[JIM QUILICI]

My sons father in law has a braces on his legs to help him walk and he uses a cane also. He asked me to carve a cane for him, I have never done this before but I want to carve one for him. he wants a cowboy theme or he said a rat or a mouse would work for Him . never having done this before I need all the help I can get . any one know of a good book with patterns for such a project. I am leaving for Tenn. tomorrow so if any body answers this message its going to be 10 days before I can get back to you .Thank you .
Just Old Jim

[rick-in-seattle]

Jim,
All I can tell you is consider function first and design and decoration last.

It's really important to a person who relys on the cane.

[whitecree]

Watch one of those ICE AGE animated movies. Look at the sabre-toothed squirrel. Wouldn't that make a good caricature 'rat' pattern?

[Marci MN]

Oooh a cowboy cane would be fun!

How about, doing a leaning cowboy at the top of the cane..then twirl a rope all the way down the cane. In sections down the rope sides.. do a pair of boots, spurs, horse head, horse shoe (done in the good luck position) long horn skull, and small brands carved in everywhere up and down the cane.

[JIM QUILICI]

Rick,Whitecree, Marci,
Thank you for the watch out for , and starting ideas, can't start today because of our trip but look out when we get back, I know what I'm going to say to my sweetheart when she wants me to do so honey doos,...........don't bother me now I busy. lol........i can outrun her.

Just old Jim

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Hey Jim, come thru Kingman and I will show you about 20 or 30 canes and sticks lol....

[Thomp]

Looking at some books at books a million one cane book had a project that really sparked my intrest, and more i think about it more i want the book,

the project was to make a cane out of one single wood. Quick glemses and scan reading the project the cane was taken from a tree limb where a branch segmented the limb the bigger part being the hand grip.

not liking to the arish shelali(sp) heppme looking thing this cane was one sided...

just an idea , ill have to get the book and tell you more when i get better educated.

[squbrigg]

As a cane user, as well as a carver, I'll help you all I can.

The shaft should be sturdy, able to take the weight, I use a hardwood shaft of about 1" diamater. The height is critical, so it should be fitted to him. Standing upright, the handle should come to his wrist. The bottom of the cane should have a rubber tip, you can find various size tips at a drug store, the wider the better, more stability, 3/4" ones work best for me.

The handle, I carve my handle seperate from the shaft and attach them. But, if you can find a single piece of wood in the general shape with a handle, go for it.

The fit of the handle is also critical, it should fit his hand (everyone's hand is different, so have him try some different sizes, go with him to a store that sells stock canes and experiment) but it must be comfortable. I find a smooth top and the underside fitted with grooves for the fingers works well.

The top part of the grip where his thumb and first finger seperate requires attention, don't make it too wide or he'll find it difficult to grip, again, fit it to his particular hand. You will find that he'll often rest his first finger down the shaft, (like pointing) so don't have your design cut too deep along here or it will irritate the skin of his finger. (either side cause he may switch the cane from hand to hand as the need requires)

You will need to secure the shaft and the handle together, I use yellow carpenters glue, or you may use a good epoxy, but you will need also to use an anchor inside. They make a lag bolt for this application, two ended, available at Lee Valley Tools or similar places or you can drill the head and shaft and insert a hardwood dowel. I use this method as I find it stronger.

As to the design, once you select it, think about the joint between shaft and handle (if you use a two part cane) and how you are going to desguise it, fit it into your design.

Hope this makes sense and helps. Just sing out if you need any more help.

Bob

[AlArchie]

Just got the new Woodturners' catalog www.woodturnerscatalog.com and they have several handle attachment systems....one new, but a couple standard ones, that look like they would give a good sturdy handle/shaft joint.

I'll try to scan a pic or two and get them posted.


Al