staff drying at the moment and am on the lookout for a suitable blackthorn.

[Toddy]

I've got an applewood one too, and I do like it :D It makes a fairly effective digging stick too

Cheers,
Toddy

[Lemoneyewash]

I make sticks, Ash, Hazel and Blackthorn for me.

Take a look at this chaps site. I like the 'cut of his jib' :D

Bob's Sticks (http://www.bobsticks.co.uk/)

[sharp88]

My old man makes em out of hazel or cherry and puts a sort of brass or copper ring of some sort on the bottom with a hammer. I have a suspicion it may be some sort of plumbing component? There not staffs as such but nearish to it - he usually gets one with a big growth knot on the end so he can round it off into an egg shape - hence the name he gives them - his 'egg sticks'.

Other than that you'l sometimes find what i beleive to be called a 'sugar barley' stick, where a vine has wrapped around the stick - that gives a nice rustic appeal.

[laurens ch]

I like hazel, mainly because its easy to find a straight piece. Ive also used box although its a bit heavy. I vaguely remember my father straightening some hawthorn sticks in the bath using weights I’ll have to ask him about it.

[Carcajou Garou]

I use a cane rubber tip on the bottom of my oak staff, helps a lot in water crossing, or on rocky passes. A small liquid filled compass inset in the handle top give me an ever present direction.

[malcolmc]

... I am looking to make a walking staff but was wondering what is the best wood and some prep advise would be handy ...

Sticks are very personal things; you need one you’re going to be comfortable with. I’m still using the stave I had in the scouts; 1.7m (5ft 6ins) of ash. In my day as a scout you weren’t allowed to modify a stave. Since I left I’ve added a rubber foot, a cup hook at the top end and the obligatory loop of rope to hang it up or make sure you don’t lose it over rough terrain. I used rope strong enough to fish someone out of water if necessary.

Best of luck finding what is right for you. :)

[leon-b]

i have a small one with a big growth knot (i think thats what there called) on the end rounded off, i bought for a fiver at a show i went two
leon

[Toddy]

For those who like to Mod their sticks :rolleyes:

http://www.craft-supplies.co.uk/cgi-bin/psProdSrch.cgi

Usual disclaimer. No connection, just a company I've used in the past and can recommend.

Cheers,
Toddy