[USAF_Vet]

I've been kicking around the idea of carrying a cane, but I've never found one that fit me, or was aesthetically pleasing. So after clearing some brush in the backyard where I'm building my forge, I found a nice piece of tree with a gnarly old twisted taproot fully intact. So here she is:

http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j452/bensmith995/Halloween2011004.jpg

http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j452/bensmith995/Halloween2011003.jpg

http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j452/bensmith995/Halloween2011002.jpg

http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j452/bensmith995/Halloween2011001.jpg


I had initially stained it with dark walnut, but decided it was too dark, so I sanded most of it off the surface, leaving the deeper recesses still stained which is what gives it the two toned appearance. After sanding it down to 220 grit, and then hand sanding and polishing with pads, I sealed it with a urethane coating. The rubber foot (not pictured) is being fashioned from 4mm thick buna rubber. Keeping my fingers crossed it turns out well.

[Rail Driver]

That's a nice one! I'd carry it!

[Carl Levitian]

Nice stick!

I love the rustic country looking walking sticks. If you look on the Lollysmith web site, they have brass cane ends. I always put them on, and they are there under the rubber end from Lowes. If things look dicy, just yank off the rubber end and you have a bit more of a ram tool on hand. :D

Carl.

[robinkevin]

Think this is going to be my next project...

[Owen Sparks]

I made my own cane out of Osage orange last Summer. It is a fun project that cost very little. If you plan on using it for a weapon make sure that it weighs at least a solid pound with the balance point as close to the center as possible so that it will and handle the same no matter which end you grab it by. The best way to achieve this is to keep the handle minimal in size and avoid taper so that the cane is shaped like a rod rather than a carrot. (Immagine how awkward holding a baseball bat by the wrong end would feel) Material is critical. True strength comes from flexibility. Osage orange, ironwood, black locust, cocobolo or other dense flexable hardwood are the best choices. If you cut your own wait untill the dead of Winter when the sap is low and varnish the cut ends immediatly to keep it from drying too fast and cracking. Leave the bark on and let it dry slowly for several months before shaving it down to final size. (Reduction of weight is a good indicator of deminishing moisture content.) Apply a good coat or three of sealant as soon as your cane is sanded to avoid further drying and cracking.

[wheelgunslinger]

nicely done, sir.

[bikerdoc]

Yes indeed that is a fine piece of work. Enjoy.

It gets addictive eventually you will start gifting the to reuce clutter. :)

I have done similar and appreciate the work involved.

Owen uses the same technique I do, it works.

[Psa1m144]

Very cool

[USAF_Vet]

I'm not sure the type of wood it is, nothing exotic just local Michigan species, but it does have some heft to it. It weighs in a just under two pounds, a lot of the weight is in the root/ handle. It pokes pretty well, and hurts like crazy when you smack yourself across the shins :D and the handle serves as a nice bludgeon and hooks an arm or neck pretty well. Ask my dog. :)


this particular piece was ripped up from a brush overgrowth and left to sit out for a few weeks before I deicded to use it for the cane. During that point it had dried, been raied on, endured a couple of frosts and dried again. I got it in the garage and let it dry completely for a few days, then stripped the bark and began sanding. I had to trim a little off the handle end and a bit off the floor end to size it to my height. The rest of the procedures I outlined in my first post. I had another piece of similar wood, much shorter, that inspired this piece. Having let that dry in the warm house, the floor end split. thankfully, that hasn't happened to my cane.

I appreciate the comments. Might go hunt for another piece to make another.

[Owen Sparks]

I am going to "ring" a few small trees this Winter and let them dry naturally through the Spring to see what happens. Next Summer I will harvest them and trim them down into fighting canes. I want to try black jack oak.

[USAF_Vet]

I've got a black walnut in my yard that needs to come down before it starts to ruin the foundation of my garage.

I plan on getting some of that to do some custom grips for my pistols and knives. If I have a nice enough piece, maybe a custom rifle stock or two.

[huntsman]

I am going to "ring" a few small trees this Winter and let them dry naturally through the Spring to see what happens. Next Summer I will harvest them and trim them down into fighting canes. I want to try black jack oak.
I cut in the late fall and store in the basement till late summer, as for wood around here we have Iron wood and Blue beech (both shrubs) but I use others also.

Mine are made more for walking/ hiking and ornamental.

[USAF_Vet]

A couple more from junk wood from the property.


http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j452/bensmith995/021.jpg



This one is a gift for my step-dad, who was recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.

http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j452/bensmith995/022.jpg

http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j452/bensmith995/023.jpg

[bikerdoc]

DOC said,

It gets addictive eventually you will start gifting the to reduce clutter.


USAF Vet said,

This one is a gift for my step-dad, who was recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.



See what I mean. :)

[Deltaboy]

Them thar Root Canes are real Cool.