Tips for Making A Walking Or Hiking Stick

You can walk more naturally and put less strain on your body with a hiking stick in hand.
With the use of two sticks, you are provided with even more support.
The walking or hiking stick can be of great help for you to balance while you're walking in areas that can be slippery or hard to get a footing in.
When making a walking or hiking stick, it is necessary to prepare a stick using pocketknife or carving knife, fine and very fine sandpaper, handgrip, and oil stain or preservative.
To protect yourself, a pair of heavy work gloves is needed.
You should always be cautious when handling sharp tools.
Be sure that you know basic woodworking safety before starting to make your very own walking or hiking stick.
Aside from that, you should also know how the woodworking tools work.
Consult the various woodworking sites on the web and books in your library if you want to gain more knowledge about woodworking tools and their use.
First and foremost, select a branch or limb for your hiking stick.
A good height for a walking stick should be about as long as the distance between your feet and your shoulders.
The diameter should be 1-2 inches.
Never kill trees, especially the young ones, as this would cause damage to the environment.
Moreover, walking sticks need to be stiff.
Try pushing a fingernail into the stick and see if it made a mark.
Select another stick if it left a mark on the stick.
The stick you choose should not be from a living tree.
Then, set aside the stick to dry for 3-4 weeks.
You can remove the bark before drying or after drying.
A pocketknife can be used to do this, using short, sharp strokes.
Be especially careful when using knives in making a walking or hiking stick.
Take off all the bark starting with the outer portion, and then gradually go deeper until the red layer under the outer bark can be seen.
For a better grip, you can spare the red layer that seems firmly attached to the wood.
Next, smooth the surface of the stick with sandpaper.
Use a fine sandpaper first then finish with a very fine to make sure the surface is relatively smooth and free from splinters.
After sanding, finish the stick with oil stain or preservative.
You can then add any ornaments, handgrips, or decorations to your walking or hiking stick.
However, be careful not scar the finish of your stick.
Have fun and hike away with your personalized walking or hiking stick!Go on your new adventure and enjoy the day.