Scott, Grab the next wrecked automatic umbrella you find. The staff is hollow metal, either brass or chrome plated steel. You can cut it in length that suit you, I use about 4" and sharpen the edges on one end. Drill several bodies and punch the out with a dowel, long machine screw, etc. More than about 4 get difficult to expel. My favorite was a hexagon shaped shaft, it does great. Around 3/8" is the largest you can do, but I have a 3/4" from EMT.