Curing a Walking Stick & other stuff

[Lightningbolt]

Had a pretty good afternoon and decided to replenish my dwindling walking stick stock with a steep walk (climb!) up and along the mountainside. Weather is now a bit cooler and bearable, even though the ground bees are madder this time of year, so I shuffled the risks and decided that it was worth it!

A 30-something minute hike bared me a few fine sourwood and dogwood sticks which I labeled and dated then stored away on my inside ceiling drying rack. Not sure how everyone else does it but the following system works for me as shown in the attached pictures.

Even though my finished sticks usually end up at 58" I always cut 'em extra long to allow for any drying cracks AND to have a little extra "play" wood for miscellaneous carving later on. I then mark the end with the type wood and the date that it was gathered.

Next thing is stashing it high up and outta the way on my little curing rack which is just a couple pieces of maple slats attached with stove pipe wire to eye hooks in the ceiling. Been using this system for several years now with the best results yet!

Before I had tried storing them under the shop in the open air, stacking them in the corner inside, and on the porch. Winter or summer the ceiling rack dries them the best for me with such little cracking and in record time. They're always ready to carve in about a month with good results. I've also had good success storing them in the loft of a small enclosed barn in the backyard too but hey... I kinda like my little homemade rack!

Oh yeah, the last picture is a "wad" of the inner bark of the poplar tree which we use a lot on projects throughout the year in the woodshop... especially as some wild far-out funky looking hair when making Indian masks. We just scrape the stuff off the bark of dead logs. Works best when using protected and dry logs but it scrapes off better when it's then left out in the rain for a day. I usually re-dry it on my ceiling rack then work the fibers by rolling it between my hands until it's pliable for using on whatever project requires it. Great stuff!

[GaryMc]

Thanks Dave, great information! Wish I had a bunch of sticks.
GaryMc

[Woodartist]

Nice approach Dave. The only thing I have done different in the past is to coat the ends with wax or latex paint......to cut down on the checking. However if they are long enough, no problem Nice looking sticks !!!!

[Joy]

Thanks, dave. You reminded me that I should have saved the sticks from a big crepe myrtle that we cut yesterday.

[BobD]

Hey Dave,
In your opinion, what is the best wood for walking sticks? I'd imagine that the dogwood would be a bear to carve...

Bob

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I have a sour wood stick I received back a few years when some of us did stick swaps......nice sticks! Hey Bob....they are all good! lol

[bbeery]

I have a wood stove in my workshop in Georgia and dry my sticks beside the stove during the winter months. I've not had a problem with cracking. Early in my carving life, they had a rule of thumb about drying the sticks; One year per inch of thickness. Not sure that is valid. I spend the summers in Michigan and store sticks in the eves of the garage, much like you did Dave. Dogwood is a bear to carve, extremely hard wood. Sourwood is very good, Aspen is one of my favorites and of course, Basswood is great. If your in the right area, D. Willow is great and has a lot of character.
I've seen great success with Red Cedar, the red heart wood makes the carving of a face very interesting! But, it cracks easily and does not like weather changes i.e. good to look at, not much for real use. I never tried Sumac but understand it is a very nice wood for walking sticks.
Stick carving has been my passion but I do some caricatures.

[Coffeeman]

QUESTION........

I notice from the pictures, your drying them with the bark left on. If you perferr a walking stick that is barkless, what method do you use to remove the bark after the stick has been dried?

I have a nice dried piece of D. Willow with about 15 diamonds in it, but I need to figure out how I should remove the bark?

Thanks for any suggestions. Bill

[windsong]

Hi Lightingbolt
Very good info.I but them in my green house to dry and i also cut them extra long in case that crack on the ends.I have about 30 sticks collected so far.Beings i'm layed up for the next 12 weeks with the cut hand.My boys and me are collecting sticks.All i'm cutting is Sassfrass, birch and popular.I carved about 14 sticks before the cut.But i come on ever even and look at everyones carvings you all are doing very great work!!!.
Vic.

[Woodartist]

Coffeeman, I use a box cutter to remove the bark...however I have not worked with diamond willow.