how to make a staff or cane from a found or fresh stick, and carve it.

 This Instructable will show you how to make staffs, walking sticks, and canes out of wood you have found on the ground, and branches that you've broken, or cut off of trees.

If you get green wood off a tree, make sure to dry it first. de-bark it, and apply a sealant (varnish, wax, etc.) to the ends. 

Step 1 Materials and tools.

 A stick

A knife
(murphy carver: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=53890&cat=1,130,43332,43339)
(flexcut detail knife: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=31090&cat=1,130,43332,43393)

Sand paper

strop with stropping compound (sort of optional, if you don't mind having dull knives...)

Gloves(also optional... helps with gripping the stick and protects your hands

Leather lap apron(optional. it helps protect your knees and legs if you are carving while sitting with the stick in your lap. i have a few pairs of pants with holes in them from before i got one of these...http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=55073&cat=1,130,43332)

Chisels(optional. they help quite a bit when you're carving things... you can do a lot of things that are hard to do or impossible with a knife with chisels.)

Comments

[whiteoakart]

Nice simple Instructable.  I hope you will add some photos of the finished product when you are complete, or along the way.

You might add that if you cut a piece of green wood, it should be aged a bit.  One way to do this is to strip off the bark, cut off any side branches or unwanted knots, then apply some melted paraffin or beeswax to the ends and cut-off knots.  This will help keep the branch from splitting as it dries.  Wood tends to lose most of its moisture through the cut ends. Since it is drying unevenly, the stresses cause it to 'check', the woodworker's name for those splits that start in the end and run through the wood.  Removing the bark helps moisture escape through the sides and the wax slows it down on the ends.  I have aged hundreds of branches this way.  It takes about a year on a rack, out of the weather to dry properly.

[mdog93]

is there a best place to do this, in a warm place, cold place, dry place, moist place? what sort of temperature and humidity? also should it be standing up, laying down or suspended in the air? thanks

[red-king]

I will add that information, and a photo of the finished product.

[bpyorks]

That's a very good point, about being respectful.  I'd also say watch out for nesting birds and be sure to not disturb them.  If you see a really fine branch, leave a marker of some kind by the tree, and go back later in the season for it.

[red-king]

 thanks. I'll add that to the instructable.

[red-king]

 if you have any suggestions for things to add to thisinstructable, and more ways to decorate a staff or cane feel free topost them.

[vstraaten]

 my dad has a walking stick with a line burned into it spiraling all the way down and he has burned in the years that he went camping in yosemite. done similarly to branding a cow

[red-king]

 that's really cool. if you have any pictures post 'em up.

[tjk94]

 Happy one year anniversary of instructables membership!

Great Instructable

You might want to add a small amount of copper pipe to the bottom of your staff to prevent the wood from splitting

[thepelton]

You can buy copper pipe end caps at a plumbing supply store.  One of those would make a great foot for a walking staff.

[red-king]

and it took me this long to decide what to do for one instructable... haha.

[red-king]

good idea! i never thought about that... i think i will.