Stick Carving Pattern or Ideas

Texas_Jim · #1 12-24-2003, 11:23 PM

I want to carve a hiking stick for my son and I need some idea of a pattern to use.

I plan to add a mountain man or wood spirit toward the top but don't have any good ideas for carving some kind of spiral pattern on the remainder of the stick.

I two sticks to select from, a diamond willow stick and a sequrao (sp) cactus. Which is a better selection?

Thanks for the help,
Jim

Donna_T · #2 12-25-2003, 06:24 AM

Jim,
I've never carved cactus but I have carved several walking sticks from diamond willow. It's good to carve and has enough character to compliment your carvings. I like to carve things on a walking stick in somewhat of a theme....either things that are of interest to the owner of the stick or follow a relationship.

For instance, for a fella who was retiring, I used carvings of his hobbies...hunting (ducks, quail, deer), fishing (trout, bass, crappie), reading (books)... as well as the logos/names of previous jobs and positions. For a younger person, I've used their activities--cars, soccer, baseball, scouts, hunting, etc. When doing a Celtic style, I used knots, spirits, etc.

A winding vine of some type is a good way to add a spiral effect.

Donna T

Texas_Jim · #3 12-25-2003, 10:10 AM

Is it better to remove the bark on the diamond willow before carving or leave the bark on and create a design that contrasts the carved area with the bark.

What kind of finish should I use of these sticks?

Thanks
Jim

#4 12-25-2003, 11:18 AM

Remove the bark and define the diamonds first. Â*DW lends itself really well to the woodspirit carving, but you might just find that defining the diamonds, if you have a really good piece, is all you need to do.

You might try carving a winding vine, with cupped leaves and a few tendrils weaving around the diamonds. Â*Wild rose petal type flowers go well with this type of vine. Â*You can also adda caterpillar or butterfly, or a mouse peeking out of a knot hole.

I've just carved the vines, but one of my friends burns the vine/flowers in first and uses the burn as a stop cut.....looks great!

Let your imagination go on these sticks!

I've found either a linseed oil finish for a real working stick, or a poly or spray varnish finish for more decorative sticks work well.

Al

Texas_Jim · #5 12-25-2003, 11:33 AM

Thanks Al,

I'm removing the bark today. The winding vine sounds good, I might be able to handle that. You wouldn't happen to know of a picture of a winding vine?

#6 12-25-2003, 12:37 PM

I'll see if I can find one.....I have one posted on a photo site, but I can't remember where........CRS setting in fast!

OK, here's the post....it's just the top of one cane, but you can get the idea.

Sorry, that didn't work very well......I'll try again later

OK, it's later and I found it. Â*This is on page 3 of the album and there is another shot on page 2.

This vine winds about halfway down and comes out of a stome wall carved into the circumference of the stick. sorry I don't have a better photo

http://groups.msn.com/WildWoodAlbums...mp;PhotoID=287

Al

#7 12-26-2003, 02:02 AM

I have 2 Diamond willow sticks. Only 2 sticks I will not sell. They looked so good once I got all the bark and skin off and cleaned out the diamonds, I just sanded and finished with 3 coats of polly. Bark is sort of hard to remove, hope you have a good draw knife and maybe a shaving horse. I did mine with a reg knife, now I have the material to make me a good shaving horse. The sticks are absolutely georgeous when they are finished. Once the bark is fully removed the wood itself cuts fairly easily. i just sold 9 sticks and 3 canes that I did out of pecan, oak, tallow, but the diamond willow is not for sale.

Ric · #8 12-26-2003, 07:48 PM

AL
That is a fine looking stick. You captured the grain of the wood in the finish. Nice job. I just started carving sticks and look forward to coming up with a finished product like yours.
Ric

#9 12-26-2003, 08:24 PM

Thanks, Ric! Â*But DON'T try one of these.....OAK....old and hard as a rock. Â*Unless of coarse you find a special piece like this one was. Â* hehehehe.

Seriously, look for all sorts of interesting sticks, some bent, some crooked, some straight, some with natural cane handles. Â*Part of the fun of doing sticks is getting out and looking for those 'unique' volunteers. Â*This one was broken off in a windstorm. Â*Another one I reall liked was a spalted maple I found when I grabbed it when I slipped in some mud and it broke off at the ground. I was going to threow it away until I noticed the spalting near an old burl, and the upper part of the stick was still sound, even though the part at gound level was entirely rotted.

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/...amp;uid=731540

Wayne, if you get that diamond willow in the spring, the bark comes off a LOT easier......in fact if you can get a strip started it will peel all the way down, just by pulling.....the later in the season, the tighter the bark is. Â*I picked some this winter, and it's hard peeling, too. Â*Spring is GOOD!
Al

#10 12-26-2003, 10:15 PM

Thanks Al
I ordered mine from a guy in Canada
He only cuts them in the late fall or early winter
Then he lets them dry for a year or more before he will sell any of them. I found someone else that sells them also. Have not ordered from him but he is 1 or the northern US states.