Walking Sticks

[Fossilman]

JUNIPER,is one of my favorite types of wood to work with,expecially if it's all twisted up.....Hard to work,but takes a great polish and looks great!

[Fossilman]

Feb 25, 2016 12:14:14 GMT -5 bushmanbilly said:

Feb 25, 2016 0:39:01 GMT -5 @shotgunner said:

Find a way to bake the stick. Kills larvae.

When I was in Jamaica, I would make ashtrays and mugs out of the large Bamboo for my friends back home. I noticed that a little pile of saw dust was on the table every time I cleaned the ashtray. I put all the bamboo outside over nught. Them wimpy southern bugs can't take the -30 weather we have here. Sawdust problem solved.

When I lived in northern North Dakota,we called the cold winters (-50 below) "Keeping the rift raft" out,that included bugs and people!! LMAO

It does work,it takes a special breed of anything to tough the winters out up north...

[toiv0]

Feb 26, 2016 15:10:26 GMT -5 Fossilman said:

Feb 25, 2016 12:14:14 GMT -5 bushmanbilly said:

When I was in Jamaica, I would make ashtrays and mugs out of the large Bamboo for my friends back home. I noticed that a little pile of saw dust was on the table every time I cleaned the ashtray. I put all the bamboo outside over nught. Them wimpy southern bugs can't take the -30 weather we have here. Sawdust problem solved.

When I lived in northern North Dakota,we called the cold winters (-50 below) "Keeping the rift raft" out,that included bugs and people!! LMAO

It does work,it takes a special breed of anything to tough the winters out up north...

We used to say the same thing but free stuff trumps cold weather.

[toiv0]

We also do hazel brush and sumac, if you dig the root it goes off at a 90 degree angle so makes a good cane with little work. (like digging isnt hard)

[1dave]

What I'm hoping to see is the marriage of wood and rock working.

[Fossilman]

Here are some frames I make from Diamond willow.....Need to make a jig for straight cutting on the table saw,it's wicked cutting...





I also do the 45's and other angle cuts-they are pretty easy with Diamond Willow,you can sand down the corners and the wood will still incorporate into each other quite well.....





Now my favorite wood is old wood,be it tore up,ripped,bad cuts from previous owners,weathered,half rotted-I can do miracles with it and make it live again for enjoyment for another person..

[Fossilman]

Feb 27, 2016 0:15:19 GMT -5 1dave said:

What I'm hoping to see is the marriage of wood and rock working.

That's in my plans soon......Hoping this summer....

[1dave]

Feb 22, 2016 20:58:03 GMT -5 toiv0 said:

I have about 200 walking sticks cut and peeled waiting to do the sanding and finish when I have time. I'll try and get a pic of my pile.

Here is an order of 600 fresh diamond willow heading out to a cane and walkingstick maker

I asked Bill if he would sell some?

No, but he would trade. How many did I want and how long?

2-3, 4-5' long I replied and PM'd some photos He agreed.

I thought he could throw some half hitches around them and tie on a shipping label like we did back when the West was young and these stories were new.

The wrapping alone was much more than I expected - One stick for every day of the week, around 6' AND he peeled them!
What a pleasant experience! Now I'm trading for some of his rocks.

[toiv0]

Ah, glad to see they got there safely. Hope you like them. I usally use my fordom on the eyes. Some people use polyurethane but I just mineral oil mine. enjoy

[Fossilman]

Score for Dave!! Thumbs up...... Quote "Some people use polyurethane but I just mineral oil mine." Quote
I use poly too,never thought of using mineral oil,how does it look when finished??

[toiv0]

Mar 1, 2016 9:15:30 GMT -5 Fossilman said:

Score for Dave!! Thumbs up...... Quote "Some people use polyurethane but I just mineral oil mine." Quote
I use poly too,never thought of using mineral oil,how does it look when finished??

Mineral oil isn't as shiney but the diamonds turn the same dark red.  

[toiv0]

Mr. Dave sent me a few things in this trade and I will say I got the better end of the deal. The picasso is awesome, the obsidian superb, but the prize of the whole lot was this slice of plume that is to die for. Thank you Mr. Dave.


super plume

[Fossilman]

Nothing better than good Ol' horsetrading!!

[1dave]

Mar 1, 2016 11:44:14 GMT -5 toiv0 said:

Mr. Dave sent me a few things in this trade and I will say I got the better end of the deal. The picasso is awesome, the obsidian superb, but the prize of the whole lot was this slice of plume that is to die for. Thank you Mr. Dave.

I hoped you would get it before you left for Texas.

[beefjello]

Looks like a generous trade on both your parts, cool beans. Man that is a super plume!!

[~~BigSky~~]

Feb 21, 2016 6:06:21 GMT -5 1dave said:

Antelope BitterBrush

I'm letting a long held secret out of the bag.



Sometimes called buckbrush, quininebrush, bitterbrush, antelope brush, deer brush, and black sage.

It grows from Texas to California to Canada, between 4,000 - 8,000 ft altitude, and fortunately has thus-far been ignored by craftsmen.

It looks a lot like LARGE sagebrush that can reach 6-8 feet in height, but has the interesting habit of limbs twisting around each-other for additional support as it grows.



Once you peel the cedar like bark off, the twisty inter-growth of limbs make amazing patterns great for carving unique walking sticks.

I've admired this one for 20 years, but now that I need it, I've decided to add a sphere to the top and set some gemstones in it.

Preparing the top:



A 1 1/4" hole saw leaves a 7/8" core, so I used a 7/8" planer bit to drill into a "Doll Head" sphere from Woodworks Ltd. in Texas.

I notched a piece of 2X4 to stay centered on my drill-press and cut a 2" hole in it to hold the 2 1/2" sphere solidly.





It will soon be attached similar to this other one I'm working on. Some sandpaper glued to the bottom of the sphere should help me set the sphere into the stick.

have you ever used diamond willow? I'm not sure if its found alone the whole Yellowstone river but I do know where one location is. I've heard local people in the sidney area make walking sticks/canes. Someone gave me a couple pieces, if youd like me to get a photo, I gladly will. I haven't went out myself to collect the stuff, I can find out a location of youd like that too. Its near stuff

[~~BigSky~~]

Feb 23, 2016 17:24:04 GMT -5 Fossilman said:

Finally went out to the shop-took a few photos...This stick will be my personal walking stick,when finished....31 diamonds on it,and some custom stuff...Getting a carving on it also,than finish it up...





Made from bone..

DIAMOND WILLOW!!! Cool sticks yo

[metalsmith]

Feb 22, 2016 20:58:03 GMT -5 toiv0 said:

Here is an order of 600 fresh diamond willow heading out to a cane and walkingstick maker

And the ambulance is to take the poor guy away after he's done?

Great sticks btw!

I've been collecting a few pices over the last couple of years; false acacia and a little cherry; the first ones should be ready to go (to do something) this summer / autumn. Whether I get around to it is another matter. When I cut the tree I do it judicously to let some grow on to thicken for sticks.

Those carvings! They're something else.

[1dave]

I finally got the 2 1/2" spheres on two and added an opal to the necklace.

[1dave]

BTW to be sure the sphere remained attached I used a Dowel or Hanger screw to hold them together.