Need tool for carving walking stick

[SarcasticDwarf]

So for about the past 8 years, I have been carving a walking stick (I started with a cedar tree that I chopped down) out of heartwood. Right now it is a 6 foot piece about 3.5 inches in diameter. At this point, I can't use an axe or hatchet. What would you guys reccomend to use that is

1) cheap (under ~$50)
2) available from Amazon?
3) an unpowered hand tool

 

[Colt45]

knife

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: Colt45
knife

Jee, thanks, but I think that would take another 8 years.

 

[MrDingleDangle]

8 years?!?!?!?!?!

 

[Colt45]

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf

Originally posted by: Colt45
knife

Jee, thanks, but I think that would take another 8 years.

ok then. power tools.
but that gets rid of the whole "carving" concept.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: Colt45
Stihl "knife"

Fixed.

 

[n0cmonkey]

What are you looking to do, exactly?

 

[Goosemaster]

go to walmart and buy a cheesy pocket nife with a 6inch blad, a sharpeing thingy, and go to town

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
What are you looking to do, exactly?

Carve the diameter down to a smooth ~1.5". Whatever I get needs to be able to cut through the knots as well (which knives are unable to do).

 

[Bootprint]

Need one of these first.

 

[Zim Hosein]

So for about the past 8 years, I have been carving a walking stick

:Q

 

a sharp knife

and it will cut through knots

 

[WannaFly]

Maybe a drum sander w/ corse grit.
http://www.pixelpuddle.com/sanders/

It would still take a while. Part of carving a walking/hiking stick is finding and using a piece of wood that doesnt need to be thinned alot.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

define cheap

 

[n0cmonkey]

Definitely a sander of some sort. I was thinking you'd be cutting something into it, like a design and stuff.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

take it to a wood shop and lathe it.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: WinstonSmith
define cheap

The amount of cash I spent on our last date to have you impregnate me! :Q

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: WannaFly
Maybe a drum sander w/ corse grit.
http://www.pixelpuddle.com/sanders/

It would still take a while. Part of carving a walking/hiking stick is finding and using a piece of wood that doesnt need to be thinned alot.

Sorry, I should have mentioned that I want to do it all with non-powered hand tools.

Oh, I wanted it made out of heartwood, so I had little choice in the diameter.

 

[apac]

Err...out of curiousity, are you going to carve something into it, or just hone it down to a smooth walking stick?

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: apac
Err...out of curiousity, are you going to carve something into it, or just hone it down to a smooth walking stick?

I'm not planning on carving some small designs in it, but nothing fancy. I've never done any carving.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
take it to a wood shop and lathe it.

First, hand tools only. Second, I have noit found a local shop with a full 6 foot lathe.

 

[shimsham]

dude, just get a knife of some kind already. what else do you expect to use if you want to hand carve? if its taken you 8 yrs already, whats another 8?

 

[n0cmonkey]

Hand lathe.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: shimsham
dude, just get a knife of some kind already. what else do you expect to use if you want to hand carve? if its taken you 8 yrs already, whats another 8?

Care to make any reccomendations on one that will hold a working edge for a long time?

 

[shimsham]

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf

Originally posted by: shimsham
dude, just get a knife of some kind already. what else do you expect to use if you want to hand carve? if its taken you 8 yrs already, whats another 8?

Care to make any reccomendations on one that will hold a working edge for a long time?

i would venture to guess any knife you use you will have to sharpen. my uncle used to carve walking sticks, whistles, trinkets, etc. all the time. all done with his pocket knife.

i can recommend this knife sharpener tho. puts on a good edge in a few strokes. just use that, and only that, or youll change the edge. actually, id recommend stiicking with the same sharpener you initially use for that reason. we use those at work, and they give the best edge with the least amount of time and effort.

doh: forgot the link here
we buy them from a local weed and feed, but you should be able to find them in a grocery store or walmart.