Gonna try to pick out a sasafras (sp?) tree to make a walking stick tonight. I'll use it while I'm wading in the river. Anybody work with sasafras before? Is it very strong? How is it for carving? I plan on dressing it up, and coating it with urethayne when it drys. If it's not all that good, I also have access to small oaks, maples, and musclewood. I haven't seen a lot of ash around. Oak seems heavy, brittle and prone to warping. Musclewood is strong, but heavy and stringy for finishing.
Any thoughts?

 

I have never tried carving it, but for strength it should work fine. Around here it is the favorite for use as a tier pole in the tobacco barns. You are welcome to come cut as much as possible please off my place.

Another thought is to use diamond willow if you can find any. My step dad makes some incredible sticks with it and he uses it for fishing, hiking, and beating small furry things that sneak up on him. (His Words)

Ed

 

I don't know much about sassafrass, but I did buy a chainsaw last weekend. 16" Homelite branded as a John Deere, so it's green. It came in the cutest little "chainsaw house," a plastic case where the top opens up and the front folds down... I live in the city and I use a chainsaw maybe twice a year, but for $99 on clearance at Home Depot I just couldn't pass it up.

We always used to use ash, which I saw you said there wasn't much of around, for walking sticks. Only thing I can think of on the finish is either leave the part you're holding onto unfinished or wrap it with something; polyurethane may be a bit slick to hold on to.