I'm looking for a source of wood suitable for carving walking stick's, one type of wood that I'm seeking is ' Alaskan Diamond Willow ' any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Dennis

[Ric]

You mau find this site helpful.

Ric

http://diamondwillowwood.tripod.com/

[AlArchie]

I don't know where you are at, Dennis, but 'Alaskan' diamond willow is just diamond willow that happens to grow in Alaska. Â*You can find diamond willow in just about any midwest, great lakes, northeast, or mountain state, and most of central Canada. Â*There are a lot of local suppliers all over the country, and I'll bet if you do a search, several will show up in your particular area.

The proper name for the most common 'diamond' willow is Bebb Willow (Salix bebbiana)

Al

Hello Dennis and welcome to the group.

I agree with Al. If you do not live in an area where you can find your own DW search online for the nearest supplier to cut down on shipping costs. Some other good woods for stickcarving if you are in the northern half of the U.S. or in Canada are basswood, birch, alder, poplar, aspen, and 'plain' willow.

http://www.sticksite.com
This is a site that sells sticks. Located in Alberta Canada. The site is worth a look even if you don't want to buy. Read some of this mans stories, very interesting.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

DW does grow in the lower states as Al said, but my neighbor went to Alaska last summer and brought back over 20 DW sticks and they are beautiful! The diamonds when cleaned are much darker than the ones here, they look more like walnut than cedar color that these here do....no point to this, just info...I was impressed with the color of the alaskan DW.

[Colin_Partridge]

Dont know about Alaskan Diamond Willow but I was just out this morning and harvested thirty or so sticks from the local swamp. the DW here is very plentiful and has lots of walnut colored diamonds most of my sticks (approx 5ft tall) would have on the averege of twenty plus diamonds in them. I find that the only problem with DW is that there are plenty of sticks 4 to six inches diameter but not as many inch to two inches in diameter. Also if your harvesting DW better go within the next two weeks before the insects and undergrowth get impossible. Had a few bites this morning but not too bad yet.
Colin

[Kenny_S]

Ken Laninga has a good site with a lot of info and he sells DW also.

http://www.sticksite.com

Al is correct, Even in Kansas there is a few DW. Not the caliber of Ken's or those grown in Canada but DW the same. Fewer diamonds in the southern DWs.
There was a supplier from Texas that use to harvest DW in Texas but have not seen him at the carving shows in the last 3 years. His also had fewer diamonds. Started carving sassafrsaa sticks and are beautiful when finished. Lots of sassafrass in Missouri around tThe Lake of the Ozarks.