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The Editors Mailbox

UPDATE: Book Giveaway: Make Your Own Walking Sticks by Charles Self

Betsy Engel, contributor

2 users recommend

Photo: Courtesy of Fox Chapel

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Make Your Own Walking Sticks: How to Craft Canes and Staffs from Rustic to Fancy by Charles Self.
Fox Chapel Publishing, 2007.
$17.95; 128 pp.

Here’s another book we received from the publisher and we're giving you an opportunity to win a copy. Leave a comment here for your chance to win.

Make Your Own Walking Sticks: How to Craft Canes and Staffs from Rustic to Fancy by Charles Self includes step-by-step instructions for making 15 different walking sticks. These projects range from a simple pine branch cane to a brass-handled and stylishly turned two-piece cane. The book includes info on what woods to use, the tools and hardware needed, and construction and finishing techniques. Also included is an inspirational section exhibiting the canes in the private collection of Albert LeCoff, the executive director of the Wood Turning Center in Philadelphia.

Oops. Forgot to announce the winner.

Lucky tlpmap is the winner. His comment was chosen at random.

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VIDEO REPLAY: Tenon Shootout: Hand vs. Power Tools

Comments (45)

Sixty_Vette writes: Congrats tipmap!
Posted: 9:59 am on February 16th

daclgr writes: I'll take it

Posted: 6:20 pm on January 27th

caboose4 writes: I am old, with 3 replaced joints. Cane please
Posted: 10:39 am on January 27th

jhonbaker writes: I earned my first cane at twenty nine and now all these years later I have to accept the fact that I will never walk without one again. However, making my own canes instead of spending a fortune on the good ones would be some comfort.
Posted: 5:15 pm on January 26th

lazybear writes: I could really use this book, I severed my quad tendon at Thanksgiving and have about a year of theropy till I'm even close to 100%.
Posted: 1:17 pm on January 26th

yohann writes: this would be usefull when i grow old
Posted: 12:00 pm on January 26th

Sixty_Vette writes: Include me in the book giveaway!

I have only made one cane in my woodworking life - and it was turned on a lathe from a branch my sister-in-law was having cut down. In the shaft of the cane I turned the profiles of her son, daughter-in-law and their twin daughters. It has a brass handle, and is in two parts that wcrew together. It came out quite well - so much so that she refuses to use it and simply has it on display - LOL

Wood (he he) love to make her one she would actually use.
Posted: 10:05 am on January 26th

Sixty_Vette writes: Include me in the book giveaway!

I have only made one cane in my woodworking life - and it was turned on a lathe from a branch my sister-in-law was having cut down. In the shaft of the cane I turned the profiles of her son, daughter-in-law and their twin daughters. It has a brass handle, and is in two parts that wcrew together. It came out quite well - so much so that she refuses to use it and simply has it on display - LOL

Wood (he he) love to make her one she would actually use
Posted: 10:04 am on January 26th

LAHofm writes: This will give back the freedom to those who have been limited in enjoying life, I look forward to being able to provide these to friends and family including my spouse so that they may take walks again and enjoy the outdoors up close.
Posted: 8:03 am on January 26th

rudilombard writes: In Africa we call them "Knopkieries" or knobcanes, would love to have the know how and add some african flair to the designs in the book! Count me in for the draw please! "Dumela" (Hello) from Africa!
Posted: 12:43 am on January 26th

casaheil writes: I've got a bum knee so I know I'll be needing one of these some day. I might as well get started... :-)
Posted: 12:06 am on January 26th

Acer_sp writes: Well here I am all laid up in a hospital bed dreaming of my shop. The wife says no way; you can get by a little longer by reading some of those books you allways wanted to. So please send it my way. After all I know I'll read it, then build from it. Thanks in advance

Craig
Posted: 11:01 pm on January 25th

Circuit Rider writes: With my backbone damage this my come in very handy.
Posted: 10:12 pm on January 25th

tmkaylor writes: "Without my walking stick
I just couldn't explain,
Without my cane."


Great looking book.
Posted: 9:54 pm on January 25th

geppetto425 writes: Best tip I ever heard for making walking sticks: use one of those little pipe cutters to score a line around the stick to make a tenon! I'm anxious to try it!
Posted: 9:03 pm on January 25th

RalphBarker writes: Add me to the list of those who would like to have the book. My aluminum cane looks so . . . well, un-woodworky.
Posted: 8:50 pm on January 25th

PaulCW3 writes: Walking sticks are fascination, and allow one to express what seems to be in the wood.
Posted: 8:42 pm on January 25th

jb12 writes: Could definitley use this book to make some great hiking tools....also a wading stick for flyfishing in that fast water.
Posted: 7:31 pm on January 25th

Stephany writes: A walking stick is on my project list for this year, just to see how different it would be from my $16 mass-manufactured ones. They are part of our hiking mantra, which is to go "slowly slowly, poley poley." :)
Posted: 6:41 pm on January 25th

