Duck Cane Costume Prop
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When Halloween season rolled around last year, I received a request to help with a costume. The pants of a store-bought ensemble were too long and needed to be taken up. I don’t love doing alterations, especially on slick, gold fabric, but I figured I could handle it since it was just a hem.
In addition to fixing the pants, there was a request to borrow a cane. Preferably, one with a duck head.
I have quite a few costume canes, but after a deep dive into the cane bin in the attic, I came up empty.
So, I decided to make one. How hard could it be?
It’s easier than you think, so let’s get started.
Let's Make A Duck Cane
We will need:
Duck head with screw-on handle
3/4″ wooden dowel (our cane is 36″ tall, but you can make any length you like)
Threaded rod that fits into your duck head handle
Drill with a drill bit slightly smaller than your rod
E6000 or other strong adhesive
Paint
Clear coat (optional)
Chair leg felt pad or cap that fits your dowel (optional)
The hardest part of pulling this prop together is locating the duck head. Rather than run around to antique stores and thrift shops, I opted to see what eBay had to offer.
There is quite a variety to choose from, and if speed is more important than budget, you can also find vintage canes perfect for costuming.
I snagged this simple specimen for our project and anxiously awaited its arrival.
Ducks, Dowels, and Drills
With everything in hand, first mark the center of one end of the dowel. This mark is where you will drill the hole.
You will need to drill far enough into the dowel so that when you screw the duck on the opposite end, no threads are showing between the cane and the duck head.
To ensure you drill the proper depth, screw the threaded rod into the duck head handle.
Lay the handle next to the dowel and mark the depth of the rod.
Insert the drill bit into your drill and line up the bit length with the mark on your dowel.
You will want to steady your dowel before drilling, so use a clamp or a second set of hands to hold the dowel.
Drill slowly to ensure the hole is straight and centered.
Once you’re satisfied with the fit, add some adhesive to the hole in the dowel, insert the rod, and let it dry.
Now, you can customize your duck cane however you wish. For this quick version, I gave the dowel a couple of coats of black spray paint, followed by a protective clear coat.
Finally, screw the duck head onto the rod, and add a felt chair leg pad to protect the bottom if desired.
Just Ducky
This project was fun to make and came together quicker than I imagined. I hope this easy prop will spark some ideas next time you need a costume cane.
Until next time – keep creating.