made a walking stick

"Agrajag" (Agrajag) 04/05/2019 at 08:26 • Filed to: hiking, stick

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Been wanting to make one for sometime. Started it during the winter and finally just finished it. (really wish I had a garage)

Picked a nice little tree in the woods around my house and cut it down.

After about a week, and when it wasn’t completely terrible out, I got to whittlin’.

Let it dry for a couple of weeks, sanded the heck out of it and then decided to take a torch to it.

Then I just had to wait for warm enough weather to apply stain. Which would be a while.

Then the wait for more nice weather resumed.

Got to work on the tip during the wait. Didn’t want to use a rubber cap so I went with a 1/2" copper cap.

Wanted a little different of a look so I took a torch to the cap.

On the next nice day, I hung it from a branch and did the first of 4 coats of spar urethane.

That stuff takes a long time to dry so I only ever had enough time in a day for one coat before I had to go do something else.

But it is finally all done! At least I got it done in time for some warm weather hiking so I can get to losing that winter tan.

Future Heap Owner > Agrajag 04/05/2019 at 08:35

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Looks great; nice work! Good writeup, too.

What was the purpose of taking a torch to the stick? I don’t understand that step.

Maxima Speed > Agrajag 04/05/2019 at 08:37

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That looks really nice. Happy hiking 

Agrajag > Maxima Speed 04/05/2019 at 08:42

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Thanks!

Agrajag > Future Heap Owner 04/05/2019 at 08:44

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Thank you!

The torch was just to darken the grain making it even more pronounced when you add stain.

Ash78, voting early and often > Agrajag 04/05/2019 at 09:20

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Nice! I can’t touch your woodworking skillz, but I think maybe a wee bit thicker leather strap would help a lot. Since your wrist takes the brunt of the force, it helps to prevent that “cutting” feeling after a while. Plus it would still match the stick (unlike tech cord/paracord, which looks out of place). Happy trails.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Agrajag 04/05/2019 at 09:35

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Very nice!

Agrajag > Ash78, voting early and often 04/05/2019 at 09:38

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Thanks! I was thinking about that. I’ll probably cut a strip out of an old belt and make a saddle of sorts.

Agrajag > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/05/2019 at 09:38

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Thanks!

Dogsatemypants > Agrajag 04/05/2019 at 09:43

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Looks nice. Always good to make a something. Needs matching homespun cloak and large brimmed peaked cap. In order to gain your true wizard powers you must now grow an outrageous beard. Next you must take your staff out into the wilds to find a familiar.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Agrajag 04/05/2019 at 11:25

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I have that same knife

Agrajag > CaptDale - is secretly British 04/05/2019 at 21:46

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It’s a good knife.

k2b: da man trynta steal mah bloggy!!!!!!! > Dogsatemypants 04/07/2019 at 19:31

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You and I are on the same page, my friend.

But I think he already has a familiar named Gus. His floof is truly magical.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Agrajag 04/08/2019 at 11:01

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Yeah I got mine from my great grandfather .

Agrajag > CaptDale - is secretly British 04/08/2019 at 22:52

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Same here!

CaptDale - is secretly British > Agrajag 04/09/2019 at 11:04

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That is wild!

MUSASHI66 > Agrajag 06/14/2019 at 23:31

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You totally inspired me. We trimmed our maple the other day, and I had a 10’ branch piece cut for a walking stick. Selected a nice 6’ section, whittled and sanded it. Now it’s drying in the garage. Being we’re in Colorado, it shouldn’t take too long. I had a nice chunk leftover and I’m making a billy club out of it :D. I’ll carve “Billy” into it and hit it with a torch before I seal it.

Question - how did you attach the copper cap? Glue or just jammed on? 

Agrajag > MUSASHI66 06/14/2019 at 23:40

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Nice!

It was a combination of the two. I had to trim the tip down a bit to get the cap to fit and then Lexel (that stuff is amazing) to make sure it never comes off.

We’ll need to see pics!

I had to do some work on mine. I decided to fill the little hole on the top with the spar urethane.

Used an eyedropper and it wouldn’t fill for the life of me. Finally I looked and turned out the hole went all the down to the hole I drilled for the strap. It had just kept pouring out....

Ruined my strap and had to clean up the entire thing, lol.

MUSASHI66 > Agrajag 06/15/2019 at 00:33

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Haha funny. I’ll take a photo when I’m done. I’m making the stock for my wife, and I’ll take the billy club. I’m researching paracord or leather string wrap jobs for the handle part. 

ysubassoon > Agrajag 10/10/2019 at 22:43

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Knifeception

ysubassoon > CaptDale - is secretly British 10/11/2019 at 00:38

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