Walk Canes

All manner of woodworking, carpentry and techniques.
Post Reply
User avatar
HandyDan
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Posts: 7044
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2020 7:44 pm
Location: Youngstown, Oh
Has thanked: 378 times
Been thanked: 372 times

Walk Canes

#1

Post by HandyDan »

Over the years I have made walking canes for a few friends that were in need. I always found that making the handle was the tedious part and then needed glued to the stick. Has anyone else made a cane and what was your method.

DSC02173.JPG
DSC02176.JPG

This one I made as a two piece.

DSC02614.JPG
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
HandyDan
Youngstown, Oh
User avatar
Stick486
CS/TS
Posts: 20491
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2021 7:40 am
Location: Central Colorado
Preferred name: Stick486
Has thanked: 657 times
Been thanked: 580 times

Re: Walk Canes

#2

Post by Stick486 »

Excellent!!!
what is your choice of woods for your canes???
is just gluing the handle to the stick adequate or do you think it should be pinned also???
what was your process for shaping the handle???
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
SNORK” Mountain Congressional Library and Taxidermy...
Cherryville Chuck
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 2648
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2020 8:27 pm
Location: Cherryville, B C
Has thanked: 561 times
Been thanked: 1011 times

Re: Walk Canes

#3

Post by Cherryville Chuck »

They look nice and more importantly they look more ergonomic on the grip. I got one of the old fashioned shepard's hook style oak cane but the fit in the hand isn't great. I also have one of those telescoping aluminum ones with the same basic handle shape as yours but it isn't as contoured as your grips are so it still isn't really ergonomic to use either. Maybe I should try making one. I know LV used to sell cane making hardware but I don't know if they still do.
User avatar
HandyDan
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Posts: 7044
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2020 7:44 pm
Location: Youngstown, Oh
Has thanked: 378 times
Been thanked: 372 times

Re: Walk Canes

#4

Post by HandyDan »

The first cane is a White Oak shaft with a Cherry handle and the two piece is a Birch shaft with a Purple Heart Handle.
To shape the handle I viewed different canes in Google Images and then drew one out and copied it onto the wood. Cut it out on the band saw and then went to shaping by hand with wood chisels, knives and and sand paper until it felt good in my hand. The shaft was done on the lathe and the rubber tips I picked up at the drug store. The shaft is tapered for looks but I thought to make the bottom 6" a straight 3/4" so it could be trimmed to length if needed. 3/4" was the required diameter to fit the tip. I got a measurement from the palm down from each recipient for length before making.

DSC02612 - Copy.JPG
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
HandyDan
Youngstown, Oh
User avatar
HandyDan
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Posts: 7044
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2020 7:44 pm
Location: Youngstown, Oh
Has thanked: 378 times
Been thanked: 372 times

Re: Walk Canes

#5

Post by HandyDan »

Cherryville Chuck wrote: Sat Feb 05, 2022 11:39 am I know LV used to sell cane making hardware but I don't know if they still do.
Woodcraft sell cane parts. Here's their page. They have some nice looking brass handles too.

https://www.woodcraft.com/products/wood ... g-hardware
HandyDan
Youngstown, Oh
User avatar
RainMan
Registered User
Posts: 183
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2022 8:10 pm
Location: Cranbrook BC
Preferred name: Rick
Has thanked: 56 times
Been thanked: 48 times

Re: Walk Canes

#6

Post by RainMan »

Nice work . I really like the handle on the one in the second pic . The first one doesn’t look as comfortable, but is probably fine
I don’t always insulate , but when I do .
Ok , I never insulate
User avatar
Stick486
CS/TS
Posts: 20491
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2021 7:40 am
Location: Central Colorado
Preferred name: Stick486
Has thanked: 657 times
Been thanked: 580 times

Re: Walk Canes

#7

Post by Stick486 »

HandyDan wrote: Sat Feb 05, 2022 3:22 pm Cut it out on the band saw and then went to shaping by hand with wood chisels, knives and and sand paper until it felt good in my hand.
can I recommend a spoke shave(s) for that process...
there's routers and RO bits too for the rough in.......
.
SPOKESHAVES.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
SNORK” Mountain Congressional Library and Taxidermy...
Cherryville Chuck
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 2648
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2020 8:27 pm
Location: Cherryville, B C
Has thanked: 561 times
Been thanked: 1011 times

Re: Walk Canes

#8

Post by Cherryville Chuck »

When I made a tote for one of my planes I did most of the paring with a chisel. I found it took more wood off at a time and it was more controllable amd was easier to get around the curves than any other tool I tried. If I was going to do the shaft of the cane by hand I would use a spoke shave but the handle I would probably do like Dan. I looked at doing sections of the tote with a router bit but I wasn't sure how it was going to react to changing grain direction.
Post Reply