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[CognitiveDissonance]

Here's hoping you guys have certain skills which I apparently lack...

Two years ago, I found a delightful staff from an uprooted tree moored on a small island in my favorite forest/park. I take it everywhere as I frequently go exploring wooded areas. It has been cleaned, dried and whittled to make a smooth grip. It may have saved my foot last winter. But now I'm starting to worry that it will not age well, and I have some ideas. However, I'm not sure how to implement them.

My two thoughts at the moment are - first I would like to put metal bands on the staff, to both reinforce it and to add some heft if a coyote comes to say hi. But I know absolutely nothing about metal, so I have no idea where to start. (I also wanted to add a metal spike to the bottom, but have been adviced against it) My girlfriend suggested wrapping it with wire instead, but that doesn't sound like a good idea. The second thought is as to whether I should laquer the wood. I really like the look and feel of wood, but I also want it to last. Is it too late, given it has been two years? Any tricks to laquering?

So what do you think, can you help me out?

[RedKing]

Why do I get the feeling you should talk to Girlinhat?

[10ebbor10]

As far as I know, the trick is to get a metal ring just to small to fit over the staff, then heat it up so it expands, slide it over the staff, and wait for it to cool and shrink. That's how they put the metal rings on wheels anyway.

But yeah, don't trust me.

[Mephansteras]

Don't lacquer it. The wood itself should be fine for a long time, and lacquered will completely change the feel of the staff.

[RedKing]

And actually, I had a staff which I wrapped tightly with braided copper wire, then gently (with a rubber mallet) pounded to make the wire "set" into the wood just a bit. Made a pretty decent mid-staff grip. I didn't seal or harden the ends though, and over the years the thinner end did begin to split.

[CognitiveDissonance]

Hey, thanks for the information guys! Screw laquer, now I have an excuse And the metal ring sounds like a good and easy way to do it. Hmm... how do I heat metal without hurting myself? Will have to google that one...

[Graknorke]

Tongs.

[10ebbor10]

Watch out with the combination dry wood / hot metal though. The Scorching should stay limited to the area covered by the metal band, but anyway.

[Andrew425]

I would say your best bet is to use strips of metal and then nail it onto the staff. It really depends on how the wood is splitting.  A sideways crack needs a lengthwise piece of metal. A lengthwise split would need a metal clasp. Of which you should probably use 2.

[Blargityblarg]

I would say your best bet is to use strips of metal and then nail it onto the staff. It really depends on how the wood is splitting.  A sideways crack needs a lengthwise piece of metal. A lengthwise split would need a metal clasp. Of which you should probably use 2.

Depending on the thickness of the staff, nails would almost certainly cause more splitting than whatever they were attaching would solve.

[Funk]

if your going to use nails/screws then drill a small hole first to stop the wood spiting.

if it was mine id drill a small hole feed in wire and then rap that around the grip and weld the wire shut at every few turns.

[GreatWyrmGold]

Why do I get the feeling you should talk to Girlinhat?

Because we know she works with metal?

The idea of the heated metal ring makes sense to me, if you have the stuff available. Whatever you choose, though, I'd appreciate before and after pictures of the staff.

[Ricky]

This might be a dumb idea, but depending on the thinkness of the staff and the condition its currently in, you might be able to bore a hole down the center and slide a metal rod into it, preserving its outer looks while making it quite sturdy.

Then again that might just backfire and completely shatter the staff. Just an idea.

[Euld]

TEST EVERY TECHNIQUE ON SOME OTHER CHUNK OF WOOD FIRST.

That's my advice.

[Wayward Device]

Out of these options I'd try going for the wire, copper for preference, as it'll be easy to work with. I'd combine it with the drilling of a pair of small holes at whatever location you're going to apply the wire, the feeding through one of the holes and making a knot, so you can pull the wire really tight when wrapping the staff. Also copper, although relatively expensive, will be easy to finish i.e. remove any excess sticky-out wire is easy with wire cutters, hammering and maybe a small file.

Another, uglier, option that occurs to me that maybe be the easiest and most effective would be to make a cap for the bottom of the staff (where it's going to see the most stress) by finding a short length of widish copper pipe (scrapyards, building&plumber supply places or a hacksaw, nighttime and localized utilities outages are the easiest option), fitting it over the staff with some excess peaking out over the length of the staff and then hammering to fit/to make a cap. Also, IIRC, while soft relatively soft copper work hardens, which should help. Could possible be combined with the wire+holes for extra sturdiness.

It might be helpful if you could post a pic of the staff so we can get a better idea of it. Also, randomly found staves, staffs and assorted sticks are cool. Some people may laugh at you when you say this, but luckily you already have a big stick on hand.