Register Now!

**Mike** · 06-30-2006, 05:10 PM

Sandy, any project that will be exposed to the weather is best finished with a polyurethane spar varnish. This can be applied over your paint.

Visteonguy · 07-02-2006, 11:12 AM

Hi Sandy, I cut a lot of canes off at about 33 inches, ( Thats measured from the surface that touches the palm of your hand, to the tip of the wood and then when you attach the rubber end, it finishes off close to 34 inches. They seem to fit a lot of people. What you might do is make a few of them and keep some of them long so if you do come across someone extra tall, you can just hand em one of your finished canes and if they seem to think that its too short,, then grab one of your uncut canes, and cut that one to suit the person.

As far as sanding,, I just sand them till they feel pretty smooth and apply the finish, But I use several heavy coats of polyurthane, so I did not sand them up to a fine grit of paper, maybe only 100 grit. If you are using another finish that does not cover as thick as Poly,,, you may have to go higher in your sanding grits.. However, I guess I should say that I sprayed several coats of poly and after spraying about 3 good wet coats,, I did wet sand them a bit and applied maybe 3 more coats, and wet sanded them again,, lightly,, and applied one more nice wet coat,, by then,, they were getting pretty smooth anyway and very glossy.

And I aggree with Mike,, about putting poly over painted wood, I made some signs awhile back and painted some parts of the signs with just regular black paint out of a spay can, and then sprayed a nice heavy coat of poly over the whole sign,,, came out real nice,, so when I get a chance to make a your idea of a cane to resemble a garden hose,, I am thinking I will paint it green and then coat it with poly to give it a nice high gloss to set it off.

SandyT · 07-02-2006, 12:45 PM

Terry,
Thanks again for all your fine information (and you, too, Mike).
I'm sorry for asking so many questions, but it's my insecurity when making something new. However, it's all helping me so much and the canes are looking mighty fine.
Last night I was working with the 100 grit but still couldn't get some burn marks off that I got mostly because I was moving the oak too slowly around the roundover bit.
Anyways, I got my Dremel out and that little drum sander took the burns off for me so I slept well after that.
These saw canes are so great, but it's always fun to try to create some different version of things. I was trying to come up with something on paper a couple nights ago, and the rose thing looks really complicated to me with most of it's beauty only accomplished by the painting of it (unless by making a couple of patterns of various stages of routing the grooves that would make the petals stand out, then you could just stain it)........
But my favorite idea that I came up with was a beautiful swan with it's head bent down like you often see pics of them on webshots.com. Then, maybe use some white milk paint..........well, thinking out loud again. I think the ladies would love something elegant like that, don't you?

SandyT · 07-02-2006, 08:38 PM

Mike,
I looked briefly at HD for that polyurethane spar varnish and couldn't see it. I might have missed it, as I was in a hurry to leave. Is there somewhere special you have to order it from?
Thank you for letting me know.

**Mike** · 07-03-2006, 01:23 AM

Sandy, the spar varnish you will find at HD is by Minwax, green can I think.

SandyT · 07-03-2006, 11:16 AM

Mike,
I accidentally typed HD and I meant Lowe's. But now that I know where to get it I'll go to HD.
Thanks!

reible · 07-14-2006, 12:07 AM

So do we have any updates on the cane projects?

I was off for a while but now that I'm back I'll say that I went a different route so to speak on the finish. In general for things that are not exposed to weather or wet conditions that people will handle I like it to feel like wood and not plastic. I go for as natural finish as I can, in the case of the cane I sealed it, stained it, used antique oil then a hard wax. Now this is just me but that is the feel I like, and no it will not hold up as well but it will get a used look that I also like to see... It is after all a personal preference.

