When setting out to create a walking stick, whether carved, wood burned, or just plain, there are a few things that you can do to help make your project a success. After you have the stick cut and removed the bark or not, you are ready to prepare the stick for the drying process.
When a walking stick dries, the moisture in the wood is evaporating and causing the wood to draw up some. The amount of change in the wood during the drying process depends on the type of wood that is used for the walking stick. As the walking stick dries, the ends can develop small checks or cracks that will gradually open.
- Seal the Ends
To help keep this checking and cracking to a minimum, you can dip the ends in melted wax. This will seal the ends and keep the moisture from escaping too quickly. Is also helps the walking stick to dry more evenly. Continue reading »