Chet
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Posts: 7
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Post by Chet on Dec 6, 2004 22:29:05 GMT -5
While in PA you could stop in and see George Maurer he's in that part of the state. He moved into a new shop recently and he's always good for a visit.
Let me know if your interested and I'll pass along his contact information at his new place.
The tubes are made in Washington state about 4 hours drive north of my location.
Chet
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Post by Airehead on Dec 7, 2004 14:27:09 GMT -5
Can anyone get a word in here? I see I can leave it to Chet and Robin now, they are obviously much more up to date tham I am. Just a few little points -
Robin, I agree about D*ck Walker and the censor, see 'thingy' on the Viewpoint board.
You start by citing the 'Golden Age' of USA but later say that D*ck Walker's book is all you need - which is what I said recently. Glad we agree on that point, but there isn't much else. You say 'cane is cane'. If you know anything about cane rods, you must know that is a nonsense statement. I bought 3 different kinds of cane when I was building and only 1 was any use for splitting. And if 'cane is cane' why do you later suggest throwing a large portion of it away?
If you tell beginners that they can use anything they can find (carpets e.g.) they will fail miserably to make a decent rod. If it is too short between nodes, too irregular x section between nodes, the walls not thick enough, too small diameter giving a tight radius on the outer surface (which as I am sure you know must not be planed) then it is no good.
Whilst you clearly know what you are talking about, I think you are confusing anyone who is thinking of starting.
I agree about not using triangular formers. The formers that you do need for an easy start can be made in a reasonable time with a try plane, a triangular steel scraper, a couple of pieces of 2x2" and a flat board in which to scrape some v-grooves.
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PeteH
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Posts: 164
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Post by PeteH on Dec 7, 2004 14:54:28 GMT -5
Whilst I have a huge respect for Richard Walker, I think anyone starting out in bamboo rod building today would be far better off with either Jack Howell's book @the Lovely Reed' or Wayne Cattenach's book 'Handcrafting Bamboo Fly Rods'. I think Walker himself may have enjoyed Bob Milward's 'Bamboo Fact, Fiction and Flyrods, although its not a strictly 'how to do it' book.
Pete
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Post by Airehead on Dec 7, 2004 15:58:13 GMT -5
PeteH, thanks for that advice about books. I know I would enjoy them though probably would not gain anything of practical use to myself unless they can offer a magic cure for arthritic fingers.
However, if anyone would like to sample D*ck Walker's 'Rod Building for Amateurs', I offer to attempt to produce a file which can be emailed. Let me know. There is no great difficulty in producing grooved formers for your first cane rod. (Assuming you have moderate ability with ordinary tools).
By the way - that challenge by Robin to produce a useable rod longer than whatever-it-was: I once built a 15' rod of hollow built cane (as per D*ck W.) for float fishing. It was entirely useable. It was stolen from me a long time ago, and would not have survived long because as soon as anyone tried to separate the ferrules by twisting, it would have collapsed. I know Robin meant a fly rod, but maybe it could be done in this way. The walls can be surprisingly thin but unlike a solid build it does demand reinforcement with whippings - perhaps a spiral of whipping thread for the full length. A significant point here is that one thing which has improved tremendously since cane was they only material is adhesive.
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Robin
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Posts: 221
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Post by Robin on Dec 7, 2004 16:29:44 GMT -5
This was the very famous and reputedly superb hollow built cane ferruleless match rod designed and made by RW. His version was 14' and it was made famous by being used on a pogrom of 2lb plus roach from the River Beane.I have the AT centre pages still. Indeed,I've kept everything I can of RW's since the late fifties,sometimes one instictively knows one is walking with history. The file on Rod Building for Amateurs woulds be immensely useful,if only because i can then send the paragraph on design to numerous persons in the USA who think that rod design is either for people whose heads resemble the Mekons,or demigods not of this planet. In fact its "O" level mathematics. As for Airehead,well,yeah,yeah,yeah,I'm just trying to say that it can be kept very simple and work.If you've only paid three quid for an eight foot culm it does'nt matter how much you burn,does it? The only right cane is Arundinaria Amabilis McLure,i'm sure this century old piece of information could hardly have eluded you. So how much are the tubes from the source then ,Chet? And i should be very pleased to meet bernie next year,many thanks. Robin
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PeteH
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Posts: 164
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Post by PeteH on Dec 8, 2004 5:38:07 GMT -5
I sypathise Airehead, having trouble with carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritic fingers myself - may have to build a milling machine to reduce the amount of hand planning Pete
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Robin
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Posts: 221
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Post by Robin on Dec 17, 2004 16:31:11 GMT -5
The Milward book provides all the help you anti-planers need. And,as RW observed,you will make better cane. It has to be said that a Hock blade and a much higher planing form bed will help too............... Robin
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