[big_Wayne_P]

I have a couple of pieces of dogwood
think I am going to make a staff out of 1 and a cane out of the other

was wondering about finishing it

wood is nice and white
should i leave it the natural white color
or should i stain it

[Kenny_S]

Do you have a piece of dogwood you could experiment with? Maybe contrasting colors like the white dogwood with aFruitwood or oak or maple stain. I guess it would depend on what you carve on the cane or staff and if you stain the carving differently than the dogwood. I like the dogwood color and with Deft semi-goss. Would be pretty.

JMHO!

[Lightningbolt]

I use dogwood quite often when making my walking sticks and have just recently used it for a cane with a nice contrasting red mahogany dragon handle. Personally, I absolutely love the natural bright white color of dogwood mainly because of the wonderful contrast that is created between it and the woodspirit (or other carved object) which is painted, stained, or colored in some way.

In finishing I like to sand the dogwood down really fine, then I apply at least two coats of high gloss indoor/outdoor polyurethane and vigorously sanding by hand with steel wool inbetween coats. I know that finishing is a personal thing but that's how I have always finished my dogwood sticks and they sell quite well. And it's really nice when I get a piece of dogwood that is naturally interlaced with that beautiful red streaking in the wood. I seek this streaked dogwood with a vengance for some stunning lathe projects.

I also carve a lot of sourwood which also has that great bright white grain which makes the carved object stand out and thus finish it exactly the same way as the dogwood. These woods are also beautifully accented with woodburning also. The way I do walking sticks I never-ever wash away that wonderful and natural contrasting bright white color with stains.

[big_Wayne_P]

OK thanks

I do like the natural white color

not sure what I am going to carve on it yet

but the main part of the stick will remain natural

thanks again