Something for us Old Folks

[OldWrangler]

Just to use up some scrap and leftover lumber and make room for some new stuff coming in, I made this cane. With my 71 year old knees, I've been relying on a cane for a number of years and this will be the new one I use. Diameter is a little over 1" and the cane has a 1/2" diameter aluminum tubing in the center. Stock was turned on the lathe, then the center drilled and then the sections were cut on the bandsaw. Everything assembled on the tubing and glued up and the cane was sanded round and varnished with gloss polyurothane. Woods are hackberry, bois d'arc, cedar, narra, sapele, purpleheart, black palm and walnut. The aluminum tube gives it plenty of strength and a little woodburning will help it find it's way home should it get left somewhere. And now I've got 2 more to make for people who saw this one but I figured a faster way to make them.

 

[leehljp]

Nice Cane! Think I will make one. Well done!

 

[wdcav1952]

Shoot, George, that cane is so nice I almost regret having my knee replaced!

 

[MarkHix]

Cool!
I have been working on one for my mother. I wish I had seen yours first. The handle is giving me fits. How about sharing the new technique?

 

[OldWrangler]

I took a log about the diameter of the inside of the handle and drilled a 1/2" hole in it. I locked it down in my vise and put the aluminum tube in the hole. Then I just bent the tube around the log to form the handle. Wood pieces had to be cut at angles from 20 degrees to 45 and rotated against one another til they were a flush fit. Then glued. I used thick CA as it dried fast enough to keep up with me adding more rings. Worked real slick.

The tubing only came is 3' lengths at Lowes so I had to splice pieces together with a 1/2" x 6" bolt with the head cut off. It was a good tight fit but I glued the bolt in with CA to make sure. Total length of the cane including around the handle is 45".

You can see handle details in the pic.

 

[Nick]

George, That is a great looking cane, Did you put a rubber knob on the bottom to keep you from slipping when the cold and wet times show up.

Happy Holidays

 

[Randy_]

Looks like it wouuld be great for walking up walls??:wink:

 

[ldb2000]

That is a really cool cane George . What a great way to use up those cut offs .
You can get any length of aluminum tubing you want from these guys at good prices http://www.speedymetals.com

 

[PaulDoug]

Very unique. Nice job.