Please help me choose wood for a staff

Lew · 6th May 2010, 10:52 PM

Josh

I have bought from this site in the past and he has good stuff. For a training staff jatoba is good I have a hanbo walking stick made from it and it holds up very well.

fearn · 6th May 2010, 11:47 PM

I like hickory for impact and ash for pole arms (if we're talking spears). It depends on the grain in the particular piece of wood, as much as what the wood is.

Interesting article on woods

Have fun,

F

spiral · 6th May 2010, 11:49 PM

Straight grained quartersawn purpleheart has the qualitys required more than any other timber commercialy available. {or most timbers not commercialy available either.}

Spiral

Neil · 7th May 2010, 01:19 AM

Josh,
I train Northern Shaolin with what is known as Chinese white waxwood staffs. They are the norm for Chinese martial art practice today. Their true name and place in traditional Chinese martial art history is not completely clear to me. I can say with certainty though that they are very tough and resistant to chipping/splintering and breakage. I have personally put them through serious repeated impact and they are good to go. They can be found through dealers such as Wing Lam Enterprises etc. I believe you are a Chinese arms enthusiast so you may be aware of this option already. I thought it was worth mentioning though. I hope it helps.

josh stout · 7th May 2010, 03:00 PM

I know wax wood is a traditional choice, but we use rattan for our light and flexible staffs. The training center in Indonesia uses Macassar ebony for their heavy training staffs, but it is very pricy and usually unavailable.

Thanks to the advice on purple heart etc. I will post pictures when I restore a spear.
Thanks,
Josh

lionzden · 7th May 2010, 04:08 PM

rosewood

t_c · 7th May 2010, 07:16 PM

IMHO stay away from waxwood for training ( sorry Neil ). A fellow student likes using waxwood for FMA, but (against rattan at least) they do eventually break and splinter under heavy use (gave him a nasty pinch in class - and a broken stick).
It seems that while some of the exotic hardwoods are really dense, they don't always have the "fiber structure" (if you get my meaning) to hold up to continued use for training - they're too brittle once you overcome their density - no resilience...
Maybe get something nice for forms & restoration, but be carefull what you choose for banging...

Lew · 7th May 2010, 10:07 PM

This may help?

7th May 2010, 10:07 PM	#8
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	This may help? Attached Images

6th May 2010, 10:52 PM	#1
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Josh I have bought from this site in the past and he has good stuff. For a training staff jatoba is good I have a hanbo walking stick made from it and it holds up very well.

6th May 2010, 11:47 PM	#2
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	I like hickory for impact and ash for pole arms (if we're talking spears). It depends on the grain in the particular piece of wood, as much as what the wood is. Interesting article on woods Have fun, F

6th May 2010, 11:49 PM	#3
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Straight grained quartersawn purpleheart has the qualitys required more than any other timber commercialy available. {or most timbers not commercialy available either.} Spiral

7th May 2010, 01:19 AM	#4
Neil Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 116	Josh, I train Northern Shaolin with what is known as Chinese white waxwood staffs. They are the norm for Chinese martial art practice today. Their true name and place in traditional Chinese martial art history is not completely clear to me. I can say with certainty though that they are very tough and resistant to chipping/splintering and breakage. I have personally put them through serious repeated impact and they are good to go. They can be found through dealers such as Wing Lam Enterprises etc. I believe you are a Chinese arms enthusiast so you may be aware of this option already. I thought it was worth mentioning though. I hope it helps.

7th May 2010, 03:00 PM	#5
josh stout Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 407	I know wax wood is a traditional choice, but we use rattan for our light and flexible staffs. The training center in Indonesia uses Macassar ebony for their heavy training staffs, but it is very pricy and usually unavailable. Thanks to the advice on purple heart etc. I will post pictures when I restore a spear. Thanks, Josh

7th May 2010, 04:08 PM	#6
lionzden Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 51	rosewood

7th May 2010, 07:16 PM	#7
t_c Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: ca, usa Posts: 92	IMHO stay away from waxwood for training ( sorry Neil ). A fellow student likes using waxwood for FMA, but (against rattan at least) they do eventually break and splinter under heavy use (gave him a nasty pinch in class - and a broken stick). It seems that while some of the exotic hardwoods are really dense, they don't always have the "fiber structure" (if you get my meaning) to hold up to continued use for training - they're too brittle once you overcome their density - no resilience... Maybe get something nice for forms & restoration, but be carefull what you choose for banging...