Busy as a beaver

[Ronbo]

Well, I've been busier than a Beaver in a virgin forest.
Roughed out three rods and they're right out of the heat treating oven.

First rod is a Flamed 8 1/2 ft. 2 pc. 8 wt. quad. It will be hollow built with my Rocket Taper.
This rod is for the Catskill Rod Makers Challenge.

Second rod is a 8 ft. 2/2 5 wt. Payne 102 taper which will also be Hollow Built.

Third rod is a leonard Catskill 5 1/2 ft 1 pc. 2wt.
Setting up the tapering form now and will post some pics as they progress.

 

[Corndog]

This is very interesting. Would you be willing to share with us what goes into making a rod? What does quad mean? Flamed? Hollow built?

Curiousdog

 

[Ronbo]

Hey curiousdog,
You have some great questions, and that's why I like to post my projects.
Flamed is taking a flame to the outside of the bamboo which makes a distinct pattern and darkens the bamboo. A quad is a 4 sided rod instead of six. It has wider flats and a better power to weight ratio.
Hollow building reduces the weight of the rod and will make a crisper action.
These are not your grandfathers bamboo rods, performance has been enhanced in almost every aspect of the rods
an example of a hollow build i did below

 

[Broadheadscreek]

Very nice Ron this gives people a look at how these rod's are built the pictures are fantastic. Can't wait to see these completed works of art!! With your hollow built do you notice a marked difference in the action compared to a solid built ie; are they some what faster or about the same action?

 

[Corndog]

That's a great pic showing the inside of the rod. About how many hours go into making a rod, and how did you get started in the art?

Curiousdog

 

[jlajoie]

And post some more pics! I would love to see a step by step pictorial of a bamboo build. Minus any trade secrets, of course....

 

[CreekAddict]

Here's a step by step.

Making a Bamboo Fly Rod

 

[jlajoie]

Here's a step by step.

Making a Bamboo Fly Rod

Sweet. Thanks CA.

 

[CreekAddict]

I tried to do it once. It was a disaster. lol.

 

[Ronbo]

Thanks CA for posting the step by step process. It is one of the references I used when I first started out.

Corndog,
I started building these rods 6 years ago after seeing and casting some rods at the somerset fly fishing show. I thought they were exceptionaly beautiful and liked the feel and relaxed casting stroke of the bamboo rod. The prices for the rods are not cheap so I did some research on building Bamboo rods. There is a lot of information on the internet and also
books on the subject. I also network with other builders to discuss technics
and tapers. It is expensive to start out and can easily run you 2,000 dollars for the equipment required. I was lucky as I have an engineering background
and built all the equipment necassary myself. The rods take anywhere from 40 to 60 hours of labor to make and 1 slip up and your starting over. I really enjoy building the rods but it requires dedication and a little insanity.:dizzy:

Allen,
I find that the hollow building not only lightens the rod but by removing weight all the way up the rod it has less mass to overcome to return to it's nuetral position. This makes the rod smoother and crisper. Rod speed is determined by the taper and to a degree the tempering of the bamboo.
Glad you guys are interested and I'll post some more pics as these builds progress

 

[jlajoie]

Hey Ronbo, thanks for the promise of more pics! I like a step by step, but when it is being done by someone on the forum, I think it makes the pics and experience a bit more appreciable.

 

[golden beetle]

Ok, so when is the bamboo rodmakers convention this year? September??

Well, I've been busier than a Beaver in a virgin forest.
Roughed out three rods and they're right out of the heat treating oven.

First rod is a Flamed 8 1/2 ft. 2 pc. 8 wt. quad. It will be hollow built with my Rocket Taper.
This rod is for the Catskill Rod Makers Chall enge.

Second rod is a 8 ft. 2/2 5 wt. Payne 102 taper which will also be Hollow Built.

Third rod is a leonard Catskill 5 1/2 ft 1 pc. 2wt.
Setting up the tapering form now and will post some pics as they progress.

 

[Fly Guy]

Uh oh, sounds like CDog wants a new hobie. LOL

Jeremy

 

[Broadheadscreek]

Thanks CA for posting the step by step process. It is one of the references I used when I first started out.

Corndog,
I started building these rods 6 years ago after seeing and casting some rods at the somerset fly fishing show. I thought they were exceptionaly beautiful and liked the feel and relaxed casting stroke of the bamboo rod. The prices for the rods are not cheap so I did some research on building Bamboo rods. There is a lot of information on the internet and also
books on the subject. I also network with other builders to discuss technics
and tapers. It is expensive to start out and can easily run you 2,000 dollars for the equipment required. I was lucky as I have an engineering background
and built all the equipment necassary myself. The rods take anywhere from 40 to 60 hours of labor to make and 1 slip up and your starting over. I really enjoy building the rods but it requires dedication and a little insanity.:dizzy:

Allen,
I find that the hollow building not only lightens the rod but by removing weight all the way up the rod it has less mass to overcome to return to it's nuetral position. This makes the rod smoother and crisper. Rod speed is determined by the taper and to a degree the tempering of the bamboo.
Glad you guys are interested and I'll post some more pics as these builds progress

Ron when you get one of these done we'll have to meet up and fish.I would like to cast one of these beautiful rods to see the difference in the action. I have never cast a hollow built rod I am assuming the rod becomes more of a midflex type of rod built like this or am I wrong.

