Handcrafted Hardwood Walking Sticks - Full Process From Tree To Product

Handcrafted Hardwood Walking Sticks - Full Process From Tree To Product

This video takes you through the entire process of making high quality hand made walking sticks from hardwood.

The wood used in this video happens to be hard maple, but most types of hardwood work well for this type of project, notably, Elm, Hickory, Oak, Ash, or Hawthorn.

The first step in the process is tree selection. Very rarely will a branch do, as most hardwood branches do not grow straight enough to make a good quarterstaff. So, it is best to look for a sapling. Ideally one that is tall, straight, and about 3-4 inches thick. Then you should cut it down as close to the base as possible so you do not waste any of the wood. A good tree like this should supply between 3 and 5 good quarter staffs of varying lengths and weights. It is important that the tree is alive when it is cut down, the wood must be green.

Once you have cut down the tree, you must cut it into lengths. These cuts are best done with a saw to avoid cracking. A Quarterstaff should be approximately 6-9 feet long. I find the lower end to be best for the average person. It should also be between 1.25- 3 inches thick when finished.

The next step is to peel or whittle away the bark, and place somewhere dry so that the wood can dry.

Once the finished staff is dry, it should be sanded or otherwise smoothed out, and then stained and sealed.

Finally, any finishing steps, such as added hand grips or metal tips should be added.