+El Diablo Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 I've gotten many request over the last two years on how to make a hiking staff. I've worked out a way that anyone who has a little want to can do it. So if your interested let me know and I'll give you step by step instructions on making your very own Geocaching hiking staff right here in the fourms. Before anyone comes in here and post a link where you can buy one or telling us all how great a treking pole is...this thread isn't for you. It's for people who really want to make their very own wood Geo Hiking staff, so please don't clutter it up with information on where to buy one, or which is better a wood or treking pole. El Diablo Quote
KYHilltopper Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 I would love to know how to make my own hiking stick. I have an aluminum twist to lock one that dropped me on my butt on a muddly hillside when it unlocked on its' own. I am prettly sure a sturdy wooden one is the way to go. KyHilltopper Clint Quote
+jelinidas Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 Hiyas El Diablo, Please share your wisdom! I am more then interested! TIA! Jeff from Jelinidas Quote
+Quintheeskimo66 Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 Yes, please share your knowledge with the masses. I'm using sticks I pick up as I walk, building my own would be great! Thanks!! Quote
tunacache Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 Add me to the list of those wishing to have this knowledge. Say thankee. Quote
+Milbank Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 (edited) So if your interested let me know and I'll give you step by step instructions on making your very own Geocaching hiking staff right here in the fourms. I'm interested. My son is always looking for a stick to use as a walking stick when we go out geochaching. Edited June 14, 2004 by Milbank Quote
+New England n00b Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 Sounds interesting, El Diablo. Might be a good contribution to Todays Cacher as well, maybe? I only want to carve one existing staff I have, so I'll be lurking in interest. Thank you! Quote
+sept1c_tank Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 Don't need no stinkin' hikin' staff, cause I got a beautiful one from some guy named El Diablo. Oh, wait...never mind. Quote
+2Est8Attys Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 I'm thinking of giving up the hiking staffs, but I love them so much. ^ El Diablo's post in the "Save the Drama for Your Mama" Thread. No wonder he wants to teach us to make them! Count me, in oh Leader of the Evil Horde. Quote
+HikingMan Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 Very interested, thanks for any assistance! Quote
+RichardMoore Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 I'd like to know, too. I've often thought about making a hiking staff with a replacable top. It could be screwed on and changed for the season, type of nature hike, or mood I'm in. I've also been looking for a source for metal tips. Thank's for offering to teach us. Quote
+The Jester Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 I'd like to have enough Hiking Staff to do all my hiking for me, and maybe carry a sedan chair ... oops! wrong type of staff. Sorry. Quote
+Nappy10 Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 Sounds good to me...i'd love to construct my own! Quote
+Teach2Learn Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 Yes, I want to know, especially if you're not going to be making them in the months/years ahead, or is that just an evil rumor? Specifically, I'd like to know how you embed the compass into the staff? I'm assuming you dig out the top, but how do you make sure it stays embedded? Quote
+Anne Bonney Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 What a generous offer, El Diablo! Count me in, as I find more and more uses for one each time I venture out; thus finding myself cursing that I didn't bring one along 'cause I haven't ordered one from you, yourself. TIA, Anne Bonney, Colorado Quote
+GeoKender Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 Sweet! Count me in, I'm interested too! As long I'm not signing anything in blood. Quote
+Gizmo & Brazin Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 I always love to try and learn new things. Count me in! Thank you for the generous offer. Maybe after we all give it a go, we can post out pictures for all to see. (or...maybe NOT ) Quote
+jymkym1 Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 please ad me to the list also El Diablo.......I have seen yours and they are "aaaaawesome" thnx Quote
+Cachengrab Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 Always looking for help, add me to the list. Quote
Wanderingson Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 Count me in--I've got a collection of gadgets, but I always love to tinker with making hand made crafts as well. Heck, I even tried my hand at making a homemade alcohol burning stove out of pepsi cans. Quote
+garri Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 me too, add me to the list Diablo , i would like to know how handyman i am before my father makes it for me Quote
Fakk 2 Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 Though i have created my owh already, I would be interested in learning some new tricks. Can add me to the list. Quote
+webscouter. Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 I would like to know also, especially the selection of the staff, I want to make mine out of Osage Orange but can never seem to find a straight enough piece that is as long as I would like. Quote
SunshineSnuz Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 Too cool, me too!! Although my artistic talent is limited and I'm sure any that I attempt won't come out near as purty as yours. But I love to tinker anyway!! Quote
+papade Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 Please, count me in! I would love to make my own. Thanks! Quote
+Prairie Dog Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 Would love some El Diablo insight. Especially like what kind of wood to use. Looking forward to the 411. Quote
Raggedy Mandy Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 Count me in too- I'd love to learn how to make one! It would make an excellent anniversary gift for Bons. RM Quote
+bigredmed Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 Count me in too- I'd love to learn how to make one! It would make an excellent anniversary gift for Bons. RM Green wood needs to dry in a rack of some sort to keep it from bending. It will need to dry for a long time (from 6 weeks to a year). The longer, the better. Sand the wood smooth. Dremel tools work good for sanding knots and such. Spar varnish is great for wood that you don't need to stain and if you stain it first, it will be good here too. Apply in long even strokes that parallel the grain of the wood. Apply coat #1 and let it dry for 24 hours. Apply coat #2, let it dry for 24 hours. By now you will have a slick surface. Use fine grit steel wool and roughen the surface of the varnish and try to remove any blemishes to coat #2. This will make coat #3 stick better. Apply a tack cloth to remove any dust before applying coat #3. Apply coat #3 with special care to get the strokes even and to not leave any gaps. Coat #3 is the first chance you have to make a nice looking outer layer of varnish. You can go for more coats by repeating the steps between coat#2 and coat #3. I have cherry walking stick made this way. Turned out very nice. Carving, is something that I don't do, and didn't want to do on this stick, so I skipped that part, but obviously, you would do that before you stained or varnished it. Polyurethane varnishes also work nicely. Spar varnish was developed for spars and masts of wooden boats, so it builds up a very thick layer over the wood that resists water and looks cool. Quote
Geo Sooner Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 Count me in too. I would like any info you can supply. Quote
+clearpath Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 This sounds like a great article for "Today's Cacher" Quote
+GeoXterra Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 Could use a new club... sign me up. Thanks Quote
+Haffy Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 Count me in,so how long do we have to wait for the instructions? Quote
+macatac1961 Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 Hi El Diablo, Do you have a picture of one so we can see what you're talking about? I'd like to make one also... the one I have is in need of an upgrade. Quote
+roadway57 Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 I'd like to know the whole process also. Add me to the list. roadway57 Quote
+Stunod Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 Hi El Diablo, Do you have a picture of one so we can see what you're talking about? I'd like to make one also... the one I have is in need of an upgrade. Check out his work at http://www.geo-hikingstick.com It's very nice! Quote
+Marky Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 That reminds me, I still owe El Diablo a picture of me and my El Diablo staff. This picture was taken on a recent hike. The staff looks much better in person than in a photograph. That's the Santa Clara valley behind me. My house is somewhere near the top of the hiking staff. Quote
+Strapped-4-Cache Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 I'll join as well. Currently I'm using a broom handle with a bicycle grip forced onto the top, but would prefer something that looks a little nicer. I've managed to find some fairly straight cedar, poplar and dogwood deadfalls that are about the right size for a staff, but would prefer some pointers before starting, and perhaps ruining, what could turn out to be a good looking staff. Thanks, - Mark (S-4-C) Quote
D2Cacher Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 Me too. Will be cheaper and more entertaining that the Volksmarch Stick my friend was going to bring me back from German. Thanks. Quote
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