New Member

[Retired in Georgia]

Good Morning,
I am new to carving and have recently retired so I have plenty of
time on my hands until the bass start biting.
I have just started using a cane myself and didn't really care for the cane that the VA issued so I made myself a walking stick out of an apple branch.Some of the men at the VA Hospital liked it so I thought I would
make some in my spare time and share them with the other Veterans.
I am looking for some ideas that are simple enough for a beginner and
a few tips on carving and what kind of wood to use for canes. I only used apple because I had to remove a tree that was storm damaged.
I look forward to hearing from you.

[Thor]

Hi there, and welcome!
Where in Georgia are you located?
You found a great site to learn as much as you care to learn.
Christina, also in Georgia

[Marvin Little]

Welcome Retiree, you will love stickmaking but it is habit forming. Almost any wood, that is strong enough, can be used to make sticks. I make root canes, canes with separate handles, and hiking sticks out of almost all kinds of wood that grows in my area. You will begin to see stick blank possibilities everywhere you look. You will, of course, want to use the types available in your area. Even privet hedge makes a great stick. Look online at what others are making and check out your library and bookstores for material. Most libraries are on a national program that allows them to get books for you from libraries all over the country. Good luck with your new hobby.

Marvin
Pell City, Alabama

[dnstehly]

Greetings to a fellow retired Veteran and welcome to the board. With the damage to your apple tree you have stumbled onto an excellent wood for canes and all types of carvings. It is one of my favorite woods to carve. The other fruitwoods such as cherry, pear, apricot, etc. are also very good for canes. The have an even, closed grain for ease of carving and have a good tensil strength for the shaft. I believe you will enjoy your new hobby and you will be able to get some good pointers here on the WCI board.

[shane_1]

Hi there and welcome

[carver33]

Hello and welcome to the forum - and congratulations on your retirement.

[Clifford_Parker]

If you have any friends or family with kudzu check for saplings growing in it. The vines can wrap around the growing tree, restrict the growth, and create beautiful spiral designs. My brother lived in the Augusta area and brought me a bunch of poplar that had been wrapped by kudzu and it made great looking walking sticks.

For canes you can dig up standing dead saplings and use the root ball for a handle or look for branches with limbs going off at a good angle for a handle. Another option is usung natural sticks for the shank and carving and attaching handles.

[lew poorman]

Originally Posted by Retired in Georgia

Good Morning,
I am new to carving and have recently retired so I have plenty of
time on my hands until the bass start biting.
I have just started using a cane myself and didn't really care for the cane that the VA issued so I made myself a walking stick out of an apple branch.Some of the men at the VA Hospital liked it so I thought I would
make some in my spare time and share them with the other Veterans.
I am looking for some ideas that are simple enough for a beginner and
a few tips on carving and what kind of wood to use for canes. I only used apple because I had to remove a tree that was storm damaged.
I look forward to hearing from you.

I am new also but have been making canes for vets for a while. There is a great national project of canes for vets that you can get a plan for a great cane with an eagle on top. I stumbled on diamond willows and most of my canes are that type. By the way the Phys. Ther./Occ. Ther. at the VA can give you a guide for making them the right height for others.
keep up the good work

[Norm Forand]

Welcome to the Carving World.

Norm

[totova2004]

Welcome, I think you picked a great hobby ! I have been carving for a few years and seems like I never get tired of it. I love this site and it is loaded with good info.
Good Luck with your carving!!