Bishop's Staff ... Ipe Walking Staff
Here is a IPE wood staff. This staff stands 72" tall and has a 5" offset sweep at the handle. The Ipe wood shaft is a reclaimed wood that was a fishing dock in the Florida Keys for 21 years them removed and stacked for another 12 years. A stainless steel tip on the bottom finishes it off. This end can be trimmed to shorten the cane to your specifications. No two will be alike. Want it bigger, thicker, Two piece for traveling, different woods…? Let me quote a custom staff for you… IPE is rated as very durable; excellent insect resistance, though some species are susceptible to marine borers. Superb weathering characteristics. (Ipe was used for the boardwalk along the beach of New York City's Coney Island, and was said to have lasted 25 years before it needed to be replaced: an amazing lifespan given the amount of traffic and environmental stresses put upon the wood.) Ipe is a wood of extremes: extremely dense and durable, as well as extremely difficult to work. Its incredible hardness and strength make it well suited for flooring applications, though it is referred to as "Brazilian Walnut" among flooring dealers—though it is not related to true Walnut in the Juglans genus. I make Exotic wood slab and live edge items right here in South Florida from native trees we have harvested and aged for years. Available exotic woods are Florida Live Oak, Cuban Mahogany, Ipe, Albizia, Tamarind, Rosewood, Lysiloma, Florida Cherry, Carrotwood, Tropical Almond and many more. E-Mail for wood sample pic's. Custom pieces can be commissioned and built to your specifications, sizes and colors. You can choose the type of exotic woods and the finishes. You can even pick out the exact slabs we use to produce your piece at the sawmill during the milling process. Dining room tables, side bars, benches, coffee tables, chairs, bookshelf units, wall units, wall mounted shelves, custom made picture frames, kitchen & bath countertops can all be custom built for you out of exotic woods. One-of-a-kind pieces of wood art with or without live edges is our specialty. If you can imagine it . . .we can build it. Thx. Dave Sutton
Long-time member
A Maker who has been a valued part of this community for several years.
Fast shipper
Customers say that this Maker ships promptly after completing a project.
Great service
This Maker has consistently demonstrated excellence in craftsmanship and customer service.
My name is Dave Sutton.
Retiring after fifteen years of being a professional flats guide here in South Florida due to the 2009 recession and the gulf oil spill.
I then worked at home for Hotel Vanities International and have a small, but very well equipped wood shop in the back yard.
I have now moved to the mountains of Murphy, North Carolina and am in the process of building my retirement home and new workshop.
For almost 40 years I have given my very best effort to create heirloom quality pieces for every one of my customers that will last a lifetime.
Almost 4 decades of wood crafting has taught me one thing. If I want it done just right…
I have to do it myself.
If I don't like it, you won't see it. It's that simple.
I am the designer, craftsman and woodworker,
I pick the log and the slabs, I do the shaping and all the sanding. All of the assembly and fitting ??? Yup…all me.
I also do the hand rubbed finishes myself as well.
I learned my trade growing up in Rhode Island building handmade strip-wood canoes, hand made cabinets, slab furniture and working in various shipyards on the coast of Maine till I moved to Florida in 1990.
Finding all of the exotic woods available to me here was amazing. I was like a little kid in a candy store.
I now have built and moved into my retirement cabin in Murphy, NC and have just finished my new workshop. I love the mountains and the people here …
- PD
Peter Dillard
For Walking Sticks Or Canes5.0I am extremely happy with the walking stick handmade for me by David Sutton. It exemplifies topnotch craftsmanship and is exactly the piece I wanted. I simply could not have wished for a better outcome. Thank you, David! Peter Dillard
- DR
Dax Rowland
For Buddha Belly Bamboo Cane5.0the experience with david sutton was amazing and the product he made is truly one of a kind.i love it and will cherish it forever im sure my family will fight for this cane because i collect them this is the best one by far ty again david you truly are a artist dax rowland
- JP
jim porter
For custom tooth4.8Was great to work with and very great communications
- JB
Jeanette Bihuniak
For bmw shifter cane inquiry5.0My husband who is a BMW aficionado suffers from MS. I figured one of the only was I would be able to convince him to use a can was one that had a little bit of BMW incorporated. Dave Sutton was able to get a BMW gear shift for the handle -BINGO! Craftsmanship is superb. The turnaround time was much faster than I figured it would be. Mr. Sutton kept me informed of the entire process. Big thanks and shoutout to Mr. Sutton!
JBJacey Birch
For Personalized Cutting Board, Engraved Cutting Board, Custom Wedding Gift – Cb-Wal-Mayors5.0- JC
Josh Cole
For Custom Ebony wood art frame5.0Dave used his expertise to guide me in all the right directions when making me a custom art frame despite my limited knowledge in the field, and built a quality custom hardwood frame with beauty that matches the art it contains. It was packed with lots of care to ensure its safe arrival and the wood grain chosen is even more stunning in person, i would highly recommend him for any woodworking project and trust his knowledge and skill in the field to deliver quality results.
- TT
Timothy Tudor
For Custom Dining Table4.8Mr. Sutton Finished our live edge Bischofia table and bench in a timely manner, despite an incoming hurricane! We also lived within a few hours and he brought the item right to our door and educated us on caring for the table-which will likely last a lifetime. Too bad he doesn't do chairs! Thanks again, this was our first experience using Custommade, and it was a good one!
