Rattan Canes
Natural Rattan Canes
PROS
Strong.
Flexible.
Withstands high levels of impact.
Easy to clean.
Natural material.
CONS
Needs to be treated & cared for.
Recent prices have seen a spike increase
Bend if not stored correctly.
Keep away from heat, it makes them brittle.
Rattan is a long natural material which has similar properties to bamboo. The main difference Rattan has over bamboo is that Rattan has a solid core compared to hollow bamboo. It grows very quickly and used as an alternative to tropical wood for various products.
Rattan canes are the long standing traditional go to for carrying out caning in corporeal punishment, mid 1900 school discipline and still used for domestic correction on children in some countries. It's a material easily obtainable that can withstand impact due to its springy natural ability and resistance to shocks. Rattan is a nice material to hold and use for caning sessions compared to synthetic materials. It also brings some people back to their old school days which can cause emotional flashbacks.
Rattan canes are used in various thicknesses the same as synthetic how ever, unlike synthetic canes, Rattan is only approximate sizes due to the material naturally grown. Thinner canes around 3-4mm tend to be more stingy and cause cuts easily. They are very flexible and the longer lengths are hard to control hitting their target. Very useful for the hands or feet. Such places are easy to damage with heavier canes but are very easy to sting with a lasting impression, though thin canes can be used on the bum they are only effective as how much padding the individual has on their rear or through multiple strokes in a small area.
Medium thickness canes 5-6mm are more stiff yet still very flexible. They can be used at longer lengths to allow a greater swing and cause bruising with a heavier thud impact.
Thicker canes 7-9mm are heavy canes, they still have flexibility in them but hit very hard. These canes can be made to give a harder impact by letting the cane soak up water. This makes it heaver which greatly increases the impact ability causing much more physical pain. Placing one end of a Rattan cane in water causing it to soak every couple months also preserves their flexibility and strength to endure impacts. The best way to do this would be to suspend the cane with a peg or bulldog clip into a cup of water. This will help stop the cane from bending.
Its common to add rubber grip to Rattan canes so there is less chance of slipping for heavy cane sessions, but skin to wood feels nicer to use and the over all feel of Rattan I personally prefer over synthetic. By soaking the cane shaft in water it is possible to bend one end then dry it out to keep the same. This makes a easy hanging hook that you can often see on canes used in schools.
Since Rattan is a natural material, if i'ts being used on multiple play partners or even just to help keep it clean, I would recommend to seal the wood. Sealing the wood involves multiple layers of linseed oil. This makes it less likely to taking on board bodily fluids such as sweat. This also helps with keeping your canes smooth and easier to clean with a none alcohol or bleach related cleaner.
Never stand a Rattan can against a wall at an angle. The cane will start to bend then retain its shape making it impossible to use. If this happens you need to soak the hole cane for several hours. You then strap it straight and tight to a broom stick for a couple of days until it dries out.
With any natural material toy, check the condition before and after use for cracks and splits.
Common ways to store canes are hanging them or by using a tube with any added weight to the cane such as handles or grips to be head down so the cane sits on it.
