Drying Tree Branches for Woodworking Projects

If the branch is dead, It should be pretty dry already. If it is still green, wait up to 1 year per inch thickness. BUT since time is probably of the essence, I would simply oil the stick and add a coat of wax. I would not stain walnut.

I've made a lot of walking sticks. I usually debark them, then stick them in my outdoor shed for a week or two before finishing them. Longer during cold weather. I don't stain mine; just barely stick a finishing nail in the end and hang them from a bit of weed eater line or whatever's handy. I use spar urethane on them.

Walking sticks aren't rocket science. If it's dry enough to sand, it's dry enough to finish, IME.

Since this is a branch, I would assume that only sap wood will appear. This is white, not the brown that you are thinking of when you hear the word "walnut".

when the stick is still wet and you tap on the ground like a wooden drum stick it sounds mushy and won't bonce back very far when its dryed properly it will resonate and bonce back when you tap it

if it makes the same tap and bonce as currant broom stick you know its dryed about right

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