Walking Cane: Episode 3

Posted 13 November 2013

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In this episode, Paul shows us how to create the transition from the shaft into the handle, and then glue and wedge the handle onto the shaft. He goes on to show us how to put a twist in the shaft, mostly using the rasp and card scraper.

Previous: Walking Cane: Episode 2

21 Comments

  3. That is coming along nicely. I wondered how the “rope” effect was done and anxious to give it a try. I really like the design of the canes and plan on making and giving one to an old fellow who lives across the street for me.

    Thanks again Paul and Crew !

    Steve

  4. Well, I’m taking seriously the idea of making a small business from cane making.

    Amazing scraping technique to refine the twist of the cane.

    Also, very practical the method of spreading the tools over the floor 😉

    Thanks for another great episode.

    –Óscar

  6. Could a drawbore pin be used to attach the handle, rather than a wedged tenon? Something similar to what was done with the breadboard? Or would the torque stress on the handle be to great? Might be another way to give it a slightly different look.

  12. As always, great, easy to follow instruction … that produces beautiful results. THANKS!

    I’m looking forward to the variation that puts a handle part way down a staff. I imagine that it’s just another splined tenon joint, but my imagination has been known to produce highly useless results.

  13. There was not much of an angle inside the head of the cane as I would have expected. I can’t wait to be able to get out in my shop and get one of these started. I’m thinking along the same lines as Bob on the other style of cane. I know several people who hike and would love to have one of these including one for me!

  15. I just wish I had learned these techniques when I still had my Granddad (who worked daily as a Carpenter until he was in his late 70’s). He loved woodworking and would have really enjoyed this!

  17. Paul, two important questions before I can start:
    (1) you are using 7/8″ thick lumber. That’s hard to find on this side of the pond. 3/4″ is easy, 4/4″ is more difficult, more expensive, but can be found. Is 3/4″ usable? And, if it is, would I start the taper cutting 1&1/4″ wide at the top for the oval, and 7/8″ wide at the bottom for the round end? Using a thinner stock to start, is there a best wood to take the weight of someone fully using the cane?
    (I’m the example, I’ve used a cane more than once, and at 6’3″ I have both relaxed muscle and heavy bones. Some of my canes will be for myself in the foreseeable future.)

    (2) The rasps are of interest. If I could afford a set of hand-cut rasps, well, that would be great. I’m planning to buy Narex, though, and I can see the grooves that even CNC cut rasps leave. Now, according to my homework, Narex has

    BladeLength (mm)/TeethRoughness(cm2): 150/20; 200;16;250/12; 300/10, and they also have a set of finer rasps just out at 200/22.

    I’m not going to to buy five grades of rasp in three shapes each (ouch!), but what would be good to start with in hardwoods, and can I go from the finest grade they have to another tool (file, spokeshave, plane, scraper)?

    I’d like to make some canes, but the dog has to be fed also. 😉

  18. I’ve made a couple of these canes for family members and they love them. If I nevet sell a thing or ever even make another peice, the joy that I saw in the eyes of those who recieved these cans is pay enough for a lifetime.

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