Staff questions..

[jow yeroc]

Peace to the Hung Kuen brothers.. If anyone has any suggestions i would be most appreciative.

While cutting down some trees the other day i cut down a small oak tree and would like to make a staff. It is currently around 9' tall, with a nice heft at the base and nicely tapered. I will have to cut about 8" off the top because it is just a little crooked there.

What is the best way to remove the bark and what do you all recommend to make this tree a staff. I will post a pic up later so you can see what i'm working with. I don't mind putting in some elbow grease and time to make this work and make it last. Just wanted to hear some suggestions from you guys.

Thanks..and i will snap some shots of it in a while.

[PM]

oak will break bro, especially this long, i broke 2, only 7ft long

[Asmo]

Bark you can easily remove with a knife. Right under the bark is a layer you also better remove, the cambium, it is not really durable anyway... Next what I do is using a sharp knife to cut away all the uneven bits where branches have been, etc. Next sand it until it is smooth.
Then it needs to dry, which can take several months. Get it lying flat on the ground or standing straight up as otherwise the staff can get bend.
Only after it is very dry you can oil it if you want, linseed oil is perfect as that wont go off. It will make the staff harder and more durable.

If it will break, theres several types of oak, and trees all have their own personalities too, so who knows, keep us updated on that

HTH

[Tid Sin]

Depending on the oak, it may be OK for solo sets and for actually hitting somebody (!), but not for practicing 2 men sets with contact on a regular basis.

If you want to use a staff for 2 men sets, you're better off sticking with rattan (with skin, maybe fire-hardened, sanded down at each node) or waxwood.

[JPC]

I read years ago that traditionally British staffs and staves were hardened by submersing them in the silt of a lake, mere or similar (presumably in anaerobic conditions) for upwards of a year. Can't remember if applied to Oak. (Quick Google search came up empty)

Not particularly useful, but hopefully interesting.

[jow yeroc]

Thanks for the replies brothers. I appreciate it. I'm sure oak may not be the strongest or best for this application. I have plenty of waxwood staffs. But i wanted to make one myself even if it is imperfect. I'm nursing a bursitic shoulder and it's almost healed up and this is giving me something to do while i get my strength back.

I've taken a few pics of how it looked before i cut off the crooked top. It is not the straightest but it is quite dense and i think it would make a good personal staff.. not so much for two man sets, i know.

It is now about 7' 2". I started whittling the bark away and man that is work. And my knife is pretty sharp. But i will keep at it. Any other suggestions would be cool. Thanks.

Before..




After some whittling..