Sorry, but just turning on IK after following the other steps does not work (not sure how the hand would know to follow the prop without some association between them). I think I know what IK is supposed to do, but the problem is the deformations which occur when I do the parenting. It does not seem to affect other folks who have parented body parts after turning off IK, so I am very curious what it is that I am doing differently.

Mike