Quote:
Finding an edible root is fairly easy, but most roots grow deep,and digging them out can be difficult unless one is prepared with a few good techniques. ..... The stick is made from a stave of Hardwood about 3 feet long and 1 inch in diameter. After the bark is removed, the stick is hardened in the fire and the tip is rubbed into a chisel shape on a coarse rock....
OK to harden in a fire you BAKE the wood by having it CLOSE to the fire but NOT too close. Basically they say "Scorching" the stick 3-4 times with green wood will harden the wood but several scorchings are needed to drive the sap out. I also cut a V notch in the chisel part instead of having it straight across. Also I prefer a 4 foot staff instead of the 3 foot they recommend.(More leverage, and less tiresome) I also use a wider diameter stick about 1 1/2 inches. If you have the time, materials and can spend a little more effort, smear a little pine sap on the chisel and bake it until it is absorbed into the wood and hardens. This will add some durability to it, but do this after the wood is dry and hardened already, so it will absorb the sap some.