Newbie question about buying wood

[MikeTaylor]

Hi everyone.
I have recently become interested in wood carving. So recent that I have never tried it. I wood like to carve some hiking / walking staffs. My problem is, I have no idea where to purchase the wood stock for those projects. I live in a fairly rural area and the local craft stores have nothing to offer me. Can anyone offer up a few links to where I can buy some blank staffs?
Any info will be a great help.
Thank you very much.

[Scott Hagerty]

I followed your links on your profile and am assuming you are from New York or Pennsylvania.

Willow would be an option if you have any growing in the area.

I like to carve aspen for walking sticks, which I get when I can from Colorado.

Other than that, maybe someone else will chime in with their suggestions.

Off and on, I've seen sticks offered for sale on the board. Maybe try the search function to find threads on walking sticks for other suggestions.

Good luck and if you need advice or help you've come to the right place.

Scott

[CarverFromNoWhere]

Do you have an acerage? or maybe some local atv trails? all decent places to look for wood, the list is endless poplar/aspen willow about 13 different specie birch oak cherry hickory maple all these should grow in ya area. If you have acess to woods ya shouldn't have to buy any if your just stick carving. Ask some stick carvers on here what they like to use that can be found easy, what area of what state do you live in? and country or city, do ya have hunting land? shouldn't be hard to get some wood, hope this helps.
Carl

[Ron T]

Hello and welcome, Mike. It's nice to have you here, especially since you're interested in sticks, my area of interest.

Since you live in a rural area, you shouldn't have any problems finding sticks. I wouldn't think you'd have to buy sticks unless you want a specific wood.

You can go here TreelineUSA: The Woodcraft Specialists and buy sticks, and there are a number of other suppliers.

My suggestion is you look around your area, ask friends and neighbors. If there is a park service office near you, visit them and tell them what you want and ask for advice finding sticks. I live in the city and I get sticks from friends and neighbors. They're always telling me when they see tree trimmers at work or if a tree has fallen.

Look through the posts to find threads on sticks. You can visit my site for a partial list of trees that make good walking sticks.

If you have any questions post them here or send me a pm. I'm sure you'll have a lot of them.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Mike, you can also check out this link. Welcome to the forum.


Woodcarving Supplies from Smoky Mountain Woodcarvers Supply

Dave

[Troutbum]

Hi, Mike
I asked the same question not too long ago and got several good suggestions from the members here.
Then I took a walk in the woods. I now seriously doubt that I will ever have to buy sticks.
Just make sure you're not on a National Forest, State Park, etc. Check your local laws.
I have been using Sweet Birch, Maple and Beech with good results.
When I got serious and payed attention to what was around, I found that I have Sassafras, Maple, American Elm, Catalpa and Box Elder right on my own property.
The wood is out there, and you just might get some excercise in the process!

Good luck!

Troutbum

[MikeTaylor]

Wow, thanks for all the great advise. I own 40 acres in Northern NY loaded with white birch, oak, maple and apple. I never dawned on me to look in my own woods. Does the wood need to dry before it is carved?

Thanks again.

[Ron T]

Hi Mike, you can carve green wood, but my suggestion is you look for dead sticks first and carve those. If you get green sticks, put them up for a couple of months so they can dry. It's very disappointing to have a nice carbved stick crack.

[chuckbolton]

the advantage of searching on your own property-- u can find staffs with interesting twists and turns to enhance the look of your carving-- in the midwest i go to creek banks and get diamond willow, cedar is available as well as some maple.oak, hickory and maybe some sassafrass. when u run thru those-- try some of the underbrush growing on the edge of the meadows..might not work--but u never know

[R-OLDS]

My 2cents, If you want maple, elm, ash, hickory ETC. You had better carve them green as they are quite hard when dry. Basswood, Catalpa, Sasafrass, Butternut ETC are fine to carve when dry much softer and easier to carve hold detail..