How to Make Walking Sticks for Hiking

Walking sticks have been used since ancient times, and they’re still used today by hikers, campers and anyone who wants to get around more efficiently. They keep your hands free and give you extra support. It also assists you in climbing over obstacles such as fallen trees. They can also use to stabilize your body during steep climbs. When you use walking sticks while hiking, you don’t have to worry about falling. Instead, you can focus all of your attention on what’s happening around you. It’s easy to make your own walking stick at home!

Way to Make Your Unique Walking Sticks for Hiking

What Will You Need?

A straight tree or tree branch that’s 1-1⁄2 to 2 inches thick at its big end, and 55 to 65 inches long
A 1-inch-long piece of 3⁄4-inch diameter copper pipe
Five-minute epoxy glue
Sandpaper
Some kind of saw (a handsaw would work fine)
A sharp knife
Paint color or Stencils (Optional)
Wax or Varnish (Optional)

What Will You Do?

Step 1: Choose Your Wood

The first thing you need to do is choose what kind of wood you want to use. The most common types of wood used in walking sticks are cedar, ash, maple, hickory, and bamboo. Cedar is strong and light weight, while ash is sturdy and resistant to rot. Maple is also very durable and has a nice grain pattern. Hickory is easy to work with and makes good walking sticks because it holds its shape well.

Step 2: Cut Your Wood

Once you have your wood ready, you’ll need to cut it down into the right size. You can use dry or dead wood. Walking sticks come in many sizes, from 3 inches long all the way up to 12 feet long. For beginners, start off with shorter lengths, such as 6 or 8 inches long. As you become more experienced, you can move on to longer lengths. When cutting the wood, remember to keep it straight. Use a saw to cut through the wood, and then sand the edges smooth.

Step 3: Shape Your Stick

Once you’ve got your stick sized correctly, it’s time to shape it. You may want to use a router to create a decorative edge around the top of the stick. This is called a “bead.” Be sure to leave enough space between each bead so that they won’t rub against one another. Next, you’ll want to add a handle. A simple loop at the end of the stick works just fine, but if you’d like something fancier, you could use a dowel rod instead. Drill holes along the length of the stick, and thread a piece of leather through them. Then tie the leather to the dowel rod and wrap it around the stick several times. Finally, sand the stick until it feels comfortable in your hands.

Step 4: Protect the Bottom of The Stick

If you plan on using the stick outside, be sure to protect the bottom of the stick. Sandpaper or emery cloths can use to polish the surface of the stick. Once the stick is polished, apply a coat of clear shellac to seal the finish.

Copper pipes can easily damage by sharp objects such as metal shavings. To prevent this, wrap the bottom end of the walking sticks with copper tubing. Then secure the tube using glue or epoxy. Once the copper pipe is firmly attached, use a file to smooth out any rough edges.

Step 5: Add Decorations

If you’d like to personalize your stick even further, you might want to decorate it with paint or stain. Once the paint dries, you can apply designs using a stencil. Stencils can be found online or at craft stores. You can also draw your own designs onto the stick. Once you’ve applied your design, let the paint dry before applying another coat.

Step 6: Finish Your Stick

You can finish your stick by painting it, staining it, or waxing it. Waxing is probably the easiest method, since it doesn’t require much skill. Simply dip the stick into melted beeswax, and then polish it with a cloth. Beeswax is available at hardware stores and comes in various colors. If you’d prefer not to use wax, you can simply varnish your stick. Varnishing requires a bit of practice, but once you’ve mastered it, you’ll love how shiny your stick looks.

Enjoy Your Walking Sticks for Hiking

Take your walking sticks along on all your hiking trips. Every time you pick it up, it will remind you of your previous outings and motivate you to go out again. Your future excursions have just been made more enjoyable because of this little item. Happy hiking!