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So, I have developed a new hobby in retirement, making walking sticks!
I have neuropathy in my feet that causes numbness and a lack feeling. The biggest impact this has on my life is my balance. Walking sticks have become a necessity to prevent falls, 0 falls since my friend Vernon Atkins gave me my first stick. That led to me and grandson James making another, then I decided that I needed something a little larger to support my weight if necessary, so I bought a couple.
After they arrived I decided it it was stupid to buy them, so I started looking into several wooded areas I have access to and found a couple, worked them up and surprise! Instant hobby!
Later, I began to make them for friends and learn more about the craft and it became a daily effort to source the wood, remove the bark (sometimes), make a grip, a put on a protective finish.
I’m not currently charging any thing for them and have given them away to a couple of strangers when I learned of their need. If anyone needs one let me know.
My favorite wood is sassafras, it’s easy to work, light, durable, and strong enough for walking sticks. It also dries quickly.
I currently need more sources for sassafras, if any is willing to allow me to harvest some off their property, let me know.
Sassafras is a colony tree that sends up suckers from the roots. I guess most of what I harvest are about 10-12 years old. In about 10 years the suckers can be harvested again.
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I have neuropathy in my feet that causes numbness and a lack feeling. The biggest impact this has on my life is my balance. Walking sticks have become a necessity to prevent falls, 0 falls since my friend Vernon Atkins gave me my first stick. That led to me and grandson James making another, then I decided that I needed something a little larger to support my weight if necessary, so I bought a couple.
After they arrived I decided it it was stupid to buy them, so I started looking into several wooded areas I have access to and found a couple, worked them up and surprise! Instant hobby!
Later, I began to make them for friends and learn more about the craft and it became a daily effort to source the wood, remove the bark (sometimes), make a grip, a put on a protective finish.
I’m not currently charging any thing for them and have given them away to a couple of strangers when I learned of their need. If anyone needs one let me know.
My favorite wood is sassafras, it’s easy to work, light, durable, and strong enough for walking sticks. It also dries quickly.
I currently need more sources for sassafras, if any is willing to allow me to harvest some off their property, let me know.
Sassafras is a colony tree that sends up suckers from the roots. I guess most of what I harvest are about 10-12 years old. In about 10 years the suckers can be harvested again.
