Join me as we learn how to make hiking sticks from found branches and sticks. We cut them down to size, removed protruding parts and sanded them down using a power sander, metal file or sand paper. You can also use a pocket knife to remove bark and reveal layers of beautiful wood. Smooth down your stick starting with 80-100 grit sand paper and move to finer and finer grit until your stick is nice and smooth. Remove dust with an oiled cloth before staining. Use a brush or foam applicator to apply 1-2 thin coats of stain. Allow to dry in a well ventilated place. We had ours outside and they dried pretty quickly. The last step is to apply a sealant. We use polyurethane to give the sticks a shinny protective layer. The polyurethane takes 24 hours to dry completely. Make sure all your surfaces are protected before staining or varnishing. You can also decorate your sticks with a wood burning tool or cut notches into the handle. The whole project took us less than 4 hours to complete.

Check out Dust and Tribe’s website, and if you are a socal local, you can join in some of the activities.