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I live in Indiana, and there are 2 trees strongly associated w. the state. The first is the "liriodendron tulipifera", tuiip tree, the state tree. The other is the sycamore, as mentioned in the famous song "On the banks of the Wabash." I've used tulip, aka yellow poplar, for picture frames, but do not think it would be good for a hiking stick. I've picked up a couple of pieces of sycamore. Here is a shot of piece #2.
This piece had fallen from a tree, and had many bulbous protrusions. I suppose those might qualify as burls. I've been work on it every few days. Much of the "burl" seems to rotten to include in a stick. I've been cutting out the crumbly, brittle dark wood.
You might notice in the second image that there is a bit of glint on the wood.
After a bit of sanding at 400 grit, I rubbed the wood w. a ceramic knife hone. Even soft and rather rough wood comes to a gloss w. that.
I need to fill or harden the areas where the wood hard but crumbly. The insides of the "burl." Any suggestions.
FWIW, I think sound branches of sycamore would be good walking/hiking sticks.

This piece had fallen from a tree, and had many bulbous protrusions. I suppose those might qualify as burls. I've been work on it every few days. Much of the "burl" seems to rotten to include in a stick. I've been cutting out the crumbly, brittle dark wood.

You might notice in the second image that there is a bit of glint on the wood.
After a bit of sanding at 400 grit, I rubbed the wood w. a ceramic knife hone. Even soft and rather rough wood comes to a gloss w. that.
I need to fill or harden the areas where the wood hard but crumbly. The insides of the "burl." Any suggestions.
FWIW, I think sound branches of sycamore would be good walking/hiking sticks.
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