Walking stick

[David LaPell]

Having been very bored lately, the projects just keep coming. I had cut down a maple sapling well over a year ago and made it into a long walking stick, but it never suited me so I took it, cut it nearly in half, but I needed something for a handle. My first choice didn't work out, but I had been given an old celluloid cue ball about 6-7 years ago and had never done anything with it, so I drilled a large hole in it about an inch or so deep and epoxied it to the wood. Not sure how much this stick would take, but I weigh over 300 pounds and can put darn near all my weight leaning right over on it and it holds up without a sound. Gave the wood a couple coats of clear stain. Not sure what my next project is going to be.

 

[JohnBoy]

Looks like a fine sheleighly from here. Nice work! Both a handy walking companion plus well suited to keep any miscreants at bay! :mrgreen:

 

[Captain America]

Very nice, I've always loved the looks of a good walking stick.

 

[don44]

Real good job and ingenious too!

 

[wwb]

I thought you meant one of these.....

 

[Colonialgirl]

Looks good!!
Not to mention also handy "self-protection".
I've got a walking stick that Cruzerlou made for me; Nicely crafted from a nice strong branch of wood (not sure what kind of wood) with several coats of a clear finish. I use it on the nights we go for our "health walk" up the local dirt thoroughfare running alongside our property. LOVE IT !!

 

[GunnyGene]

Good idea with the ball. I've made a few sticks, but never thought of that.

If I can make a suggestion, get a short piece of copper pipe - an inch or so long and inside diameter that will fit very tight on the other end. Jam it on and drill thru the pipe and stick for a nail rivet. It will keep it from mushrooming/splitting.

 

[pete44ru]

.

I've made a few, and keep one in every vehicle, besides a couple of different places in my home.

When I want to make one, I look long/hard every time I'm outdoors, and/or hunting, for a sapling that's about an inch thick, with a burl that has about 3'-4' of fairly straight trunk above the burl - which makes a knob-style handle E-Z-Peazy.

After the debarking, staining & finishing, and adding a rubber crutch tip to the bottom, I also drill a 1/4" hole straight through the shaft, just below the knob, for a section of paracord to use as a retention thong (I've accidently dropped a walking stick for various reasons, and really like it attached to my arm instead of having to bend/search for it, especially in the dark).

Right-most, below, is my briar Shillelagh, to which I've added a sharpened metal tip, for use in icy Winter conditions.

.

 

[Pat-inCO]

I got an "Irish Walking Stick" several years back that looks a lot like yours.
What I found was a "balance point" about two-thirds of the way down,
should you need to us it to "clear brush" by swinging it. I took and put some
electrical tape (mine is a black shaft on the cane) so I could find the balance
without having to look. Does amazing things

Another one that I put together is a straight shovel handle that has a ferrule
on the end. I drove in a 16 penny nail to just past flush and filled it with epoxy.
Barely shows any sign of wear after many years.

The short one is very good in town,
but the longer one is great up on the mountain. :shock:

 

[Mobuck]

I made a nice cane from black(post) locust. If left to weather naturally after cutting, it often acquires some color splotches on the light wood giving it a nice look. The wood it's self is hard as iron but lighter than osage orange(hedge) or oak. I topped mine with a T-handle grip which works well for me.
The homemade cane is lighter and more appealing than my ColdSteel geodesic dome polymer stick.

 

[SAJohn]

I would call those walking canes not sticks.

 

[gramps]

I have one walking stick that I bought in Texas. All the rest over the years, have been freebies from the forest. The freebies have bit the dust, and been replaced. The one from Texas is heavy and sturdy, but doesn't get the use, the freebies get.
gramps

 

[powder smoke]

David see you are on the ball . Maple is strong like bull should be OK ps

 

[Rumrunner]

Nice job. I've made quite a few walking sticks. I try to find small trees growing out of hills and cut back at the roots. This gives a curved handle to shape up.

 

[longspurr]

I need a walking stick for my daily walks. I went the other way of getting one. I went to the hardware store and got a 6 ft length of aluminium conduit. I cut this to 5 ft and put reflective tape on the lower 3 ft. A rubber cane tip fits this fine and I'm ready to go.

My walks on the edge of suburban streets – no sidewalks – are the reason for the reflective tape. I like to give the stick an exaggerated motion as cars come near be be sure they see me.

Neighbourhood dogs that don't have their master near seem to respect this stick in motion. It's lightweight but strong.

 

[bogus bill]

In 1970 I was recovering from a bad accident, still on crutches and went into a antique shop in Wisconsin. I found a very interesting old carved walking stick that was old then. It has Bull Fighters carved in it the entire length of the stick. I cracked it about a month ago. It`s still in one piece. I had the gout, was taking grocerys out of my truck and dropped it in the snow and temporarily forgot about it. Later drove over it! I might try to glue it or whatever. I have had many comments on it. Somehow I sort of pictured some soldier in Black Jack Pershings outfit bringing it back from Mexico.

 

[Ugly Hombre]

Nice job!

 

[eveled]

I planted a walking stick tree in my front yard I am hoping some day to make a dandy walking stick from it.

As far as a handle goes, Google horse hame. It is a brass ball meant to be used on a harness. They are perfect for a walking stick, and are reasonable to buy.