My father wants to make walking sticks. He was wanting to know when do you start pruning limbs and how do you go about this? Thank you so much!

-- Joe Bader (jupie@gateway.net), August 26, 2001

Answers

My husband makes walking sticks and the best time to cut is in the early spring before the sap rises. It is easier to debark them at this time. He just takes the chainsaw out and cuts close to the ground.

-- Mary R. (cntryfolk@ime.net), August 26, 2001.

Hi Joe what do you make the walking sticks out of. i collect walking sticks have about 300 and counting. enyone got some they want to sell? Bob se,ks.

-- Bobco (bobco@kans.com), August 27, 2001.

JOE....THE BEST TIME TO CUT THE LIMBS OFF WOULD BE DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.THE TREES ARE DORMANT AND MOST OF THE MOISTURE/SAP MIGRATES TO THE ROOTS.THIS HAS BEEN A PRACTICE CARRIED OUT BY LOG BUILDERS AND WOOD WORKERS SINCE 10BC[FIRST WRITEN ACCOUNT OF IT].YOU COULD PUT A OIL STAIN ON THE LIMB ENDS OR LATEX PAINT THIS WILL HELP YOU SLOW CURE THEM FURTHER. CUTTING LIMBS IN THE SPRING WHEN THEY ARE WET CAUSES MORE RAPID DRYING BECAUSE OF THE ABUNDANCE OF MOISTURE IN THE LIMB.PLUS THE WARMER WEATHER DRYING THEM OUT.THEN YOU GET CHECKS.

CORDially YOURS CORDWOODGUY

-- cordwoodguy (cordwoodguy@n2teaching.com), August 30, 2001.