Replies

1. 
   forestgirl | Oct 11, 2006 06:28am | #1

   John, a fine idea.  I've resized your pictures, so that people on dial-up can take a look today (instead of next week <grin>).  Also, a gentle suggestion:  be sure you spell "heart" correctly.

   Smaller attachments follow......

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   

   
2. 
   Alan Az | Oct 11, 2006 08:16am | #2

   As a veteran who uses a cane, let me commend you for your time and generosity.  A lot of the vets who use the VA cannot afford a cane, and every dollar the VA saves with generous donations like this allows them to help more people with the money they do have.

   Thanks

   Alan

   Started Learning, Still Learning, and still don't know enough!

1. 
   dgreen | Oct 11, 2006 10:27am | #3

   I agree with evereything you said except for the part about then using the money saved to help more vets, the money the government saves because of your generous donation will be used to create more vets in need of canes. I recommend you continue to make more canes for vets and anyone else who needs them but I would urge them to not mention to the government that the good citizens are taking up the slack.
   Since the house is on fire let us warm ourselves. ~Italian Proverb

1. 
   JeffHeath | Oct 12, 2006 02:51am | #9

   dgreen

   I usually enjoy reading your posts, and find myself admiring your wit of pen (or computer keyboard) almost always, even when I don't agree with you politically.  However,  I think that your response here, during this fine, fine message, is completely misguided.  I consider myself extremely patriotic, and had a case of goosebumps when I read the original post here.  However, when I got down to your response, my nice little "patriotic buzz" was completely killed. 

   Please, don't take it the wrong way from me, but there's no need for a political view point during this wonderful, heartfelt thread.

   Just my .02.  Rip me if you want, but lets not have this one be forced over to the Cafe.  It's just too good.

   Going back to making sawdust

   Jeff

1. 
   dgreen | Oct 12, 2006 05:40am | #11

   I have no desire to "rip you" as you put it, I like what he is doing for the vets. I have a beautiful chunk of purple heart that has been waiting for something special, I know an Iwo Jima vet who would appreciate the symbolism and he certainly can make use of a cane and thanks to the OP's suggestion I will make him one with pride.

   That being said, I wish you would get your patriotic buzz from helping ensure no more good men and women uneccessarily get maimed to the point where they need wooden walking aids.

   I cannot think of the many thousands of returning wounded and not say something about the madness, I did not consider it to be political.

   Here's hoping for the day when there are no people needing our canes.
   Since the house is on fire let us warm ourselves. ~Italian Proverb

1. 
   JeffHeath | Oct 12, 2006 06:33am | #12

   Nice of you to reply.  I'll discuss my feelings about this matter with you in another thread,  at a different time.  Take it easy.

   I'm sure you're friend will appreciate the cane, as I'm sure all would.

   Jeff

2. 
   dgreen | Oct 12, 2006 07:52am | #13

   I'd like to do something a little better looking for the bottom than the standard crutch tip. Any ideas for something non-skid and good looking?
   Since the house is on fire let us warm ourselves. ~Italian Proverb

3. 
   JeffHeath | Oct 12, 2006 02:43pm | #14

   I've never made a cane before, but a guy I know pretty well unfortunately has many custom made for him.  He was in a motorcycle accident that nearly claimed his life.  I'll check with him this weekend, and check out his collection, and see how the bottoms are.  I'll report back next week if I discover anything useful.

   Jeff

4. 
   nikkiwood | Oct 12, 2006 04:19pm | #15

   I betcha somebody somewhere sells a screw-on rubber tip that could be fitted to the bottom of a homemade cane. But I am guessing most cane makers use rubber tips so the cane can be cut for a custom fit, and easily replaced when necessary. I did a Google search on "walking cane tips"and I found only the slip on type.********************************************************
   "It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."

   John Wooden 1910-

5. 
   JeffHeath | Oct 12, 2006 04:27pm | #16

   I seem to remember one of my friend's canes having a brass or bronze-cast hoof-like bottom with 3 toes, almost like a ball and claw foot, with  rubber padding on the bottom.  He smacked me with it one time, and remember seeing the detail pretty well, lol.  I'll have to ask him who makes them for him, and hunt down the source.

