[stixman]

One of my favorite types of wood to select, when searching in the forest for walking stick material is Oak. For some reason here in Kentucky the worms love to tunnel under the bark as the stick cures.

I remove the bark using my pressure washer and the look of the worm tunneling is amazing.

I often stain the wood "Gun-stock" in color.

Do any of you guys select worm tunneled wood?

 

[rdemler]

It makes every stick unique.And the ants really help also.

 

[MJC4]

Have several sticks with borer tunneling. The ones I have are hickory.

 

[Steve R.]

I sure would like to find some "Worm wood". All I got so far were ants. Had to wonder where they were all coming from being we were on the fifth floor of a rather clean apt. building, then I noticed them popping out a hole in one of the Sassafrass sticks I had cut recently. They may have had a hand in preventing the stick from splitting, as they had tunneled lengthwise through the center of the thickest part of the shaft and allowed moisture to escape more evenly from the wood.

 

[yaxley]

I use a fair amount of wood that looks like the worm wood you show, however the channels and frass are made from beetles. It adds great character to the stick...as long as it is under the bark.

 

[stixman]

Here in Kentucky, I have found that the longer the sticks are in storage in the barn loft, the more likely the sticks are to have worm tracking. Some sticks of all types will get the worm tunneling, however Oak is the most likely to have the tunneling. What I like about the Oak, is the bark will just fall off with the pressure washer.