Questions about Hardening Rattan

[Caius705]

So, let me start by saying this isn't for SCA or EMP. I know both prohibit hardening rattan with glues or equivalents.

I'm interested in taking some lengths of rattan, both sword length and polearm length and making them significantly stiffer.
I've heard you can do this with glues or polymers but I've never tried.

Does anyone know methods or materials that work for this?
Thank y'all.

[Konstantin the Red]

That being the case, what rattan properties are you trying to keep, which ones to enhance, and what is the ultimate purpose of stiffening the dried stem of this climbing palm?

Mega-stiffened rattan could let you make bunk beds from the stuff?

If you are willing to go reinforced polymer, Cold Steel sells such implements -- poles and wasters -- already. They are extremely tough and stiff.

[losthelm]

The bark or outer skin can interfere with the rattan wicking in titebone III glues or epoxy resin
Using vacuum should help improve things.
Its not much different than stabilizing a piece of wood for knife or pistol scales.
Scale of the project is a concern when it comes to building a vacuum chamber, pump, and volume of resin needed.

The results will be heavier and much less flex.

[Caius705]

Thanks for the advice, guys.

Was looking to stiffen it up, so that it works better for HMB halberds. As is, it whips way too much. It's hard sourcing good, split and cured timber for halberd hafts. Anything that's saw cut or a poor wood tends to shatter dramatically and quickly.

Rattan has the longevity but it tends to whip too much.

[Johann ColdIron]

Thanks for the advice, guys.

Was looking to stiffen it up, so that it works better for HMB halberds. As is, it whips way too much. It's hard sourcing good, split and cured timber for halberd hafts. Anything that's saw cut or a poor wood tends to shatter dramatically and quickly.

Rattan has the longevity but it tends to whip too much.

Have you tried Ash?

It is a traditional haft for axes and other shafted tools, at least in the US. Ideally you would rive (split) it green and then let it air dry in shape then drawknife/spokeshave it to final form.

[Caius705]

Ash is one of the ones I'd like to try.

Since BOTN is about a month away, I won't have time to give it a go before I leave.

[Gregoire de Lyon]

I used one of these as a haft for a spear I took on a boar hunt. It did the job.

https://www.sherrilltree.com/peavey-ash-wood-pole-8ft

[Gregoire de Lyon]

I'm not familiar with the BOTN rules, but if the haft doesn't have to be visibly "wood" this stuff will turn it into the equivalent of a steel pipe. It is crazy how hard this stuff gets.

https://www.amazon.com/FiberFix-Repair- ... KlsQjEk8kY

[Caius705]

Gregoire,

I'm going to try that, it looks like it ought to work perfectly for what I need.