The school of hard knocks seems to be well attended.

Do not try to save money by purchasing an "inexpensive" (re:cheap) cork grip. The one I was trying to gently ream out was so pithy on the inside it broke, not once, but twice. And that's how I know the inside is pithy ... lots of hollow tubes and holes all through out the grip. I'll try to glue it up and use it for a base for the rattan finish, but, it's really not even worth much as a door stop.(old adage from my Mother, sorry!! Guess you had to be there)