Make a handsome wooden walking stick for almost nothing

Step 2 Shaping the handle

pic04 is the handle in the vice ready to be shaped. next to it are l-r a shinto saw rasp (internet for about £12), a flat woodrasp (£1shop)
 and a half round woodrasp (£1shop)
I quicky filed the corners off the handle using the shinto saw rasp (although the ordinary woodrasps will do the job the shinto is faster - much faster)

pic 04 10 seconds with the shinto and the first corners have been cut down. Go round the outside shaping the handle.

pic 05, 06 The shank needs to be circular in section bearing in mind the diameter of the shank. I tapered mine slightly so it could be cut exactly to the width.

pic 07 taper the end of the handle to a point.

pic 08 shape the inside with the half round rasp.

pic 09 rasped to shape.
 

Comments

[sakiyama]

Great steps, but seems like you need to bend the handle somehow or find a curve branch because it would break easily if dropped or weighted by hand pressure due to the short length-wise grain ocated in the middle.

[philslizzy]

Hi Sakiyama.Thanks for bringing this point up
 
I have been using it regularly since making it and have added an ice spike. If the wood was a softer wood and liable to break i would drill a hole completely thru the handle from back to front and put a wooden dowel or length of stud into it. Sealing the ends up with epoxy and sawdust. Anyone doing this instructable may be advised to do so if the wood is softer than this.
Phil