Cane Making
Soak the bamboo in the bath for several hours which will allow you to straighten it.
Cut into lengths.
Swing the cane, using each end to see where the handle should be. There is definitely a wrong and right end. Usually, but not always, use the bigger end for the handle.
Sand the end of the cane into a round, and sand the shaft where the "bumps" are.
If you're going to stain and varnish it - and there's a lot of disagreement about whether canes should be coated - you can use pretty much any wood stain you like. I normally buy wood stain in B&Q, but it can be messy stuff, and it needs to dry overnight. Since I usually apply about six coats of varnish, a cane isn't exactly a quick-and-dirty toy for me. Polyurethane is much quicker because it's fast-drying, but all polyurethane finishes have something of a tendency to flake, and this is really exacerbated when you're dealing with a flexible cane. Be sure to have all your sanding done before you stain and varnish, and round the striking tip as well.
Wrap the handle end with tape (insulating tape), and then leather. Using double sided sticky tape will help the leather stick in place. This is where your artistic ability come in to play.
For grips, if you're not a leatherworker and don't plan to be one, you can fashion a simple handle made of tool dip. I usually wrap the handles with cord first in order to provide some traction.
Or: wrap the handle end with string, for texture, then dip it in PVA glue. Repeat when dry if desired. (You can also use Tool Dip, that rubbery stuff that coats the handles of pliers. It can be bought at some hardware stores, in cans like paint. And it can be used to coat all sorts of things you want a smooth finish on.)
