Richarda

Make sure you try and locate some "Blackened Voodoo" beer.?

Good grief young'un. You know you're welcome wherever we happen to be hanging out.

I did something like that a couple of years ago. Bending over to do detail work started giving me back pains, added to what I already had. I later screwed and glued a piece to the front leg, so instead of clamping it to the bench, it slips into the shoulder vise.

Ken, I think you've gone as far as you can until you have the exact door opening Option #2 is in my opinion is the way to go. You still have plenty of time. Don't do any profiles or anything else until you know exactly what you are going to build. Right now it's really guesswork. Don't guess, get it right the first time.

That would probably work, the problem I see, at least for me, is that it adds another hour or so to each cane, adding to the cost, the extra rods add to the cost., Now we're in the $50 to $60 for the retail, plus the packaging and shipping. I just can't see much of a market at those prices, and it's still like Ikea, "we'll ship it, you put it together". All these ideas are welcome, but I think it's gonna have to stay local, for it to be a really custom product. If I only sell 5 that's fine with me, there are folks that could use one and can't afford one, so Christmas comes early from an old guy. No big deal for me. Don't get me wrong, there's no doubt the extra money would be welcome, but I think as an old man with a somewhat limited future, all that extra work is just overall not worth it to me. Even if I won the lottery, I'd still make a cane for someone that "needs" it. And it would be fit to that person only.

Online. They're easy to find, and there are different sizes. There are even tips that will allow the cane to stand alone while you reach for something.

Kev. I have a neighbor who's about 3 years older than me with a bad back and legs. He's 6' tall, I'm 6'2" tall My cane is 37", but here's the rub. the cane I gave him is 39" because his arms are shorter. The other problem I see is a customer's preference in wood. The canes I've made are all different. Walnut handle with Cherry shaft, or Butternut Handle with Butternut shaft, then Curly Maple handle with Sassafras shaft, Each one is different, and each customer's choice would be different, based on their taste, or how they want to be perceived by others. Then we'd need to have them make the measurement for the cane. It's an easy measurement to make, but for the comfort it has to be pretty accurate. Example: If the person is normally 5' 10", and standing up straight, his/her cane would be about 35" or 36", but if they have a physical problem like Spinal stenosis, they can't stand up straight, and the cane might need to be 32". A one size fits all won't work with canes that can't be extended or shortened based on height or need. I like your idea, but the truth is that a cane of this kind is very personal, once it's made to fit the person, It's unlikely to be used by another, unless they are pretty much identical. Unfortunately for these to be "custom" they have to be the wood combination that they like, and they have to be an exact fit, there's no adjustment. It's really a walk in deal. They pick the one they want, then you measure them live and in person, then cut and fit the tip, and they leave with a smile. This batch of canes are going to have to be made for each person. I'm willing to do that, but for the canes to be useful, they have to be done live. Mail order won't work, unless if they are at your store and you're willing to measure, cut and fit to their needs, and if my memory serves, you're almost always away from your shop/store. Like I said, I like your idea, and I thank you for the offer, but I just can't see how it would work and truly be "custom".

It's a damn nice idea, However, they are all made longer than is useful, unless you're 7'4" tall. Each one needs to be cut and fitted with a cane tip. And I wouldn't feel comfortable just cutting them all one size, that would make them less than custom. If you can figure a way around that I might be interested. Since I've rarely gotten to far away from the property here since I retired, I don't know if there are any of those type organizations nearby. However, since I'm on good terms with the Sheriff, I'll ask him and then follow up on that. Good idea Chet. Thanks.

You're a strange bunch of damn nice guys. Since I live in an older folks community, I had thought about selling them as "Sunday Go To Meetin" canes, Cause nearly everyone here is in a church on Sundays.

