Elongate laminated wooden handles and method of manufacturing same

A method of making an elongate laminated pole for use as a handle for mops, floor and wall brushes and rakes, the method comprising:

• (a) splitting a green bamboo cane lengthwise along a single cut line and then spreading the split bamboo cane so that it forms a substantially flat sheet;
• (b) planing the opposite sides of said sheet so as to give it a substantially uniform thickness,
• (c) cutting the bamboo sheet to form a narrower sheet of selected width;
• (d) drying the narrower sheet;
• (e) providing an assembly comprising a pair of dowels, at least one elongate core member, said elongate strip, and an adhesive, with said narrower sheet wrapped around the dowels and the at least one core member and the adhesive disposed between said narrower sheet and the dowels and core member;
• (f) subjecting said assembly to heat and pressure so as to cause the adhesive to set and bond the dowels and core member to the surrounding narrower sheet and thereby form an elongate laminated pole;
• and
• (g) turning the elongate laminated pole to a selected outer diameter.