Thanks Scotsman, I really appreciate the kind comment! Charlie, I just built the block up by laying burnt matchsticks like bricks. I started with a sheet of waxed paper over some plywood and used wood glue as the mortar for the joints. After each layer of matches, I draped the wax paper over that layer and placed a board with something heavy on it for the clamping. Once dried, I pulled back the wax paper and laid another course, alternating again the 'bricks'. I just used my finger to work the glue into the joints. Speaking of which, I haven't tried smoking a duck. ;-)
Thanks Jim and everyone. I have a couple of other canes to post later. I also have one cane shaft that I made several years ago where I glued toothpicks around a dowel rod and filled in the between space with epoxy made black with India ink. It has a pretty cool effect to but I haven't finished the 'head' on it yet. Thanks for looking at some of my stuff.