How to Strip Diamond Willow or Cedar

A walking stick helps hikers to maintain secure footing.

Diamond willow and cedar are both wood that wood workers recommend for making stick furniture or walking sticks. A diamond willow is any willow tree that has been attacked by a fungus known as Valsa sordida. This fungus leaves diamond-shaped cankers on the trunk of willow trees. This gives the wood of a diamond willow a unique appearance. Cedar wood also has bands of distinctive red and butter-yellow wood that give furniture and walking sticks a distinctive look. Once you collect sticks of diamond willow or cedar, the next step is to strip the wood.

Things You'll Need

• Wood sticks
• Draw knife
• Curved blade knife
• Large-grit sand paper
• Fine-grit sandpaper

Instructions

1. Position your stick of so that you can work on it comfortably. Some wood workers prefer to place the stick in their lap so that it points away from them as they work. Others prefer to place the stick on a work table and stand beside the stick.

2. Grasp the draw knife by the handles. A draw knife has a handle at each end and a blade in the middle.

3. Pull the blade along the length of the stick to peel the bark away from the stick.

4. Remove roots, side shoots or knots in the bark by cutting them away with a curved knife.

5. Sand down the surface of the stick, using rough-grade sandpaper.

6. Smooth out the surface of the stick with fine-grade sandpaper.

References

• Carver's Companion: What is Diamond Willow?
• Old Jimbo:The Moria Draw Knife
• M. D. Vaden: How to Make a Hiking Stick, Walking Sticks

Resources

• University of Minnesota Extension: Nontimber Forest Products: Character Wood