>>>I added a copper foot to prevent wear and a braided leather wrist loop.<<<<br><br>I like the copper pipe cap idea. But I'd like to have it threaded to add tips, mostly rubber feet for when I use it indoors. Then switch to a more outdoor configuration (point?) for hiking. I tried a tap on rubber foot, but it fell off in short order. BTW, I use the staff indoors at Scouting events and ceremonies. It has medallions, beads, baiding and carvings that drawn attention. I think of it as my "story" stick as I'm able to use it to lead into a vast treasury of tales and sage-like wisdom! . Anyone have suggestions?<br><br>What follows is a lengthy description of the staff for those that are interested. If not, you can stop reading now!<br><br>My stick is a stout 5-foot limb of basswood. It's approx. 3" diameter at its greatest thickness, but the basswood is remarkably light and most folks are surprised how light it really is. <br><br>I found it just off the shore of Lake Owasippe, near the Camp Stuart waterfront used to be when I camped and worked there as a youth/young man. The are ais now a subdivision of nearby Whitehall, MI., so the staff has a great sentimental value. (questions of "where did you find it" open the door for a whole buch of old camp stories.)<br><br>I picked it up almost 20 years ago and lugged it with me through two house moves. Each time my wife questioned my sanity for packing a "stick." I had intentions of turning it into a hiking staff, but never found time.<br><br>Four years ago, when my son joined scouting, I finally started work on it. I whittled down the bumps where small branches once jutted out and also carved slight indentations for a grip to match my hand. The surface has tracings criss-crossing it where boaring insects ate just under the bark. The entire length is covered by these tiny channels or grooves. I applied an light oak colored stain. I anticipated the grooves to soak up the stain and get real dark, but the opposite happened. The insect's chewing polished the grooves so they resisted the stain. So they jump out in a veryu light color. Folks often ask how I carves "all those hirogliphics." (I now can add stories about insect life and symbiotic relationships.) I used a water soluable polyurathane as a finish, but the tip has clouded up from moisture from crossing creeks or bogs. BTW, having a staff for a third point on the ground really adds stability while crossing log footbridges!<br><br>At summer camp that year I started to carve the top. I had always envisioned it as a hand held in the three fingered scout sign. So that's what I did. It was my first and only attempt at woodcarving and it turned out remarkably well. (I can add stories about carving and that summer camp, Tesomas)<br><br>I braided a band accross the top and a separate wrist strap out of the cotton string I dyed using natural dyes (summac leaves and berries, mushroom, onion skins and rusty nails). The band has small braided tassels I use to add pony beads for each scout outing I participate. The wrist strap I first braided the sting into a cord using a round braid. Then I braided it into a rope using the round braid again, and fiinshed it off with a square braid back over the beginning. It's the same technique used for a whistle lanyard out of plastic craftstrip that lifeguards seem to favor. I started the braid on a split ring that I have attached to the staff via a screw and a small copper strap. It's sucure enough but won't hold a great deal of weight. (Add stories on natural dying, the plants used and braiding.)<br><br>The medalions are mostly scout and trip related. BSA sellls hiking staff madalions. I have the Scout emblem, Life rank, Order of the Arrow, National Camping School and one from one of the summer camps we attended. I've also added flattened pennys. One was given to me upon completion of Scoutmaster Fundimentals training. It has the scout oath impressed upon it. Others are from trips, such as the Lincoln Park Zoo, where went on a day outing in February several years ago. (Add tons of stories. My favorite is to point out that I only reached Life rank and that they should avoid my mistakes and and do better by reaching Eagle.).<br><br>I'd also like to add a clip of some fashion that I could use to attach a baseball cap or hat chin strap. But I don't want something clunky or that will scatch up the surface..