When ya get old

[RichardA]

  When ya get old, things happen that as a younger man you'd never expect to happen to you.  Mainly because when we're young we know we're gonna live forever. I got old.  I had a monster back surgery a year ago and it's made my ability to walk properly kinda crappy. And being on my feet for more than 10 or 20 minutes, causes more back pain than I like to brag about.  Anyhow.  I got a cane from my insurance company. It helps, but it's to short even fully extended. And all the canes in Walmart are short as well. So I made one.  It to turned out to be to short, so it became firewood.  I made another from an Apple branch and a chunk of Cherry scrap.  That works okay, but I feel as though it to, is just a little to short.  Last week I started with a piece of Sassafras that was way to long. Thinking I have a saw or ten, I could cut it to fi.  So I proceeded on design.  I wanted something a tad different. And after several days of cutting, shaping with a rasp and sandpaper, I wound up with one to tall.  But as I mentioned, I have a saw somewhere in the shop.  I made a cut. Tried it.  Made another cut , tried it to. Another cut, and Damn!  It's just right.  Here's the three, with the last one being to me, quite cool and easy to handle.  Three legs are better than two nowadays for me. I think you can see the improvement.

[Dave H]

Looks good Richard! When I was in my twenties I was driving through town with a buddy. An old man was crossing the street using a cane my buddy said I can't wait to be able to carry a cane. I looked at him like he was crazy, he looks back at me and says you know to beat the punks with

[wtnhighlander]

That's a cane to do some beating, too!

Looks great, Rick.

[Chet]

Yea that knob is going to hurt when it ends up, upside someones head.

I really like the design Rick, Very cool.

[RichardA]

I forgot to mention, that the front of the knob has a dent  rasped in it to give my forefinger a little extra grip.

[Coop]

That ain’t half bad for a half bad old man!  Hope it serves you well forever! Can’t imagine you making your own wheel chair or ventilator but wouldn’t put it past ya! I bet you could make and sell the heck out of the canes! 

[TerryMcK]

Nice work Rick. The rasped dent must be like one of those sharp cleaving ridges that chair makers seem to like putting into seat bases. Lift and separate!

[wtnhighlander]

I think @Coop is on to something, Rick! Make up some DIY cane kits, extra long with cut marks along the bottom 6", every 1/4" or so. Package it with a hacksaw blade and a sheet of sandpaper.  

[treeslayer]

Well done Rick! I’m sure one of those are in my future, as a good friend says “nice job young man”

[TerryMcK]

My granddad used to cut notches into his walking stick when he wanted to remember something. Trouble is he could never remember what he'd cut the notches for.

[RichardA]

21 minutes ago, TerryMcK said:

My granddad used to cut notches into his walking stick when he wanted to remember something. Trouble is he could never remember what he'd cut the notches for.

What notches?

[TerryMcK]

Yes it was full of notches that stick. He was very forgetful 

[Woodenskye]

Nice work!  Now if someone isn't social distancing instead of telling them you can cane them. 

[gee-dub]

39 minutes ago, RichardA said:

What notches?

Coffee on the monitor!!!  

The walking stick came out great Richard.

[Mark J]

Looks like not only a pleasing design, but very functional.  As to a market, I bet you're not the only tall man that can use a cane, and everyone would prefer something stylish.

[Ronn W]

Who said you didn't have class!!!