Ed

SandyT · 07-15-2006, 02:42 PM

reible,
I hope all is well with you. I read your post before it was edited. I appreciate all your posts, especially these about canes.
I had a setback due to something jagged on my Sears (I won't say what I'm thinking) router tabletop and all my canes had nice grooves right where I was using the router to do the inside of the handles of the canes. I have woodburned some just like the wheat design on my own saw and have purchased some of the fake crystals since I couldn't find saw screws anywhere and though I was going to make my own glass inserts, I found that all my beads I'm making need to be annealed first. So, since canes have a habit of falling, I couldn't use these ones I make for safety reasons (not having a kiln to use...........yet).
So far I have two pine and 4 oak canes cut and routed and sanded immensely. I believe I got all the scratches sanded out now and the problem fixed on the router tabletop.
I already purchased some "aged oak" stain and the spar varnish to use on them when it's time.
Thank you for all your help and wonderful posts, and I hope you don't leave the forum.

SandyT · 08-26-2006, 11:03 PM

I have great news! I gave away one of my saw canes as a birthday gift and I received a thank you note this week in the mail which said "Wow" on the outside of the card and inside it said that the beautiful saw cane was truly a work of art. I owe that to all the wonderful assistance I received here.
Thank you!

Visteonguy · 08-28-2006, 12:12 AM

Glad to hear that ya got some canes done, Sandy,,, and also got the wonderful comments from the recipient of your gifts,,, Isn't it a great feeling, when they like your projects that much ?
How ever .............you forgot the most important part,,,,,, ya didn't show "US" the canes,,, where's the pictures ????

06-30-2006, 05:10 PM	#21
Mike Senior Moderator Supreme Forum King Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Detroit, Michigan USA Posts: 3,372 View Mike's Gallery	Report This Post! Sandy, any project that will be exposed to the weather is best finished with a polyurethane spar varnish. This can be applied over your paint. __________________ Mike Please edit your profile with a name and location so we can better assist you.
	Top - Reply with Quote

07-02-2006, 11:12 AM	#22
Visteonguy Registered User Forum Geek Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 204 View Visteonguy's Gallery	Report This Post! Hi Sandy, I cut a lot of canes off at about 33 inches, ( Thats measured from the surface that touches the palm of your hand, to the tip of the wood and then when you attach the rubber end, it finishes off close to 34 inches. They seem to fit a lot of people. What you might do is make a few of them and keep some of them long so if you do come across someone extra tall, you can just hand em one of your finished canes and if they seem to think that its too short,, then grab one of your uncut canes, and cut that one to suit the person. As far as sanding,, I just sand them till they feel pretty smooth and apply the finish, But I use several heavy coats of polyurthane, so I did not sand them up to a fine grit of paper, maybe only 100 grit. If you are using another finish that does not cover as thick as Poly,,, you may have to go higher in your sanding grits.. However, I guess I should say that I sprayed several coats of poly and after spraying about 3 good wet coats,, I did wet sand them a bit and applied maybe 3 more coats, and wet sanded them again,, lightly,, and applied one more nice wet coat,, by then,, they were getting pretty smooth anyway and very glossy. And I aggree with Mike,, about putting poly over painted wood, I made some signs awhile back and painted some parts of the signs with just regular black paint out of a spay can, and then sprayed a nice heavy coat of poly over the whole sign,,, came out real nice,, so when I get a chance to make a your idea of a cane to resemble a garden hose,, I am thinking I will paint it green and then coat it with poly to give it a nice high gloss to set it off. __________________ Terry It seems like every where I go,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, there I am...
	Top - Reply with Quote

07-02-2006, 12:45 PM	#23
SandyT Registered User Forum Geek Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 484 View SandyT's Gallery	Report This Post! Terry, Thanks again for all your fine information (and you, too, Mike). I'm sorry for asking so many questions, but it's my insecurity when making something new. However, it's all helping me so much and the canes are looking mighty fine. Last night I was working with the 100 grit but still couldn't get some burn marks off that I got mostly because I was moving the oak too slowly around the roundover bit. Anyways, I got my Dremel out and that little drum sander took the burns off for me so I slept well after that. These saw canes are so great, but it's always fun to try to create some different version of things. I was trying to come up with something on paper a couple nights ago, and the rose thing looks really complicated to me with most of it's beauty only accomplished by the painting of it (unless by making a couple of patterns of various stages of routing the grooves that would make the petals stand out, then you could just stain it)........ But my favorite idea that I came up with was a beautiful swan with it's head bent down like you often see pics of them on webshots.com. Then, maybe use some white milk paint..........well, thinking out loud again. I think the ladies would love something elegant like that, don't you? __________________ undefined
	Top - Reply with Quote

