Now that you understand how the weather-stick does what it does, you might try to build one or more.  It is not necessary to cut down a whole tree just to get a branch or two with the attached base that enables them to be hung on the side of your barn.  It is sufficient to select a small branch around 16 inches long and less than ¼ inch diameter at its fattest portion.  This branch after skinning can be glued into a suitable hole drilled in a wooden block which can serve as the mounting piece or for that matter the hole can be drilled into the side of your barn.

Be aware that lore suggests that there is an optimum season for harvesting weather-sticks, probably in the dead of winter when the sap flow is at a minimum.

Skinning can be easily accomplished with a sharp knife, or I have found that the side of a putty knife works as well as anything that I have tried.  Then place the stick indoors in a dry area for a few days while it reduces its water content.  When freshly skinned you will notice that the stick feels cold, due to the evaporation from its surface.  After 24 hours it no longer has the cool feeling and it has begun to bend in the fair weather direction. Then soon after you can mount it outdoors, and the fun will begin.

If you chose not to invest the time to build one, be aware that there are many sources of low cost commercial weather-sticks listed under the "Buy One" button.

[Weather Sticks] [Science] [The Lab] [Multimedia] [Build One] [Buy One] [Contact] [Links]