I can tell by seeing your shop that it's a favorite place to be! I have a hand carved walking stick that a very close friend made for me when I got home from the hospital thirty eight years ago, wouldn't take a million dollars for it. They can be a very precious gift, so I applaud your generosity. Thanks for sharing and take care.
Jacy inspired me also ! After the video I made my Dad a cane, He is 89 and doubt he will use it as he doesn't want to be categorized as old but his legs are weak. I hope it lies there in the corner another 10 years before he needs it ! Thanks for your videos and time
Thank you for the informative and interesting video. I love making walking sticks out of many different woods. I'm in the PNW and have some excellent pines, oaks, maple.
I enjoyed your video enough to comment. Your passion for walking sticks is refreshing. I too make walking sticks, been making them since I was a kid. They make great gifts that people treasure for years to come. Even had one recently come back to me because the owner was no longer able to use it. One that I really liked when I gave it up. Your use of grafting I really appreciate. It speaks of the patience that this craft requires but what I like is your views on hand finishing ,as well as your work shop says so much more about the man who works the wood. I don't think I could say enough in a post. Very impressive.
Your comment means a lot to me. It is a passion that few people understand. I have given away so many to needy older clients. Many of them expressed how it enabled them to be more capable.
The Irish had to use stick as defence because under England's rule we weren't allowed any metal weapons .blessings from Ireland 🇮🇪 to you and your family 👪
Enjoyed your " laid back, ( imo) approach. Carving the Right Walking Stick for that particular person..Wood is a Beautiful medium. Warm @ Forgiving from an artists point of view. 😌
I love walking sticks, I always look for beaver leftovers because of the knawed off ends. If I know I'll be in steep terrain or if strange dogs might be in the area, I carry a walking stick. Just pointing it at a strange dogs chest is generally enough to keep them at a more comfortable distance until you determine their demeanor.
@@arboristBlairGlenn I hear that. Did you know the Bible says "there's more happiness in giving than in receiving"? So, this afternoon I was working on my staff, hand sanding and pocket knife trimming. Old-fashioned, I know. But I'm not in a hurry. Have a good night.
Michael Dougfir I love that woodstove on a cold winter day. I do need to clear out and clean well as Fire in a woodshop is potentially risky. But then, my whole life is risky!
Like you said, it's a matter of preference ! I like all the sticks but one and that was the very first one although it is a pretty wood, the bow just didn't do it for me, lol. I'm not being critical, at least i am not trying to be. I to dislike the "FACTORY "look. I am trying some Crepe Myrtle for sticks and find that it can split overnight and it is very heavy. I have a friend that trims his crepe myrtle every few years and the new branches have a knob where the tree was trimmed and I don't have to make a knob. I live in N. Florida and there is a lot of logging here so many of my sticks come from where an area is going to be cut and many of the right size sticks are waiting for me to harvest them, wild cherry, oak and others, if I don't get them, they get run over and eventually pushed up in a pile and burned. I just don't cut live trees. Thanks for the video, I don't post my work because I don't know how .
Well thanks for commenting Albert. A walking stick can give someone a bit of dignity. A cane just says “I’m weak”. A walking staff is useful for so many things. Including spider webs on the ceiling!
Beautiful work of art from God's work of art. I love the fact that you only oil or wax the wood. If shows off the gorgeous grain of each species you use. So glad you shared this. Did you use any wood from that magnificent old walnut tree? ♡
Molly Quinn I use the edge pieces of the walnut when I mill for different projects including walking sticks. I have quite a pile that I work my way through.
I do like your walking sticks, although I live in the middle of town and do not often walk on Forrest (rural) trails. I'm lucky to be in good health an can do without. I will make my own if I every need one :-)
Will you please at some point, walk us through your thought and work process for making one of these lovely walking sticks? How big of a piece do you start with? Do you avoid knots at all costs? Always follow grain? Does "figured" wood work up well for walking sticks?
