4wheelin_fool Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 (edited) Acacia is probably the best. Pricey and rare though. Rare and Pricey? Do tell! Acacia are considered an undesirable invasive species around here and people hack them down all the time. I suppose I could turn some of those into hiking sticks for $ It's a fast growing hardwood, native to Africa and Australia. The ones that I saw were pretty pricey. I guess it depends on the type of species. It's mentioned in Exodus as the wood that the Ark of the Covenant was made out of, and also symbolic in Freemasonry. You probably could make money if you did a mail order business to people that lived out of the area. Edited January 26, 2010 by 4wheelin_fool Quote Link to comment
+Wooden Cyclist Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 Oak. It is very hard, which means it would probably stand up to vigorous use. Isn't Oak a relatively heavy wood? I wonder how purple heart would hold up? I've always liked purple heart. Both purple heart and ebony are heavier than either red or white oak are. Quote Link to comment
+bittsen Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 Oak. It is very hard, which means it would probably stand up to vigorous use. Isn't Oak a relatively heavy wood? I wonder how purple heart would hold up? I've always liked purple heart. Both purple heart and ebony are heavier than either red or white oak are. Yes, I knew that much. ~LOL~ Quote Link to comment
+anakerose Posted January 27, 2010 Share Posted January 27, 2010 I took one of these, but smaller and made of wood, going into the Nonquon Swamp Cache to test the ice: Cool photo, bonus points if you can tell me where it was made! I know because I'm from that city. Quote Link to comment
+edscott Posted January 27, 2010 Share Posted January 27, 2010 While I am not adding an answer to the orginal poster's question - I have a question that may help others that may read this thread: Does anyone know the rule of thumb about the height/length of the walking stick? Is there some standard? Thanks in advance. The "standard" changes with the terrain so I use an adjustable one from Beans. Quote Link to comment
+currykev Posted January 27, 2010 Share Posted January 27, 2010 Cabbage sticks from Jersey. http://www.angelfire.com/pa/pwj/walkingstick.html Quote Link to comment
+BCSasquatch Posted January 27, 2010 Share Posted January 27, 2010 I just picked up a 60" length of Ash broom handle and man, is it heavy! Sturdy beyond expectations though and will make an excellent all purpose hiking / trekking tool. This one is designed for the large industrial brooms that are around 4' - 5' wide. I hung my whole weight from it (230lbs) and did a couple of chin-ups and it only flexed a little. There is a wood working shop in the complex I work at and I'm going to see if he will turn the diameter down a wee bit on a lathe to cut some of the weight down, but I am looking forward to carving and etching some custom designs onto it. After doing some research I chose this because of the strength mainly and abundant availability secondly, and at $9.00 the price is acceptable for a blank stick. As the stick appears to be composite and not a solid shaft, I will most likely stain it near-black and paint in the etching and carving. Quote Link to comment
+Wooden Cyclist Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 I just looked in the corner of our garage. There is a stack of hiking staffs there. My son picks a new one up in the woods every time we go to Cub Scout Camp. There are a variety of woods and lengths represented and all have proven to be strong and functional. Quote Link to comment
knowschad Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 Ash or Hickory.Either way...solid. They've been used for axe and shovel handles forever. They make have equals, but I doubt there will be anything tougher, although they won't be the lightest wood around. Quote Link to comment
+Da Beast Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 I took one of these, but smaller and made of wood, going into the Nonquon Swamp Cache to test the ice: Cool photo, bonus points if you can tell me where it was made! I know because I'm from that city. hot sure it was made there but it is in Duncan BC i know that the whole town got together to sand it down before putting it up and as i recall it was from expo 86 Quote Link to comment
+Wooden Cyclist Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 I don't know if he still makes them but I would bet that ElDiablo has some seasoned cured staffs that he'd fix you up with. If not he can tell you everything you want to know about good hiking staffs http://www.geo-hikingstick.com/id2.html An ElDiablo stick made an appearance at an event I attended today. Very nice. The owner of the stick considers it to be one of his prized possessions. Quote Link to comment
