I'm trying to surprise my dad, who's a massive Lord of the Rings fan, with a Gandalf the White staff for his 65th birthday. He has always loved dressing up as Gandalf the Grey and even made his own staff back in the day. I'm aiming to find a white oak post with dimensions around 4.5"x4.5"x6.5' to 7', but I'm having trouble locating anything that fits. Since my dad is 6'4", I plan to carve it down to his height and need extra wood for the ornate top. If anyone has advice on sourcing this wood or suggestions for alternatives, that would be awesome!
1 Answer
I haven't done much rough lumber shopping, but I found that the thickest white oak pieces can be about 12/4, which runs around $20.14 per board foot. Your desired piece might be approximately 11 board feet, so that could add up to about $220. It might be easier to laminate thinner boards instead of hunting for a solid post. Also, white oak might not give you the smooth finish like in the movies since it's ring porous. Consider using smoother, lighter woods that might finish better. If you can find a nice branch or small log to work from, that could be a great start!
I’ve been considering other woods, like Sycamore or Aspen, since they might take a white stain better than oak. I just figured white oak was the first choice that came to mind. I’d love to search for a branch or log as you suggested, but pine trees are everywhere around here. Plus, I'd need to let it dry before carving. Any ideas on where to get good lumber for this project?