Repairing a walking stick

[paulchapman]

I always feel a little apprehensive when someone asks me to repair something that is of great sentimental value and irreplaceable. Such was the case with my Mother-in-Law's walking stick. It had belonged to her mother and originated in Ceylon many years ago.

Unfortunately, the head was broken



It was made from ebony and ivory and the head, in the form of a dog, had come adrift. Others had tried to repair it before me



It was a bit of a mess and was split as well. Here's the stem which was also split



I decided the only solution was a new head - but I've never done anything like that before

Up at Ally Pally a couple of weeks ago I bought a piece of ebony



I planed this, drilled a hole to take the stem, then drilled it again for a dowel



In order to fit the stem to the head, I fitted it to a block of wood.



This enabled me to plane it flush without breakout



It also enabled me to clamp on my Record 148 dowelling jig to drill the hole for the dowel



Next the part I was really nervous about - shaping the head. I started with rasps



Then moved on to a scraper



All the remainder of the shaping was carried out with this scraper. It eventually became difficult to hold the job in the vice, so I drilled out a piece of narrow wood and held it with a dowel



Anyway, I finished it tonight. I'm reasonably pleased with it. In fact I think he looks so cute I've named him Bob



Hope the Mother-in-Law likes Bob.

Cheers

Paul

[engineerone]

i'll take it paul if mum in law doesn't like it.

remember to keep the other bits though.

looks very nice mate, by you are multi talented.

paul

[opener]

Very interesting Paul, thanks for taking the trouble.

Cheers
Malcolm

[dom]

Well done Paul, I'm certain she will be very pleased.
I know you must be feeling good.


P.S. what glue did you decide on ?

[paulchapman]

dom said:

P.S. what glue did you decide on ?

Went with my normal PVA. I think it will be ok. As the stem is fitted into a recess in the handle as well as being dowelled, I think it will be quite strong. Hope so or I'll be out of the will.....

Cheers

Paul

[engineerone]

again ;D

paul

[paulchapman]

engineerone said:

again ;D

Actually, I don't think I was ever in it....... ;D

[jaco]

Nice job Paul.


At least you didnt give her a converted broomstick.

[jfc]

Very smart ! Carving is one thing i wish i had the time to try .

[Dave S]

Nice one, Paul.

You taking commissions? My Mum was dropping hints about a couple of broken ones last year. ;D ;D

Don't think they were as nice as your Mum's one, though.

Dave

[Alf]

Proper job, Paul. Dunno why you were worried about the shaping - you seem to be a bit of a natural, 'specially given that ebony isn't the easiest to start with!

Cheers, Alf

[colincott]

Well Done Paul

Great job and as Alf has said Ebony is not the easiest to shape.

By the way, why did you replace the head and not re-fix it as it looked ok?

[paulchapman]

colincott said:

By the way, why did you replace the head and not re-fix it as it looked ok?

Hi Colin,

It doesn't show up in the photographs, but the head had a split running all around it along the length. Given the amount of leverage that it is subject to, I was concerned that it would give way and cause my Mother-in Law to have a fall. She is now rather frail and I couldn't risk her having an accident.

Thanks everyone for the nice comments

Cheers

Paul

[Alf]

paulchapman said:

Mother-in Law <snippage> I couldn't risk her having an accident.

Presumably she'd have to come and stay...? ;D

[paulchapman]

That's not funny.......

[craigmarshall]

That's a really nice job.

I think I'd have made an absolute mess of the carving. I'd like to give it a serious try one day, but I'm not ready for it yet! I need practice cutting straight lines with real hand tools before curved 3D lines

Craig

[paulchapman]

Thanks Craig. It was my first attempt at something like that and I was quite apprehensive but, having done it, it wasn't that difficult. I found that with the scraper, with a really sharp edge (but no hook), I could take very controlled, fine shavings. Give it a go

Cheers

Paul