+El Diablo Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 While I am not adding an answer to the orginal poster's question - I have a question that may help others that may read this thread: Does anyone know the rule of thumb about the height/length of the walking stick? Is there some standard? Thanks in advance. My best suggestion is to take your height and substract 10 inches. This should bring the staff about to your shoulder. Too long is always better than too short. As to the best wood. If you have Poplar in your area that's my favorite. There is nothing that will dry straighter or lighter, and yet still very sturdy. Other good woods are Hickory, Maple, Ash and Cherry. Avoid Oak. It's very strong, but also very heavy. Also avoid Pine because of the sap, it will leak out forever. If there is anyway I can help you please let me know. El Diablo Quote Link to comment
+El Diablo Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 I don't know if he still makes them but I would bet that ElDiablo has some seasoned cured staffs that he'd fix you up with. If not he can tell you everything you want to know about good hiking staffs http://www.geo-hikingstick.com/id2.html An ElDiablo stick made an appearance at an event I attended today. Very nice. The owner of the stick considers it to be one of his prized possessions. It's a staff...not a stick. I've always regreted naming my web site geo-hiking sticks. It should have been geo-hiking staffs. Stick, just sounds so impersonal. Every staff I've ever created was customized to the owner. El Diablo Quote Link to comment
+Wooden Cyclist Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 (edited) I don't know if he still makes them but I would bet that ElDiablo has some seasoned cured staffs that he'd fix you up with. If not he can tell you everything you want to know about good hiking staffs http://www.geo-hikingstick.com/id2.html An ElDiablo stick made an appearance at an event I attended today. Very nice. The owner of the stick considers it to be one of his prized possessions. It's a staff...not a stick. I've always regreted naming my web site geo-hiking sticks. It should have been geo-hiking staffs. Stick, just sounds so impersonal. Every staff I've ever created was customized to the owner. El Diablo Sorry for the using "stick". I should have known better. By the way, the Boy Scouts call them staves. I don't know why. Thanks for the poplar recommendation. I love to work with poplar in my woodshop. I'll have to keep my eye open for a good looking piece in the woods. Will a branch work or should I look for a sapling? Edited January 31, 2010 by Wooden Cyclist Quote Link to comment
MYarina Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 Going to have to say Saguaro Spines are the best for strong and light however they do not beat an ironwood for strength, Have to have my dad ship me some saguaro for this summer. Quote Link to comment
vagabond Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 [quote name Sorry for the using "stick". I should have known better. By the way, the Boy Scouts call them staves. I don't know why. I believe Friar Tuck used a stave when he bested Robin Quote Link to comment
Clan Riffster Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 If there is anyway I can help you please let me know. Hey El D! Long time no see! (please forgive the cheesy attempt at poetry) Have you worked with root stock orange tree wood? I found a spot way out in the swamps that apparently used to be an orange grove. Several sapling wild orange trees in the area, and most have fairly straight trunks. I should be able to get permission to harvest one, if they'd be worth messing with. -Sean Quote Link to comment
+Zurfco Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 Mine is ash and has served me well for a lot of years. When I'm out and don't have it, I generally make an improvised staff from sycamore if I can find it. If not, I'll use whatever's handy. For a long term staff, any hardwood that's straight and true and properly treated/dried should do the job. I've seen maple, oak, hickory, ash, sycamore and any number of other eastern hardwoods used successfully. Good luck and enjoy making your staff. - Zurfco Quote Link to comment
+geobudman Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 (edited) Persimmon is the wood I used for my staff. Its light but extremely strong. If you can find a good straight piece, it works well. As to length, I didn't want it to be too long, because here in the deep south, there are a lot of thickets and briar patches with caches in the middle of them. If the stick is too long, it becomes a hindrance, and unusable for the purpose. I made mine so that when I hold it like I use it, my forearm is parallel to the ground. Its really a long walking cane more than a staff. Edited January 31, 2010 by geobudman Quote Link to comment
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