Advice on treating a whole cane handle

[Buller]

I need some advice please.. I have just purchased a length of whole cane from a cane wholesaler. I plan to turn it into a handle for a landing net. Is it okay to sand the outside (enamel) lightly to create a smooth surface? I’m assuming that a good marine varnish will fine for the varnishing. Does anyone have any good ideas for a grip?

[Hovis]

viewtopic.php?f=91&t=10078

Have a look here Buller. I just used external varnish.

[Reedling]

I have some old flamed cane and a wood handled landing net for coarse fishing, they have nothing on the handle as a grip. Funnily enough my old Trout nets all have handles of some shape or form...I wonder why that is? If I were making a landing net pole and wanted a grip, I would probably wind on a handle of rope/twine.

[Buller]

Many thanks guys - I'll keep you posted!

[Buller]

Geez, I'll eventually get this right (I hope). The last cane pole I acquired split of its own accord while I left it drying on my garage roof. Today, while sneaking some time off to bird watch, I stumbled across a great, dried out pole. I took it home and set to work over a gas flame. I'd just got it looking great and almost straight and then I decided on one last gentle (or so I thought) bend to get it dead straight and.....crack! And a few choice expletives later, and I'm back to square one.
Any advice?!!

[Hovis]

Yes don't try and get it so straight next time!

Really though on a more serious note I’d try and do the bending whilst there is still moisture in the cane as I have found it to be more flexible at that stage. I then “chase” the rest of the moisture as per my PM.

[Buller]

Thanks Hovis, I'm going to give that a bash