I love the story about the shirt and memories.. Yup, got a few like that too. Did you get the email I sent to you a few videos ago where you asked me to email and posted you address? As usual, the kindness and heart you feel for the wood shows in the handcraft.. That texture looks like a wonderful way to have several griping heights. I see your beautiful wood body planes on the shelf too.. maybe you can show us those some day. Thanks for this video, I give a rating of 5 bacon strips!🙋😉
Hey Blair, off topic question for you. How does one cut off a stump that has 12 guage welded wire fencing embeded in it? Grab your least favorite saw and chain? What happens when the chain meets the wire, does all cutting abruptly cease? or does the chain break and fly through the air like a ninja beheading the careless operator?
Brian Johnson it cuts for a tiny bit but it's dangerous to try and cut metal with a chainsaw. But to slowly find the steel and cut with a grinder, old chisel or other breaking tool. Good luck
You make me want to hurry up and get old and lame so I can use some of your ideas to make myself a beautiful walking stick. Okay ... maybe not really. 🙂
KarlBunker Time catches up quickly enough.. You need not 'need' a walking stick to enjoy the use of one.. When I was young and able I often spent a day in the woods, and often carried a staff of some sort. Now that I'm older, and have a few crushed discs, and a weak heart/lung system, it is something I must soon address. There is something about a light tall staff on a walk that really feels right. I am reminded of the Hobbit / Lord of the Rings character Gandolf, the white sorcerer, who always carried his walking staff.
Thanks for asking. Truth be known, I’m still so busy running the tree crew that I don’t have time to focus on Woodworking products yet. When I retire from the tree work, I will have time to dedicate to the shop. Blair
Before long, You'll need a website to sell these staffs. I'd like to buy a couple myself. I know you're not ready to start mass production, but it would be nice if you mentioned how we could buy one. Love the videos, Thanks Glenn!
Ryan Bowyer I will do an unlisted video and offer some with prices. I'm working on some less time consuming,(but nice), sticks that will start at about 35.
@@arboristBlairGlenn Thank you so much for your prompt reply with disappointment. Sorry to bother you for the question , since I readied your note on Aug 19 , 2017 , mentioned "you make them ,sell them," really enjoy to watch your video and the very nice and helpful walking stick , Hope I have chance and luck to meet you in person during your travels . Thank you again for your time and effort to provide those valuable information's . Take care and have a good day .
the Walnut and that second Cedar, gorgeous. just my style, rugged and strong. as I mentioned before, I would love to send a clay mold of my grip to see if you could match it? either way, I would like to purchase one. how could we make it happen? (by the way, your shop is great, and I have my great grandfather's old planes and draw knives. they are BEAUTIFUL!) thanks Blair, Chris (also, you should keep the graft!)
Michigan Mister Thanks. As for the clay mold, interesting to idea. That would take a long time to carve. Not sure it would be worth it. As for selling them, one of my kids is planing to do an Etsy store for me so I can feature each one and price them according to the time involved and the uniqueness of the wood. Prices will range from about 35.00 for a simple staff up to about 150. for something carved or very special. I won't get rich doing these for sure but I enjoy the process. I might do a video and keep it unlisted to send to interested buyers showing a selection with estimated prices.
great! I can probably do the grip with great granddad's tools. I'll need a thick staff, my hands are large. I'll be watching for the info, thanks Blair.
Man those are really nice, my favorite was the textured walnut. You have pretty cool little niche in woodworking there and your passion shows thru. Are these for sale or just for fun?
It's not a very good plan to bring a stick to a gun fight. If you need a walking stick to safely walk, you also need a firearm if you're being mugged or robbed by an armed bad guy. If an elderly person can't or won't use a firearm to stop an armed robber or mugger, I'd say they won't be able to use a stick for protection!
Most robberies (purse snatch, car jack etc.) are not incidents where a gun is involved. A stick would help immensely if an old man is mugged and a stick gets in between. A gun is not what most elderly people want to carry and if the armed person loses the gun to an attacker, it could be used on them! Two ways to think about this.
Im making my own wood walking stick because mine was stolen. I am a 44 yr with disabilities and dont have the money to buy another. I got the bark off and sanded down, I noticed the wood has split in a couple places. Can you give me some help?
I put a wood screw in it but the cracks are even bigger tonight so unfortunately Im going to give up on this one. It sucks because its so hard to get out to find a long enough stick to do this.
