[heytraveler]

I'm new to this forum, new to woodworking, new to carving, new to being retired.

So I have a lot to learn, and one of the first things I want to learn is how to carve sticks and canes. I have harvested some nice possibilites over the last several months. So now I need to know how to preserve bark, how long to let things rest until I start working on them, and what is the best way to keep things once I think I have the sticks looking like they should.

Thank you, all.
heytraveler

[Tom H]

Welcome Haytraveler. Newly retired huh. I've been successfully retired for nearly 18 years. I say successfully because I first mastered the art of staying off wifes turf, and out from underfoot. This is in large part because of woodworking and carving....well fear too. This is a great group of very helpful folks. Some retired, some not. But all willing to help. Tom H

[GeorgiaCarver]

Welcome to the forum. Your are embarking on a noble cause.... I usually let the sticks dry for 12 months, but I am sure others have different opinions. It is easier to carve green wood but it tends to crack. Others will jump in here and help you more than I did.

Again, welcome!

Greg

[Eddy Smiles]

Heytraveler... Greetings and salutations! You didn't fill out your profile or give us a general location of where you are located so it's hard to tell what kind of wood you're talking about. If you're carving the old fashion way with a knife then you might find hard woods like maple and oak easier to carve green. If you've got softer woods like Tulip and sweetgum then it's probably best to let it cure as Greg stated. As for leaving the bark on, it's been my experience that if you don't leave the bark on the entire cane or walking stick shaft then there's a good chance that the piece will dry out without any severe cracking. Once the piece is dry the bark adheres fairly well, especially when it's resealed with a varnish or urethane. However, if you leave all the bark on you might want to seal up the ends to keep the piece from splitting. I always cut them way longer than I need to allow for waste from splits. While letting them cure keep them in a dry well ventilated space.