Hiking Stick

Decorative
1

Here is one of the first projects that I did a couple of months ago.

As I am a fairly keen dog walker I decided I would make myself a hiking stick with a V top for my thumb (thumb stick?)

Anyway very early one morning I went to our local wood with the dog on a lead in one hand and a saw in the other. I must have looked like an aged vandal, all tooled up!!

In the wood there are also lots of hedges where Hazel is growing.

I walked for miles and selected what I thought would be the perfect stick, mmmm…not that easy!! I either cut them too short, or they were too bent, or too fat. If you are a tracker you would certainly not find it too hard to follow my route.

Eventually I found the perfect stick for me, which I then took home and hung it outside to season.

Seasoning did not last too many days, as I just wanted to get on with making my stick. So I figured if I stripped the bark off it would dry out quicker. So I stripped the bark and found that the wood underneath was a lovely light colour. All the other sticks I see are dark, so I was pleased that it looked different already. I then left it for a few more days to season. I was also amazed on how flexible the stick was when I first cut it, now it is totally rigid.

I was told by someone that I would need a ferrule to protect the stick at the end. He suggested a place where I could get rubber ones. I though about this and decided I would try to get a metal one. A quick search of eBay and I found a pack of various sized brass ones.

I must have spent hours deciding exactly how long the stick needed to be before attaching the ferrule.

I decided to screw and glue the ferrule to the end of my stick. It certainly protects the stick, but I sound like “Blind Pew” when walking on hard ground.

The V in the stick was a little too tight for my “pork sausage” thumb, so I shaved away at the wood till the thumb fitted snugly.

I then covered the handle with what you see in the picture.

The stick has now been used in anger on every walk that I take with the dog, and it works, cos I have not fallen over yet.

Every so often I lovingly wax it with bee’s wax whilst I watch the TV.

http://www.ridingtherhino.co.uk/Portals/0/Knots/Hiking%20Stick.JPG

2

Why is it being used in anger?

3

The “Y” reminds me of a sheperds crook, only you can use it to keep sheep away, rather than the sheperd who uses his (or her) hook to guide his sheep in. Nice work on the knotting, is that paracord?

Pat

4

It is a term we used long ago, if something was used in anger it was used rather than just being ornamental.

5

It is not paracord, as I found this to be a little too soft, I used “colour line” It is a fairly stiff, braided synthetic and shapes rather well. I have to say that as a grip it is rather nice to hold as it is slightly course, so no slippage.

6

The Y certainly make the stick more comfortable to use when your thumb is resting in the gap.

A friend of mine makes these as a hobby and he drills out the larger section of the Y and turns it into a whistle. So when you are walking your dog, you always have a whistle to hand.

7

Oh yeah, reading what I have written makes it sound like the dog might be on the receiving end!!! Totally the opposite, I am on the receiving end if he is not taken for a walk!