Zips writes: In each vacation trip I pick up a piece of local wood, more like a thick branch and I carved with a local motif or with the place name and date of the trip. I could use a good book to improve my carvings.
Posted: 4:58 pm on January 25th

masat writes: I would walk a mile for that book, with a walking stick of course.
Posted: 2:55 pm on January 25th

JadeEagle writes: Carving canes is one more wonderful woodworking skill I would realllllly LOVE to have!
Posted: 2:41 pm on January 25th

bko writes: This book looks like a good one! I would love to be able to make sticks like these.
Posted: 2:04 pm on January 25th

308defense writes: My day is coming that I may need a cane and it would be nice to know how to make a nice one. Looks like it would be a good book for designs and ideas.
Posted: 12:30 pm on January 25th

DLWoodworker writes: I have a couple of sticks that were my great grandfathers. Recently my father has the need for one from time to time. I cleaned up the old ones but they seemed a little short. I made one a little longer for him. I would enjoy this book in hopes of getting some tips.
Posted: 11:02 am on January 25th

lorafa writes: I have to walk with a cane from time to time. This looks like it would give a lot of ideas for a custom cane. It would also be a nice addition to my woodworking library. Hope I win. Thanks
Posted: 10:40 am on January 25th

tlpmap writes: Hope I'm the winner!
Posted: 9:34 am on January 25th

frank T writes: Always wanted to know how to make one of these.
Posted: 8:47 am on January 25th

calouche writes: My favorite walking stick, I can actually sit on too; a British shooting stick picked up in a junk shoppe near Victoria station, London. Hitching around Europe and N. Africa in the late 60's, the stick proved it's worth many times.
I would enjoy a book about others' innovations.
Posted: 8:44 am on January 25th

chetkloss writes: My wife lovesd these things. You guys could help me score a lot of bonus points if you'd hook me up with this book.

Thanks,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Chet
Posted: 8:42 am on January 25th

MrHudon writes: I've been wanting to build my favorite Uncle a walking stick, this book would help get me motivated.
Thanks
Posted: 7:05 am on January 25th

JLYoung writes: I've been snowshoeing with my son lately and was thinking it would be nice to have walking stick to test for soft spots. Count me in on the draw please.
Posted: 6:53 am on January 25th

Larrythewoodguy writes: yup
Posted: 11:14 pm on January 24th

Oldtyme writes: I recently picked up two brass handles at a yard sale. I have not had any great ideas for the shape of the canes. I'm there are plenty of ideas in this book. Sign me up
Posted: 9:05 pm on January 24th

dpeyrot writes: I grew up hiking the Bighorn Mountains in NE Wyoming with my grandmother. She had the greatest walking stick and I always wanted to have one and be able to make them as gifts.
Posted: 8:15 pm on January 24th

seacruise writes: I have always felt that woodworking should have a humanitarian side. This book looks to be one big step in that direction.
Posted: 7:42 pm on January 24th

PeteJacobsen writes: I've been trying to make a walking stick that is right for my wife for years. I'd love a chance to read about the right way to do it. I can already see her smile when I finally get it right!
Posted: 5:50 pm on January 24th

sweil writes: I've been thinking about making one for my wife. Some training & ideas would be great.
Posted: 5:35 pm on January 24th

spvincent writes: I would LOVE this book. Count me in!

I collect walking sticks of all sorts!
Posted: 4:45 pm on January 24th

Frugger writes: I have salvaged a camera tripod, cut the good legs off, then turned a top. A near free walking stick. It even has a metal point and a rubber foot on the same stick.
Posted: 3:44 pm on January 24th

dc123 writes: Looks interesting, I'd like to try it.
Posted: 1:58 pm on January 24th

Dave_Dockstader writes: I've been fascinated with these for years, but never had the chance to build one myself. Please enter me in the drawing.
Posted: 1:57 pm on January 24th

hubiedoo517 writes: I want to try my hand at this because my younger brother just recently lost his leg in a terrible accident. He is only 29 years old so I thought I could make him a walking stick that is in a style of his generation, something that he's into as a theme for the stick instead of the ordinary canes that they sell in stores. Thanks for all the chances to win so many great books.

Hubert Kunnemeyer
Posted: 12:14 pm on January 24th

highpro writes: I would love to be able to do this! Count me in.
Posted: 11:34 am on January 24th

Mizz_Rene writes: My Dad, who passed away two years ago, had a wonderful collection of canes and walking sticks. They included antiques passed down from ancestors, antiques purchased from flea markets & antique stores, new ones, and others he made himself. They ranged from very simple pieces which followed the slope of the found wood to very ornate carved pieces.

I was fortunate enough to inherit a couple of them. It would be great to be able to learn how to make some of my own to put along side those from Dad's collection.


Posted: 11:16 am on January 24th

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