   Jeff

6. 
   nikkiwood | Oct 12, 2006 04:50pm | #18

   Bingo.........Toby found a screw on tip (second link), which would work if you can find a hanger bolt with the right threading (for the tip) that you could then screw into the end of the cane. A recessed bumper (first link) would work too, but I would guess it is some kind of hard plastic, and therefore might be to slippery for a cane. But I seem to remember they are sometimes made of a softer, rubber like material as well.********************************************************
   "It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."

   John Wooden 1910-

7. 
   tkb | Oct 12, 2006 04:33pm | #17

   Perhaps a threaded insert of some sort - http://www.rubber-group.com/bump.html
   http://www.summithut.com/catalog/remap/product.asp/pfid/2048/-Toby

8. 
   pzgren | Oct 12, 2006 05:59pm | #19

   Here are a couple of things that might be of use:

   http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=44075&cat=1,250,43243

   http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=40009&cat=1,250,43243Tschüß!

   Mit freundlichen holzbearbeitungischen Grüßen aus dem Land der Rio Grande!!

   James

9. 
   dgreen | Oct 13, 2006 02:31am | #22

   Thanks to all for the suggestions, I'm going to go with pzgren's second link.

   http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=40009&cat=1,250,43243

   I think the brass and purple heart will look good together.
   Since the house is on fire let us warm ourselves. ~Italian Proverb

10. 
    mapleman | Oct 12, 2006 07:01pm | #20

    Hi Don,

    Pardon me for butting in on your and Jeff's discussion, but I seem to remember someone, I think Rockler, selling cane supplies, like handles, tips, etc. I remember seeing a nice black rubber tip that screws onto the end of the cane. I can't seem to find it in the current rockler catalog, maybe it was Lee Valley, but I can't seem to find it in there either. I know one of the major tool catalogs have them.

    Lee

11. 
    Sequim Tool | Oct 13, 2006 02:23am | #21

    Veteran Day is coming soon Nov 11. I hope all of you can have some canes made and will post the photos of your Purple Heart wood canes for Purple Heart Veterans.

    If you have a woodworking club make them as a project. If you teach have your kids make some and it will get them thinking before running off to enlist.

    Thank you

    John

    Edited 10/12/2006 8:09 pm ET by Sequim Tool

3. 
   tomg | Oct 11, 2006 07:50pm | #4

   Outstanding - simply outstanding! I can't think of a more thoughtful contribution that will certainly be appreciated. As a disabled veteran with a pair of Purple Hearts, let me simply say "Thank you" for your wonderful gesture. It makes me want to get a lathe and take up turning - and that is saying a lot!
   Regards,
   -Tom

1. 
   Sequim Tool | Oct 11, 2006 09:24pm | #5

   You can just cut them out on your band saw and round them up by hand or on your router table. Use scrap wood. Just make a lots of them. 

1. 
   jarhead | Oct 12, 2006 12:25am | #6

   That is awesome! Doing something you truly enjoy and giving to a great cause! Kudos to you.....

                                            Semper Fi

1. 
   Sequim Tool | Oct 12, 2006 12:49am | #7

   I just finished reading The Pirate Coast by Richard Zacks About the first Marines of 1805. I was in the Navy but was send Marine boot camp for weapon training before we shipped out to DaNang in 65 and again in 66. I too am a DVA

   John

   Edited 10/11/2006 5:51 pm ET by Sequim Tool

1. 
   jarhead | Oct 12, 2006 02:40am | #8

   I just finished reading The Pirate Coast by Richard Zacks About the first Marines of 1805

   Well......The suspense is kill'in me. Was the book any good? My dad put in twenty years. He was in Nam 66 and then 68. Started out a private then through the ranks. CWO, 2nd LT, 1st Lt, then retired a Captain. I remember him sometimes working up to three jobs to keep us going. Not the same today!

                                        Semper Fi

2. 
   Sequim Tool | Oct 12, 2006 04:43am | #10

   Yes it's a must read for every Jarhead.

   john