- JB
John Bumgarner
For Exotic Wood Butcher Block4.8Dave was great to work with. Gave good advice and my cutting board is beautiful and of very high quality. Excellent experience.
- CS
Chad Slusarski
For Heavy Duty Walking Cane/ Walking Stick - Black Walnut (American)5.0Dave helped me in crafting a custom cane for my 6'3" 300 pound father. We were able to specify the woods used and Dave made several recommendations I would not have thought of to ensure it would support his weight. The finish and craftsmanship are top notch. Dave stayed in touch through the process updating me on status and ship date. I highly recommend you consider Dave for your project.
- MC
Melissa Cornish
For Melissa's Cutting Board5.0I ordered a custom made cutting/carving board as a birthday gift for my son. Dave was super easy to work with and had great suggestions for making it beautiful as well as functional. I have no doubt that this piece of fine craftsmanship will be in the family for years to come.
- YA
YUSEF ASANTE
For Exotic Wood Butcher Block5.0Outstanding, Thanks Dave!!!!
- JS
Jody Sullivan
For Personalized Cutting Board 8.5x11 (Rounded Edge) Bamboo5.0Dave, The custom cutting board with laser etching you made for us was perfect! Exactly what we wanted and as you described it would be. Great working with you on this and we plan to use you again for gift ideas in the future. A big thank you from Texas! J. Sullivan
- KK
Keene Kelley
For Keene's Cutting Board5.0Dave is a real pro. It was obvious from the start that Dave was the guy to custom build my new cutting board. Very responsive and knowledgeable about all the wood and configuration options. Very conscientious. I could not recommend him more highly.
- GA
George Angell
For Exotic Wood Walking Stick Blanks5.0The cane blank Dave made for me from salvaged Ipe wood is beautiful and functional. It is just what I hoped for. Everything about the transaction was smooth, professional and quick. I would not hesitate to work with Dave again.
- TS
Tess Saxton-Fox
For Live Edge Walnut Cutting Board And Serving Boards. Limited Inventory! Please See Other Listings.5.0It was so easy to work with Dave and the cutting board is beautiful! He had so many beautiful boards to choose from and I absolutely love the one I got. It's great quality and a really unique piece. This board is something we'll want to keep forever.
- SE
Sue Estes
For Ipe handle material5.0As always a pleasure doing business with Dave.
LSLindsay Smith
For Lindsay's Cane5.0Dave was wonderful to work with and is a very talented craftsman! The canes I ordered from him are beautiful works of art and I am very happy with him! Looking forward to ordering more from him in the future. Thanks Dave!
MMMichael M. Williams II
For 50 inch with larger head?5.0When I started, I had no idea what this site even was. All I had was an idea for a new walking stick that was inspired by a comic book hero movie. This man contacted me and walked me through the proposal process. He worked with me to make sure I got exact measurements and specifications, right down to the type of wood that I'd need. Then, using his expert woodworking skills, he built me a one of a kind cane that I'd be proud to walk through my office with. Stylish, functional, and STURDY above all else! We will definitely be doing business in the future; I already have ideas for my mother and brother to get custom walking sticks made, as well as a few 'fishbillies.' :) If you ever have any custom woodwork needs, give Dave here a call. He won't let you down!
- SE
Sue Estes
For Walking Sticks Or Canes5.02nd order from Dave. Check out his stuff. His work is exceptional.
- MA
Mike Andjelic
For Live Edge Cutting Boards5.0 - SE
Sue Estes
For Exotic Wood Walking Stick Blanks5.0Exceptionally easy to communicate with. Responded within hours of my initial contact, and communicated with me throughout the process. Very reasonable and I felt like I got more than I bargained for. The cane blanks were very well protected and arrived promptly and safely. It was a pleasure doing business with Dave and will certainly use again.
- CM
Cherith Mayer
For Live Edge Walnut Cutting Board And Serving Boards. Limited Inventory! Please See Other Listings.5.0I just received the cutting board I ordered for my husband, and he loves it!!! Mr. Sutton was very easy to work with. He returned calls and emails very quickly and worked to find and stain a piece of wood and that my husband wanted. We are very pleased!!
- AV
amy volpe
For Edge Grain Cutting Board, Solid Maple5.0Dave made a live oak cutting board for me...40"x22". He communicated all along the way.. explained where the wood came from, how he was treating it...sent pictures and answered all of my inquiries promptly. He was a pleasure to work with and now that I have the board I see that he is a talented woodworker and a gentleman too. Nice to find someone who delivers what they offer and in a professional and yet friendly way.
- SS
Samuel Satterfield
For Live Edge Walnut Cutting Board And Serving Boards. Limited Inventory! Please See Other Listings.5.0Throughly enjoyed the work I had done.
- DK
Doug Kramp
For Doug's Walking cane/stick5.0Dave did an absolutely outstanding job on making a custom cane out of an old tree branch that I had kept over 30 years due to its origin and sentimental value. Because of its sentimental value, I was very careful to research who I thought would deliver the best product with this one-of-a-kind custom cane request. Dave was responsive, creative, professional and thoughtful in everything he did. He sent me pictures of each step of his project and asked for my input to make sure he was delivering the right thing. The cane he designed exceeded my highest expectation and I can't wait to give it to my 93-year-old dad for Christmas. Thanks to Dave, this will be one of the most cherished gifts I have ever given to anyone. I would and will trust Dave with any wood-working project. He will deliver beyond your expectations.
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