A few simple walking sticks

This is my first set of completed sticks. I didn’t do anything fancy; peel, scrape, sand, smooth any knots or branch stubs, round the ends, and apply 4 coats of Tung Oil. In some places I left some of the phloem where it was thicker. I used a woodburning pen to inscribe a Bible verse, and also burned in the species, common name, my name, and date. I like to think of making these things as “God made them, I just released the inner beauty.” L-R: vine twisted White Ash, River Birch, another White Ash, and Elm (most likely Siberian, but I’m not 100% certain. There were no leaves on the branch when I got it.)

I have learned that some species are perfectly OK to peel when green, others – like Yellow Poplar and Boxwood – split from one end to the other within a week of peeling. I only collect branches from fallen trees, and I have so many now that I’m selective about what I take. I have about 4 dozen more drying in my basement workshop.