Guys,
I'm making myself a cane from red oak. I've fashioned a derivation of a Fritz type handle for it and I'm securing the handle to the shaft with a dowel that passes through the shaft, but is unseen within the handle. I've come across a video on YouTube posted by a guy in Australia, which shows how to carve a Celtic weave into the shaft, which I might try. For the shaft I'm using a 36 inch long 7/8 dowel. Wandering the plumbing aisle of Lowe's, I've found a copper connector for 3/4 inch pipe, that fits the dowel perfectly. I plan on using this on the bottom of the cane for a ferrule. To satisfy my OCD, I want to polish the copper to a mirror finish. Once its attached to the cane, I don't ever plan on touching it again.
What can I use on the copper to maintain the finish and prevent tarnishing? I have a spray can of Rustoleum Clear Gloss Enamel, which I was thinking of using. Will this do what I want? Is there something better? How would you approach this?
Thanks.