How to make a Mini White Cane out of wood

Step 1 is of course purchasing a blank wood dowel. I have found the 3/8” X 48” from Home Depot (item # 145923) cost in Washington is $1.24 each.

 

Step 2 is purchasing a 1” wood ball with a 3/8” hole drilled in it. There are many different items available. If you are going to make just a few a hobby store is your best bet. I have purchased a large bag of balls from Amazon (item # ASIN #BO76KQKV3M) cost for bag of 50 count is $28.99.

 

To begin your construction you will need some wood glue. I pour the glue into a flat surface so the tip of the dowel can be rolled in the glue and the wood ball is then placed on the end of the dowel. (*NOTE glue the ball on the opposite end of where the price tag is placed as this tag is almost impossible to remove and it can be covered by the handle later) set dowel and ball aside to dry.

 

Next step is to begin spray painting the ball and dowel white. Brushing the white works just as well, begin by painting the ball first then leave a small space (where the red will go later) paint toward the handle and leave around 5” unpainted for the handle later.

 

***Note: at this point it is up to you as to how you get the dowel to dry. I have a rope hung in my shop with 10 bull clips attached for my production work. You could stand then up against something where the ball isn’t touching anything and let it dry that way, with the ball up.

 

This next step will complete the cane. First measure up the cane 6” from the ball. This is where you will paint the bright Red from your mark to the ball, I use a water base enamel for easy clean-up and a one inch foam brush.

 

Your final step is placing a 3/8” electrical shrink wrap (Black) also purchased from Amazon item SKU #wirefy – DWT - 9.5 for a 50’ roll. You will cut this wrap into 6” pieces for the handle. Cost for the 50’ roll is $28.00 (* Note: if you plan only building a small number of mini canes contact me and I will share your quantity for fifty cents each and mail them to you)

 

You will now slide the 6” shrink wrap handle over the end of the dowel covering the price tag and use a 1000 watt heat gun to shrink the wrap to complete your mini White cane.

 

Chairman of Grandpa’s White Cane Project Lion Bill Scholl

Cell 360-520-6802, Email billscholl134@gmail.com