Handstand Canes

• Handstand canes are useful for improving your press up (without jumping) handstand and flying hand-to-hand partner acrobatics. Also useful for any hand balance postures and transitions.

An added advantage is that they cause less strain on the wrists as handstanding on a flat surface.

These canes are easily built, low cost and transportable.

Wood

• 740mm x 60mm x 80mm
• 880mm x 47mm x 20mm

Screws

• (x20) 5mm X 50mm

Canes

• (x2) 0.5 inches (12.5mm) water pipes cast iron
  • 150mm -----> 28cm canes (total height)
  • 200mm -----> 33cm canes
  • 300mm -----> 43cm canes

Flanges

• (x4) 0.5 inches (12.5mm) water pipe cast iron

Tools

1. Electric drill
2. Drill bit for wood
3. Electric screwdriver/ Screwdriver
4. Plumbers' wrench
5. Vice
6. Thin sheet of wood
7. Pencil/ Industrial white marker
8. Ruler/ Measuring stick
9. Saw / Electric wood saw
10. Sandpaper
11. Grease

Optional tools

1. Electric sander
2. Varnish/ Linseed oil

1. Straight cut the 750mm wood into 500mm and two 120mm pieces
2. Straight cut the 400mm wood into two equal pieces of 200mm

1. Mark the centre point of the thinner wooden pieces (legs).
2. Mark the centre point of the thicker wooden piece (crossbar).
3. Place the two legs onto the ends of the crossbar so that their centres overlap.
4. Drill two narrow holes into the legs and into the crossbar at lease 1 cm from the edge of the wood.
5. Screw two longer screws (50mm) to attach each leg to the crossbar.

1. Place a flange on top of the small wooden block in the centre.
2. Mark out the holes with a pencil.
3. Remove the flange.
4. Drill the holes with a drill bit narrower than the screws your are using and to three quarters the depth of the screw.
5. Place the flange back on the wooden block.
6. Screw in the screws to their maximum tightness.
7. Attach the water pipe to the flange by hand.
8. Clamp the assembled cane into a heavy duty vice tightly, making sure to protect the wooden block, by placing a thing sheet of wood between the vice and the surface of the wooden block.
9. Using the plumbers' wrench, tighten the water pipe very tightly to the flange.

1. Smear grease into the remaining flanges.
2. Attach the flanges by hand to the other end of the cane assembly.
3. Secure this flange in the vice.
4. Smear grease onto the threads before turning the cane assembly using the wooden block by hand, attaching it as firmly as possible.

1. Place the base on the floor and place hands symmetrically onto it as if your were going into a handstand.
2. Mark the centre point of your hand using a pencil on the base.
3. Place the cane assemblies directly over the marked points on the base.
4. Mark your cane blocks "R"(right) and "L" (left), lower flanges "R" and "L" and also the corresponding "R" and "L" on the base.
5. Mark the mounting holes of the lower flange onto the base.
6. Label one of the holes on the base and also on the flange using an industrial marker with an "X".
7. Remove the lower flanges from the canes.
8. Drill the mounting holes to three quarters the depth of the screw using a bit more narrow than the screw.
9. Place the corresponding "R" and "L" flanges over the corresponding "R" and "L" parts of the base. Ensure that the "X" holes on each flange are correctly aligned with the "X" on the base.
10. Screw in the screws to fix the lower flanges in place.
11. Reattach tightly the "R" and "L" cane assemblies to the flanges to make sure that the two blocks are parallel when hand tightened.

1. Using a pencil, measure 35mm from the front of blocks. Draw a straight line through this point parallel to the edge.
2. Measure 12mm deep from the front edge of the blocks. Draw a straight line through this point parallel to the edge.
3. Draw a straight line where these lines meet the edge of the wood.
4. Remove this wedge section using a saw, by placing the block in a vice.
5. Using sandpaper or a file make the surfaces relatively smooth and splinter free. Be careful not to sand the blocks too much, as some friction can help with maintaining grip when in handstand.
6. Coat with varnish or linseed oil to waterproof the handstand canes.