Make Your Own Walking Sticks: How to Craft Canes and Staffs from Rustic to Fancy (Fox Chapel Publishing) 15 Step-by-Step Woodworking Projects, 25 Topper Patterns from Lora Irish, and Stickmaking Tips

by Charles Self

Step-by-step directions, helpful sidebars, and detailed patterns provide the necessary instructions for woodworkers to create more than 15 different and unique canes and walking sticks. Educating crafters on the best types of wood to use, what materials are needed, and basic techniques and hardware, this sourcebook presents projects for beginners--such as a bark on pine walking stick--as well as sophisticated works, including a turned two-piece cane with a brass handle, for more seasoned woodworkers. In addition to a discussion of the woodworking techniques of sanding, shaping, and turning wood in order to create polished, elegant canes and staffs, readers will find an impressive photo gallery featuring works from the private collection of Albert LeCoff, executive director of the Wood Turning Center in Philadelphia.

141 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2007

Reviews

[Robin Houghton · Rating 3 out of 5]

A difficult book to review, as it appeared to be trying to appeal to all skill levels from starter to very advanced. This is an ideal book for the beginner who has a little knowledge of tools and wants to reach advanced levels of craftsmanship. If you are already skilled and familiar with woodworking tools and machinery you are likely to find it overly detailed and illustrated. On a positive note, the illustrations, photography and line drawings are clear, well sized and of superb quality. Half the book is projects, half those projects (a quarter of the book) are turned walking sticks. The projects range from straightforward, minimal tools and time required to fairly advanced requiring some decent machinery. About a third of the book covers materials, tools, techniques and finishes and there is a lot of sage advice in this part of the book.

[Gary O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some pretty good basic information in this book. It is worth buying.