Started my first stick in over 15 yrs tonight!

[Jim-Iowa]

Curently cut at 36". 1 9/16 at the top and 1 1/4 at the bottom.
Has 5 sharp kinks in 36" but was able to cut it so the top and bottom was in line. Think it is Russian Oliive, fell over my fence from a neighbors yard, right on the property line( not sure if it is my tree or the neighbors).
The stick has very light colored wood and cuts a lot like poplar but tight grained. Not yet sure what direction I'm going with this yet?
Maybe by the time I get the bark stripped I'll have a better idea?
Have not decided to make it a cane or leave it as a stick with a knob top?

[Ron T]

Hi Jim,

I glad to hear you're doing a stick. It sounds very interesting, too. Since you said this is your "first stick in over 15 years", I guess you're a carver of other styles. Perhaps you can carve a "topper" for the stick or a fancy handle? How do you remove the bark on your sticks? I use a hawkbill knife. It has a hooked blade like a linoleum knife. Works really well.

I have a couple of corkscrew willows that were given to me when I was RVing. I'll probably carve a topper for those. I just finished an Indian topper yesterday and will post photos tonight.

Good luck with it and be sure to post photos.

[Jim-Iowa]

Ron it sure is a knarly beast. As far as sticks I never got much past striping the bark and leaving as is. Years ago I used to spend a week in Colorado every summer. West Cliff Colorado (WS of Colorado Springs) is where we went and I picked out an Aspen sapling every year and made a walking stick.

As far as striping the bark on this one I tried something different.
Since the bark was very punky instead of using a knife I rasped it off.
It took about an hour last night to strip it.
That may have been a mistake since it looks like a porcupine now?
But it did go fast.
I'm of scottish decent so for kicks I think I may carve the top as a thistle(there's enough meat in the stick I can do that without adding a topper after the fact). From there I'm not sure wher I will go?
This may not be the most practical working stick as twisted as it is, but should make an interesting conversation piece.

[Ron T]

Jim,

my wife and I have a friend in Colorado Spring and we enjoyed visiting the area w/ our RV.

Another friend brought me several Aspen sticks he got in CO helping his friend clear some land. I don't know if this is proper but, I wet down my sticks when the bark has been left on to dry completely. It makes it a bit easier to remove the bark. Aspen kind of reminds me of Diamond willow. The carvings get kind of fuzzy. I'm used to carving hardwood sticks and like the way they hold detail but it is much more tiring.

Can you tell me what a thistle is, or perhaps I'll wait until you've posted pictures.

[Jim-Iowa]

Ron here's a bit on the Scottish Thistle.
The Scottish Thistle, Emblem of Scotland, Scottish History Online
I'll add more in a bit.

[Ron T]

Wow Jim, I wouldn't know where to begin to translate that into a carving. I gotta see the finished product. Don't leave me hanging.

[Jim-Iowa]

Ron I ran across a Horn Thistle Topper a couple nights ago, but can't for the life of me find it to refer you to. It was basically a bulb with the flower crown on top. I'll probably carve that right on the stick along with leaves and burn in the prickly part.
and paint it. Still trying to decide if I can pull off the family crest or not?
Should probably try it on a flat plane(like a box) before I do it on a stick.
I'm also very partial to birds of prey, and will try to work an eagle into the design. When I get to watch Eagles I feel 10 ft tall and bulletproof.
As I get older I am aware that I certainly I am neither!

[Ron T]

Hi Jim,

I'm glad we seem to have this thread to ourselves, though I don't mind anyone else joining in.

It seems to me that the crest would be easier than the thistle, but that just me. If the stick is thick enough, you might consider cutting in a flat spot and carving the crest in there. As far as eagles are concerned, I don't know if it's because they're our national symbol or what, but most people feel the same way. They make your heart swell with their majesty.

I also belong to SCWW. StickCarvingWorldWide : Stick Carving World Wide

You might want to take a look at the photo gallery. Lots of nice sticks there.

[tnartist05]

Jim Iowa,Id like to see your stick when you get it done.Im sure it will be really neat. Forrest