This is awesome
Bamboo Fly Rod Project
- Thread starter EB Newfarm
- Start date
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- #42
The 18 strips keep getting thinner. The darker ones were soaking in water to ease planing. I feel like I could heat my house with the shavings- they are piling up!
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- #43
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- #44
Heat treatment- Cooked at 350 for 15 mn.
The little ... very little ... I know about fly rod making includes the notion that "Tonkin cane" is better than other varieties, but it comes only from a small area in southern China, and shortly after the Communist take-over in 1949 became "unobtanium". I believe it again became available toward the end of the 20th Century, and am curious as to how available it is now, and whether the OP is using it for his rod in this thread.
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- #46
I am indeed using Tonkin cane, but the bunch of culms I have are probably post-embargo. There are a few outfits that import and sell it. I think pre-embargo cane is out there, but it may be harder to track down. Everything I have read points to Tonkin cane pretty much being the standard to use. When all is said and done, though the cost of the cane is not much compared to what goes in to building a rod.
Any idea if the old stuff is "better" ... or just "cooler to use" being that old?
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- #48
I don't know, but it does seem to have a ring to it, "This was made with pre-embargo cane..." in hushed tones.
This is a good site with interesting info about cane.
This is a good site with interesting info about cane.
The Bamboo Broker | The site for the world's best bamboo for building split-cane fly rods
Welcome to the Bamboo Broker, home of the finest bamboo windchimes and Tonkin cane for building bamboo split cane fly rods.
www.bamboobroker.com
< /long, low, slow whistle...
An honor to be invited to see the results in the making.
Thank you.
An honor to be invited to see the results in the making.
Thank you.
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- #50
Working on tip section strips, still only about halfway down to specs.
FarmerTan
George Bailey Fanboy
Thanks for sharing this process! I have never fly fished, only using floating bait with a cheap old Zebco for the most part. I am amazed at how TINY the tip must be. Color me impressed my friend. Wow!
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- #52
Today the butt section was glued. Stressful operation, but I am hopeful that it turned out. The small shavings shown between the strips were blown out before the glue was applied. Then the butt was bound with string under pressure.
Wow -- this is fascinating. I appreciate your taking us along on your journey. You're going to have a great rod there.
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- #54
Getting closer...
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- #55
The butt section turned out OK, fairly straight and only a few imperfections, the worst of which will be covered by the cork grip. It is nice looking after the glue and string were sanded off. On the micrometer it specs out... mostly.
The tip sections are another story, I am struggling to get them down to the specs without the plane gouging or chipping as they are so thin and fragile! All bamboo reduction from this point out will be done by scraping with a razor blade. Probably will not use any GSBs though.
The tip sections are another story, I am struggling to get them down to the specs without the plane gouging or chipping as they are so thin and fragile! All bamboo reduction from this point out will be done by scraping with a razor blade. Probably will not use any GSBs though.
Wheee!
The fiber match is first-rate! Lovely, just fricken lovely!
The fiber match is first-rate! Lovely, just fricken lovely!
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- #57
Thanks Merle! More scraping with a razor blade... Each of the 6 tips sections at the tip top will measure out at .040 of an inch.
