Steven wrote on Jun 16
th, 2007 at 11:14am:
Good to have another cane wielder in the group
Anxiously waiting for pictures of both slings and sticks...
Thanx. I'll post a pic or two as soon as I do!
The last sling that I made was braided suede, with an integrally braided (on the edges) piece of the same leather, as pouch. Oh how I tried to hit something... deliberately...
Quote:I'm currently working on an Iron-Bamboo Walking/Hiking stick
I'll have to look at hickory handles as shaft material ...
but then I need to build a shaving horse
Much heavier than bamboo! Much!
The only time that I have used bamboo (a personal favorite substance!) is to hide swords and such inside.
No, actually a nicely tapered piece of a six sectional bamboo fishing pole. from where the handle attaches down a few feet can be quite an elegant and strong shaft.
But, for sheer whackability (the ability to deliver/withstand a solid whack), hickory (properly cured) is at the top of the list with little competition.
Of course, one of the drawbacks is that I remember each cane's construction by the number of blisters from carving.
Some say that if you put some alcohol on the surface or soak in water, it softens the wood, temporarily (till it dries), for easier carving. I haven't tried it.
Perhaps because I'm an idiot that enjoys pain? Perhaps for the 'cane' to be granted 'life', 'mana', the pain is necessary? Perhaps I don't want to place the 'cane' ('warclub') in any possible condition of 'weakness', and pain is a small price to pay? Perhaps all of the above? Ha....
There are the inlays and surface carving (like the South Seas clubs), and (almost) lastly, I baptise it in a linseed oil mixture.
Working cured hickory is a far step from the simple joys of bamboo!
When you say 'iron/bamboo' do you mean iron shod on the bottom? Top too?
(Dontcha love 'show-an-tell'? *__- )
How old does a horse have to be to shave?
(sorry..)