|
The Ultralight
Backpacking Site |
Carved Hiking Sticks - DIY
Pay $50 for a carved hiking stick?
Why not do it yourself?
To make your own hiking sticks you need
a pocket knife and a walk in the woods. Just make sure your knife
is strong enough that it won't snap on you when you hit a knot
in the wood. Also, a locking blade is a good idea if you value
your fingers.
What type of wood should you use for your
walking stick? Any type you want - just be aware of the differences
in woods. Some like hardwood hiking sticks because they can be
very beautiful once polished up. Of course there is extra work
in carving hardwood sticks. They are also heavy, better suited
for decorating the cabin than for using on long hikes.
Poplar trees are one of my favorite trees
for making carved hiking sticks. Poplar is light, and one of
the easiest woods to work with. Poplars often grow in over-crowded
stands, so cutting a few young ones won't hurt the forest. Cut
them in the spring or early summer, and you can almost peel the
bark off by hand.
Northern White Cedar is tougher to carve,
but it is beautiful, straight, and one of the lightest woods
out there. I've made walking sticks of cedar that were under
nine ounces. That's as light as many trekking poles. Cedar swamps
usually have many dead young cedars that are already dry. They'll
stand there without rotting for years, another characteristic
of cedar that makes it great for a hiking stick.
Making A Hand Carved Hiking Stick
If you don't know your trees, just find
a straight young tree in any area that could use thinning. A
short saw is the easiest way to cut your stick, but you can use
your knife by cutting deeper and deeper in a circle around the
tree until you can snap it off. It's best to cut the piece a
bit longer than you want your finished hiking stick to be.
The hiking stick should come up to just
below your armpit. This is a personal thing too though. If you
want a fancy seven-foot staff, go for it.
Remove all the bark, always cut away from
yourself. Carve the bottom end to a blunt point. The top, you
can leave flat, rounded off, or even carve a spiral design into
it. Use you imagination. Any piece of sandpaper can be used to
smooth it. Apply stain or a poly-acrylic finish if you want,
or just leave it natural.
It is best to let green wood dry for a
few weeks before making it into a hiking stick. Carving it green
can be easier, but it may twist or bend as it dries. Prevent
this by tying it to something straight to dry. Since each wood
is a little different in how it cuts and dries, you'll have to
experiment.
Wrap the bottom end with leather or cloth,
with a small nail to hold it, to keep the stick from splitting.
This also looks good. You can put a handgrip
on it, maybe a piece of cloth or leather. To make it last, glue
and staple or nail it. Drill a hole through the stick near the
top, to add a wrist strap, if you like.
You may want to use a wood burner to add
designs to your hiking stick, or drill a hole in the top and
glue a glass ball in it. If you mark inches on it, you can measure
things along the trail, like the depth of the water or snow.
I've made and sold hundreds of hand carved hiking sticks. My
best sellers had pewter animals nailed to and embedded in them.
Experimenting is one of the best parts about making your own
carved hiking stick.
Related page: Hiking
Staffs and Walking Sticks
The Ultralight
Backpacking Site | Carved Hiking Sticks - DIY |