Best Wood For Making A Walking Stick

Hardwoods oak maple and walnut to name a few are denser than softwoods pine and spruce.

Best wood for making a walking stick.

Black locust branches are among the strongest possible choices and they are relatively resistant to decay and abrasion. While beech ash hazel chestnut and blackthorn are the most common types of wood for making walking sticks that are both attractive and durable there is a whole sea of wooden walking sticks out there to choose from. Carve beautiful wildlife walking sticks with step by step projects ready to use patterns an inspirational color photo gallery and advice on wood sourcing and finishing. Like hickory oak is hard and strong but very heavy.

Also softwoods become gummy when you work with them are harder to sand and don t take finishes as well. Go into a forest near you and get yourself a stick fairly thick and long enough for a staff walking stick with the axe or machete knife. Enjoy nature don t damage it. Then slide the axe machete along the bark to remove any twigs and knots.

Durable hard and in a stunning light color with a prominent grain these qualities make oak wood walking sticks a desirable choice for vintage wooden walking stick and ladies walking canes. If weight is not an issue most types of hickory ironwood and birch are all incredibly strong and make excellent walking sticks. Using green wood often results in stronger more customizable finished products. The book is available from fox chapel publishing for 14 99 plus s h.

This density makes hardwoods more durable and better suited for this purpose. By stephanie mitchell when you make your own walking sticks you must choose between using dry wood or green wood. The stick i m using is birch. Look for fresh hardwood but never cut from a live tree to make a walking stick.

For more on carving walking sticks see hand carving your own walking stick by david stehly. Woods to collect for walking stick making are aspen maples willows basswood birch and many other deciduous tree limbs. Good options include maple alder cherry aspen and sassafras among others. Blackthorn wood the strength of the wood makes them particularly useful for country or hiking sticks which can be seen throughout our blackthorn walking sticks category.

You can also use maple and many other woods. For these reasons stick with hardwoods if possible.