 

[Ronbo]

Hey Allen,
Hollow building alone will not turn a fast rod into a mid flex rod. It makes very subtle changes in the rod charactoristics. The most adavantage is of course the weight reduction and by eliminating some mass a bit more responsive. I'll make sure I get one in your hands so you can evaluate it for yourself. Hollow building has it's best advantage on larger rods but light rods will have a slight improvement in feel also.

The Catskills Rod Makers Gathering is being held at the CFFM on sept 12 to the 13th with registration on the 11 th.

 

[Ronbo]

Got the quad strips tapered and starting the hollowing now.
will update when hollowing is done. Picture is end of butt and tip.
and the strips

 

[Broadheadscreek]

Great stuff Ron !! I have a couple of questions for you, How long does it take from the time you split your culm to complete a blank? And how many rods can you build from a quality culm of bamboo?

 

[Corndog]

Uh oh, sounds like CDog wants a new hobie. LOL

Jeremy

Jeremy,

With trying to teach the Flatbrook stockies how to be wary and selective, there's little time for new hobbies.

Cdog

 

[jlajoie]

Jeremy,

With trying to teach the Flatbrook stockies how to be wary and selective, there's little time for new hobbies.

Cdog

I can definitely help, if you need an assistant during the "put the fish down for a few hours" portion of the lesson....

 

[Karel]

I built a few graphite rods and just saw on Hook&Hackle's website that they now also sell rod building kits for bamboo rods.

Did anybody check this out already and how's the quality of that stuff? Bamboo at Hook & Hackle

Tight Lines, K

 

[Ronbo]

Without Bad mouthing these to badly. They are imported from China. Do your

research and find qualified references and reviews, not from some

Joe Shmoe on a web site. A rod built in china by an unknown maker can not be an heirloom quality rod.:finger: I got a big laugh at that one.:rofl:
In the end it always comes down to you get what you

pay for.:shit:

 

[Ronbo]

Got the strips hollowed out and worked on a new ferrule system. There is a spline in the tip section that fits into the hollow of the butt section. I made a flamed stainless steel ferrule sleeve to go over the section and secure it. The ferrule weighs just a gram This rod is for the Catskills Rod Makers Gathering competiton which has strict weight limitations and is the reasoning behind the custom light weight ferrule system. This rod is not availble in China.:give-the-finger:
Glueing it up now and then it's just the grip and guides left to do.

HOLLOWED STRIPS WITH GLUEING NIPPLES :lol:

FERRULE PICS

 

[Broadheadscreek]

Very nice in my research on these I came across a guy that builds them in Europe and he is now creating the furrel in the bamboo its self and then reinforcing it with wraps. Have you ever seen this Ron ?

 

[Ronbo]

Hey Allen,
Yes there are makers doing Bamboo Ferrules. there is a builder in Argentina that builds his rods exclusively with the bamboo ferrules. I built a few prototype rods with that system but had a few split along the grain. That's why I incorperated the Ferrule sleeve to eliminate that problem. But they do work and are a very light weight alternative.

 

[BRK TRT]

Ronbo,

I purchased about a year ago a Highland Mills rod.
Its a 6ft 9in 3wt
Just wondering if you have any knowledge of this company, and the quality or lack of their rods.


Thanks in advance,

 

[Ronbo]

Hey BRK TRT,
Highland Mills does not make their rods. They are imported from China,They were called teastick and are made by Zhus Rods. I have heard the quality is
improving over their first offerings but can be hit or miss. They have an American line now supposedly built in the USA.
I have heard these rods are better than the imported ones. Now with that being said,I have never cast either the Zhus or the American series so my statement is based only on what I have heard.
The only opinion that really matters is yours. If you like the rod and are happy with its performance and looks then it's a great rod !!
So do you like the rod?

 

[Broadheadscreek]

I agree Ron if the rod works for you it does not matter where it comes from. That being said when I was down at The big C store I got the guy from the fly shop to string a 7'6" 4wt up and gave it a go. Not a bad rod at all cast a nice tight loop and would lay out some line for you into the wind not to whippy. As for looks a bamboo rod at this price point was not to shabby.For someone looking to get into fishing Boo a good starter rod if you can't afford to shell out the clams for a known American fly rod builder.

 

[BRK TRT]

Hey BRK TRT,
Highland Mills does not make their rods. They are imported from China,They were called teastick and are made by Zhus Rods. I have heard the quality is
improving over their first offerings but can be hit or miss. They have an American line now supposedly built in the USA.
I have heard these rods are better than the imported ones. Now with that being said,I have never cast either the Zhus or the American series so my statement is based only on what I have heard.
The only opinion that really matters is yours. If you like the rod and are happy with its performance and looks then it's a great rod !!
So do you like the rod?

I like the rod. It works well for me in the streams I fish.

 

[Corndog]

Ron,

How's that rod coming?

Been waiting for the next set of pics.

Cdog

 

[Ronbo]

Just finished up the wraps and varnish,pic's coming.
The rod makers gathering is starting friday so no fishing for me till the weekend :thumb:
Just a little warning this is not a clasic catskills rod so be prepared for something a little different imp: