| Locating and choosing the correct poles. | | | | much as you can with your axe and then you can |
| If you wish to make your own tipi poles this is a | | | | sand with a very heavy duty grade paper to make |
| relatively simple process but quite time consuming. | | | | the branch collar flush (to save time you can use an |
| The wood you can use is: | | | | angle grinder if you own or hire one, or an electric |
| Pine | | | | sander) |
| Larch | | | | You will then need a draw knife to remove the bark. |
| Spruce | | | | Draw knifes are now rarely used and as such hard to |
| Fir | | | | come across, failing car boot sales and second hand |
| You will find a lot of debate as to which wood is | | | | tool merchants as with everything they can still be |
| best but of the top four they all work great so more | | | | found on the net. |
| than likely it will come down to which tree is most | | | | Remove the bark with you draw knife. Once you |
| abundant that you have access to. For our tipi hire | | | | have a removed all the bark your tipi pole is pretty |
| business we use pine and fir. | | | | much complete. You will need to sand to the pole to |
| A good idea when finding tipi poles is to find work | | | | make it as smooth as possible. It is very important |
| being done on managed woodland areas (National | | | | that if you make the poles smooth to prevent them |
| trust, forestry commission etc - listen out for the | | | | from ripping the canvas. |
| sound of chainsaws on your walks) and ask who you | | | | To make sure it stands the test of time it is a good |
| can contact to purchase or, if your lucky, charming or | | | | idea to treat the poles. |
| beautiful have the wood from. The smaller trees | | | | The area of the pole that is most likely to rot is the |
| used to make the tipi poles are usually made into | | | | base as this is in contact with the damp ground. To |
| fencing rather than sold commercially so hopefully | | | | treat the pole you can stand your pole in a wood |
| you will have no trouble in acquiring a handful. | | | | treatment (do not use varnish) This will coat the |
| When you choose, or cut your tepee poles, make | | | | outside of the base of the pole and will also mean |
| sure they are considerably wider at the base than | | | | that the treatment is drawn into the wood. You can |
| the tip. | | | | also paint the whole pole for extra protection. |
| It is very important that you get the diameter | | | | Sadolin is a comparatively expensive wood treatment |
| correct at the point of crossing (where the poles are | | | | but a very good one for tipi poles. Sadolin is good |
| lashed together to form the tripod) the diameter you | | | | because it allows moisture to escape the wood, it |
| should aim for is two inches: this is a good size as | | | | absorbs into the wood treating from the inside and it |
| any wider you will have a very large opening at the | | | | also provides an outer barrier. For all the tipis we hire |
| top. | | | | out we use Sadolin as the treatment. |
| Any questions relating to the diameter of pole | | | | With varnish you create an outer barrier but |
| needed, the length of tipi pole you wish to make etc | | | | effectively seal the moisture inside the wood. The |
| you can find at the following website. Have a look at | | | | trees you have purchased or acquired by being |
| this and then we will cover the manufacture of the | | | | charming would more than likely be fairly green and |
| Make your tipi poles: | | | | still drying out, you need to allow this process to |
| Once you have your poles, with a hand axe remove | | | | happen so therefore treating your wood with varnish |
| all the the outer branches making sure you cut the | | | | will do in more harm than good and is certainly not |
| pole as finely as possible. | | | | recommended. |
| Smaller branches will come off easily, a saw maybe | | | | Your tipi poles are now complete. |
| required for the larger branches. Once you have | | | | Please visit my site to learn how to make tipi pegs |
| removed the large branches you will have a | | | | and tips on how to legally transport your new tipi |
| substantial branch collar to contend with. Remove as | | | | poles. |