07-02-2006, 08:38 PM	#24
SandyT Registered User Forum Geek Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 484 View SandyT's Gallery	Report This Post! Mike, I looked briefly at HD for that polyurethane spar varnish and couldn't see it. I might have missed it, as I was in a hurry to leave. Is there somewhere special you have to order it from? Thank you for letting me know. __________________ undefined
	Top - Reply with Quote

07-03-2006, 01:23 AM	#25
Mike Senior Moderator Supreme Forum King Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Detroit, Michigan USA Posts: 3,372 View Mike's Gallery	Report This Post! Sandy, the spar varnish you will find at HD is by Minwax, green can I think. __________________ Mike Please edit your profile with a name and location so we can better assist you.
	Top - Reply with Quote

07-03-2006, 11:16 AM	#26
SandyT Registered User Forum Geek Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 484 View SandyT's Gallery	Report This Post! Mike, I accidentally typed HD and I meant Lowe's. But now that I know where to get it I'll go to HD. Thanks! __________________ undefined
	Top - Reply with Quote

07-14-2006, 12:07 AM	#27
reible Registered User Supreme Forum King Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 1,703 View reible's Gallery	Report This Post! So do we have any updates on the cane projects? I was off for a while but now that I'm back I'll say that I went a different route so to speak on the finish. In general for things that are not exposed to weather or wet conditions that people will handle I like it to feel like wood and not plastic. I go for as natural finish as I can, in the case of the cane I sealed it, stained it, used antique oil then a hard wax. Now this is just me but that is the feel I like, and no it will not hold up as well but it will get a used look that I also like to see... It is after all a personal preference. Ed __________________ Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got. Last edited by reible; 07-15-2006 at 12:06 AM.
	Top - Reply with Quote

07-15-2006, 02:42 PM	#28
SandyT Registered User Forum Geek Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 484 View SandyT's Gallery	Report This Post! reible, I hope all is well with you. I read your post before it was edited. I appreciate all your posts, especially these about canes. I had a setback due to something jagged on my Sears (I won't say what I'm thinking) router tabletop and all my canes had nice grooves right where I was using the router to do the inside of the handles of the canes. I have woodburned some just like the wheat design on my own saw and have purchased some of the fake crystals since I couldn't find saw screws anywhere and though I was going to make my own glass inserts, I found that all my beads I'm making need to be annealed first. So, since canes have a habit of falling, I couldn't use these ones I make for safety reasons (not having a kiln to use...........yet). So far I have two pine and 4 oak canes cut and routed and sanded immensely. I believe I got all the scratches sanded out now and the problem fixed on the router tabletop. I already purchased some "aged oak" stain and the spar varnish to use on them when it's time. Thank you for all your help and wonderful posts, and I hope you don't leave the forum. __________________ undefined
	Top - Reply with Quote

08-26-2006, 11:03 PM	#29
SandyT Registered User Forum Geek Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 484 View SandyT's Gallery	Report This Post! I have great news! I gave away one of my saw canes as a birthday gift and I received a thank you note this week in the mail which said "Wow" on the outside of the card and inside it said that the beautiful saw cane was truly a work of art. I owe that to all the wonderful assistance I received here. Thank you! __________________ undefined
	Top - Reply with Quote

08-28-2006, 12:12 AM	#30
Visteonguy Registered User Forum Geek Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 204 View Visteonguy's Gallery	Report This Post! Glad to hear that ya got some canes done, Sandy,,, and also got the wonderful comments from the recipient of your gifts,,, Isn't it a great feeling, when they like your projects that much ? How ever .............you forgot the most important part,,,,,, ya didn't show "US" the canes,,, where's the pictures ???? __________________ Terry It seems like every where I go,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, there I am...
	Top - Reply with Quote

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode