[Marci MN]

I have had a request for an Eagle walking stick. They didnt say how they wanted it.. it just had to have Eagles on it. yikes.

Ok.. what I'm wondering is.. If I manage to carve out an Eagles head out of another piece of wood, how do you attatch it to the stick? Should I keep the Eagles head thicker so I can carve down to meet the thickness of the stick? I'm assuming I would need to drill the hole in the bottom of the Eagles head to fit the stick into..correct? Or am I thinking this wrong?

And if I end up putting the stick into the bottom of the Eagles head.. will that joint be strong enough not to snap off?

I am also thinking of doing relief of flying Eagles up and around the stick.. maybe painting them or woodburning them for color. I'm not sure yet on this one.

Any other ideas you can think of to help me put this stick together? Has anyone done Eagles on a walking stick and have pictures to share?

Its for my husbands daughter.

[Kenny_S]

Marci, there are several ways to attach the head to the cane.

One, is to use a 3/8 to a 5/8 inch threads all bolt and drill both the head and the cane and use epoxy to glue together. Holes should be a little bigger than the all thread bolt to allow the epxoy to setup.
Or
As many here do, drill a hole in the cane head the size of the cane or cut down the cane top to fit the hole drilled in to the head.
However, none of these methods are rated for medical use meaning there is no guarantee. But, I use the ttall thread method and have several canes being used by those persons. I believe ALA , Liferescue or Bob Squarebriggscan better explain the cane in to the cane head method bettter as they use that method I think, I have not used it. Here is my WIP eagle cane.
I forgot to say, I drill a 3 inch hole in the head and in to the cane saft for a total length of 6 inches of all thread, I also use the 5/8" all thread and the epxoy, Not the 5 minute epoxy. Those canes have been in use for several years and no problems.
Hope this has helped.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

if the top is just a decoration, you can either use a dowel and drill holes in both, or carve down the end of the eagle head into a dowel shape and just drill a hole in the top of the stick. If its a handle, then I feel better using an anchor bolt ....I drill a hole that is a fairly snug fit and when ready to mount use polyurathane glue.....my way, others will have another way

[decoycarve]

I like to my sticks from one piece of wood. What diameter are you planning on making the stick. Whatever the diameter is leave at least 1/4" all the way around the outer edge of the diameter and glue the biggest dowel that the piece will allow. I sometimes turn the dowel on the piece of wood that I am going to insert on the lathe. You can also carve the dowel on the piece i do this by making a stop cut at the distance the I want the dowel to be i then draw a circle on the bottom of the piece. Carve from the circle down to the stop cut. Drill a hole in a piece of hardwood the size of the dowel you need. Then push and turn the piece you are carving on into the hole in the hardwood. I usually insert the topper about 1 1/2 into the staff. Sue Irishs site has a packet that is all cane toppers.
Hope this helps
Goody

[squbrigg]

Marci....I like to use wood about 1 1/2" thick for the head, and trim it down to 1" or 3/4" for the shaft. If the person using the cane/walking stick will be applying full weight for support, go with the heavire end of the scale. The head can be carved seperately and joined by drilling a 1/2" diam. hole in the base of the head and top of the shaft, and use a 1/2" dowel. Drill the holes as deep as possible, say 1" to 1 1/2" deep in both, and use "yellow carpenters glue" for a strong joint......all weather glue if you can get it. The dowel will secure the head to the shaft very strongly, so there should be no worry about joint failure. The joint , you can blend in to the shaft by carving it to mask it or add a spacer like I have in this one. The other is a hawk, with the joint blended.

Here is the Eagle I just finished, let me know if you'd like a copy of the sketch I used and I'll e-mail it to you. No copyright issues, I did my own from a photo I took of a local Eagle.

Bob

[Marci MN]

Thanks guys! I do plan on having it just as a decoration on a 5 foot stick. Not like a walking cane. I will be putting hand grips down further from the joint. The reason I'm going so tall is that I'm not sure on her height, and they can cut the bottom off to fit her better.

I'll take you up on that offer, Squbrigg. I'd like to try your pattern. I did surf for ideas and did a bit of doodling today. I do think I drew a platapus head. LOL

I'm not sure on what route I'll take on how to attatch. Let me see if I can get the head carved out first.. with the thought to leave quite a bit of wood for that attatchment. Hubby says he has all thread rod down in the barn so at least I have that on hand too.

Thank you again..and wish me luck. I'll show pix if I can get an Eagle head to look like an Eagle head.. if not its going in the wood pile again. *grin*

[Mottles]

Hi Marci, much success to you on creating your walk stick. You'll do it!
Kathy

[wade clark]

Bob,
Beautiful Eagle and Hawk!
Wade