Thanks guys. Now the question comes up. What do I do with 9 or 10 canes, I have two metal [ugh] ones and now two wooden ones? Do I try and sell them? Where I live the biggest town has about 5,000 residents, in fact the whole county only has about 19,000 residents. Most are old and retired like me. I'n guessing that there's 3 to 4 hours in each one, most of it is hand work, rasps and sandpaper. If I build something on commision I figure my hourly rate around $30 or $40 dollars, depending on the complexity. I can't charge that kind of money for a cane, I just can't. They were all made long, well over 36", which is the tallest the metal ones expand to. So I'm going to have to custom cut to the length that the buyer would need. Since I figured out how tall my need was, it's easy to get the right measurement for the perfect support. Add another 20 or 30 minutes in the construction for that. Then I thought, maybe there are some Vets with a need for a cane, WW2, Korea, Nam and the Middle East. So I called my Sherriff and asked him if he could help find Vets that could use one. He told me he'd ask his deputies and he'd get back to me. No word yet, but it was only 3 days ago. I couldn't ask money from them, they've already given enough. Here's the other one I made just for me, it's a tad unusual, But I like it Cherry knob, and Sassafras shaft.

I'm 77 years old physically, but my mind is still as sharp as a 40 year old. My mind refuses to accept what it see's in the mirror. However... I had three back surgeries a little over a year ago and was told by the Doctor, I'd be up and at'em in less than a month. He lied. I now have no choice but to use a third leg to be sure I don't fall on my butt. I hate it. However I discovered that the third leg/canes they sell at drug stores and Walmart, are designed for the "average" person. I'm 6'2", a bit above the average. The store bought canes force me into a leaning position, that's quite uncomfortable on the back. So, I made one from a Dogwood branch and a chunk of Cherry. A bit taller. Still leaning over #1 into the woodstove. #2 Better, made from an Apple branch and another chunk of Cherry. Still not quite what I need, but close. Remember that 40 year old mind I told you about? It came up with an idea to rummage through my scrap/off cut collection, and I wound up with enough to construct about 10 canes. So I did, I copied a handle from my store bought one, and another I saw in a store. and this is the result. The handles are attached to the shaft with a 3/8" threaded rod , epoxied in place. There's a mix of Walnut, Butternut, Sassafras, Cherry and Maple in almost every configuration, but I think the turned out kinda nice. I kept one made from Curly Maple on the handle and Ambrosia Maple on the shaft. Comments are welcome. The one I kept has Ambrosia on the shaft in pic #5 and the handle is pic #6

Uh wouldn't that be different.

Ya gotta admit Rickey, he makes it so easy.

Sassafras and Butternut, now you're getting my interest up.

This is what I used before I built this. It has a board on the back to ride the fence. Horrible way to cut splines.

Truthfully, I remembered that Dave aka: treeslayer at WTO, had made one. I couldn't find his to steal the idea, but I did remember some of it's salient points and added them. It turned out that his and mine are 80% alike. Proof that great minds really do think alike.

Cigar is rarely out of reach. It's my skull cap or you might say my thinking tool.

This staying home is enough to drive a man to drink! Fortunately for me it's a short drive. I've been using a scrap of plywood and two scraps nailed on it to make my splines. And it's shaky as hell. At my age shaky is part of everyday, so I needed to come up with something that would curtail all that shakiness. I had some scrap Alder plywood taking up space, so, I thought if I put some of it together, I could get it to take up more space. I think I was successful. What do you guys think?

I'll go for $10, and Spanky can bring it back here.

Yeah, he's got them and was surprised and very pleased, His wife, loved the cutting board and the coasters. I sent along with them a mallet from the batch I made a few years ago for him. But, I think Barb confiscated it as a corrective devise, for his head.

How many address's can you handle Jaime?

After living in Louisiana for over 30 years, I realized that horseradish is a mainstay condiment for 75% of cajun food. After moving to Tennessee, I really miss it, so I turned to Cayenne as the spice. No comparison. Cayenne is hot, but only in the mouth and downward. Horseradish, solves any and all sinus issues you can have. It clears the head. Love that stuff. The condiment of Tennessee, is pork fat. Yuck.

Fire ants hurt. Don't ask how I know. A very long story.

Most of you know about this from WTO, but some don't. A member of WTO lost his wife yesterday morning at 6:45 AM while he was holding hands with her. She had been ill for quite a while, and was living in a hospital bed in their living room. He owns a cabinet business that seems to be taking off, so he had to hire his son and a part timer to help while he cared for his wife. They were married 38 years exactly, the day before she died, and it's taken a heavy toll on him. He goes by the handle "freedhardwoods" on WTO. If any of you are still members there, drop in and wish him well, he needs the support. Trust me I know from personal experience, that it does help. Thanks.

He's just using it as camo, for the fire ant that he is.