If you’re a person who requires a cane life can get difficult. You always have the cane in one hand and that makes it impossible to hold or carry certain other things. And if it’s raining, well, that’s even worse. A cane in one hand, an umbrella in the other – life can be extremely challenging. Sometimes, when you carry a cane, you only need it in certain instances. If that’s the case for you you’ll be happy to know that it’s really easy to make an umbrella and a cane that’s an all-in-one helper. When you don’t need the umbrella, you can use it as a cane. When you need an umbrella, the cane instantly becomes that instead.
Since an umbrella is generally much less sturdy than a cane, the average person purchases a bulky, wooden or metal cane. But if you buy a sturdy umbrella it can be used as a cane without you worrying that it won’t hold up under normal use. The main problem with using an umbrella as a cane is that it isn’t tall enough. So, add a new tip to an existing umbrella and you’ll have a cane, too.
Measure around the tip of the umbrella to get the diameter. Visit a nearby home improvement or hardware store and purchase a piece of copper tube in a diameter that will fit over the tip of the umbrella. A half-inch diameter is a size that will work with nearly any umbrella. If you purchase the pipe at a large home improvement store they’ll cut it to the length you need at no charge. In addition to the small section of pipe, you’ll need a rubber cap for one end of the pipe. Buy a wooden dowel – the same diameter as the copper tubing – and have it cut to size, too, if needed.
Decide on the height you want for the cane and subtract the length of the umbrella. As you measure the umbrella, don’t measure the tip. After subtracting, take the leftover number, and have the copper tubing cut to that length. With the copper tube slid over the umbrella tip, the dowel should be cut to reach from the tip inside the tube, to the very edge of the tube.
Clean the outside of the umbrella tip well then use JBWeld, or a similar product, to glue the tube (painted or not) over the tip of the umbrella. Slide the dowel piece into the tube to give the new tip more strength. Place the rubber cap on the end of the tube and use the umbrella as a cane – or an umbrella.