Walking sticks?

[jaydee67]

I'm considering getting my son a long stick for Christmas - he likes to have something to hold on to (Gandalf style) when he's walking his dog. Any suggestions?

[Critchley]

You can get the extra long ones - staffs - for just that. I have one, it's like a shephards crook without the hook. Might cost a bob or two though.

[woodtattoos]

And if you found a nice wooden staff with a lovely suitable surface, you could consider getting it personalised... with pyrography! ;)

[Scorch]

And if you found a nice wooden staff with a lovely suitable surface, you could consider getting it personalised... with pyrography! ;)Mmm, indeed! I have two hazel staves seasoning in Dad's garage right now, awaiting just such a thing. I might even carve a spiral into one, like I did with the smaller ones to make wands.
Presuming that they haven't split, of course, which they might have done...

[handcrafted]

My dad makes walking sticks. Well not proffesionally or owt, just when he finds a suitable piece of wood. I got to choose one from his ones that he made! I chose this one as it had a cool twisty bit in the wood and the pointy antler top.

http://www.craftsforum.co.uk/picture.php?albumid=27&pictureid=1785

http://www.craftsforum.co.uk/picture.php?albumid=27&pictureid=1786

http://www.craftsforum.co.uk/picture.php?albumid=27&pictureid=1787

[Critchley]

What a unique walking stick. How clever of him he has used the original shape of the wood to its best advantage.

[nettie]

What would have made the twist shape, some ivy, crossed branches? I think it's lovely.

[jaydee67]

That is a lovely stick. I would really like something 'different', seen ones online with carved heads, antlers, etc but most are too short for what I want.

[silvermaid]

Most of the staffs I have seen are made from a plain straight stick with a cord handle threaded through a hole about a foot from the top. I have seen a young lad use one as a walking stick which I thought looked good, he looked more athletic rather than disabled. They are quite expensive in the shops though.

These look reasonable
http://shop.ebay.co.uk/merchant/pumpshos-crafts
Or you could you ask around locally if any woodworkers would be able to make you one.
Melanie

[handcrafted]

Yeah think it was ivy or something. He told me what sort of wood it was too but iv forgotten :sm: Also it is quite short.Not your long Gandalf type staff.

[goldy1]

I think you need to chose your own Walking staff as they need to feel right in the hand.
My OH bought one from a country fair. It had been commissioned by a guy that hadn't come back for it. It has a Dragons head as a handle it's just the perfect hight for my OH. and he collects dragons. It wasn't that expensive.

Mine is just a perfectly shaped branch end that was shaped and polished and fits just right in my hand. My sons is one he found himself a piece of stick with a forked end he uses it as a thumb rest.

[shiner]

The walking stick pictured looks like hazel. I have a selection of staves drying in my workshop and one I have started to shape inspired by the priors staff in stargate SG1 but with a smaller stone set into the top

Tip for drying out slowly to advoid splitting, Cut over length and dip the ends in pitch or sealing wax

[jaydee67]

Any idea how to work out how long a stick he would need? He's 14, about 5'4" (so far) and I think it needs to be quite long - shoulder height?

[goldy1]

Mine is a walking stick (Put my hand on the top). and comes just above my hip so my elbow is at 90 % when using it. Where as my OH's is a walking staff ( holds stick along the length ) and comes to about Armpit height.