movin' along

Well, the blank has been glued, the glue heat set and as of this morning, the last tip has been sanded.
The blank is now ready to be cut to final length and ferrules glued on.

The sanding involves for me, 60gr, 100gr, 220gr, 320gr, 500 grit. I used to continue to 1200 -1500gr, but I found it pretty useless, non-noticeable with no real benefit. Just burning up time and expensive sandpaper.

Here's an idea of the amount of sandpaper needed to get to 500gr...

And the somewhat finished product...

Now before I can consider this actually finished, the ferrules will need to be mounted and glued and a grip is to be installed on this particular blank.
So more when I get to that...

As an "edit thing" to the previous post, I had to make two new strips for this blank. One of the things I had neglected to take a picture of was the roughed out strip. By roughed out, I mean the strip is run through the rougher to achieve an equilateral 60 degree triangle.

Now as you can see, not all apexes are sharp. I don't care about this at this point. What I care about is that the angles cut are 60 degrees. The planing forms and a bit of skill will create the final taper.
Right now this strip will nest quite nicely in the forms.

So more later as the ferrule stations are cut, rod sections cut to final length, ferrules glued, and the cork rings glued on and then turned into a grip my bud wants...

So...OK!

Moving on with stuff. No one complains if I don't post everyday so why bother? I mean the only two persons reading this crap are in Russia and Serbia looking for stuff to lift and download, stealing stuff if you will... so here's a bit of fodder for those two guys. Knock yer self out.

I think the last post where I actually put a pic up of any sort of progress were three bamboo culms cut and on the bench.

Since then, the culms have had the nodes sanded, been flamed (heat tempered) and split in halves. The damns knocked out and the splits re-taped into a single piece again.

Once this is done, then the halves are ready to be split. The halves are split into sixths, the sixths split into halves and those halves are split into halves. Giving you 24 strips of more or less equal widths.

Once you have 24 strips, you need to pick out the best 18 strips. 6 for the butt and 12 (6 for each tip section) for the tips. Sort them and get them aligned.

Once you get your eighteen strips, one of the tricky parts rears it's head...knowing where your ferrules and tip top will fall on the rod.

The general rule of thumb is no node closer than two inches to a ferrule or tip top. That means you need to know how much longer you need to cut your strips, how much of that length will ultimately be cut off and removed and that your ferrules and tip tops will be in the proper portion of the rod section.

Now this particular rod is is going to be a 7'6" 4wt. The finished length of each rod section is approximately 45" long. Since that length depends on the length of the male and female ferrules and length of the tip top, to make each section 45" long now means something is going to be long or short when the time comes to mount the tip top and ferrule, so...the thing to do here is make the sections longer. In my case 5" longer as the adjusting stations on my planing forms are 5" on center. This actually makes life MUCH easier.

SO...I slide around the groups of 3 strips. The first thing is to get the nodes even spaced out.

There are quite a few different methods and reasons to space out one's nodes in a particular way. I'm not going into why you should or shouldn't space your nodes in any way in particular. I'm just going to leave you with I space mine 2x2x2. I have my reasons and if you want to know, ask.

After I get the nodes spaced, it's time to decide where to make your cuts for section length. Again this depends on where your tip top and ferrules are ultimately going to end up on the glued up rod sections.

I decide on this piece of bamboo, it's going to be here...

Now on this end (butt end) the actual end of the rod section is going to be about 5" to the left of my red cut off mark...5" from the mark will put my final cut-off between the first and second sets of nodes on the left. At least two inches from any male ferrules and on the tip side it works out the same. No node closer than two inches from the tip top.

Many times it's not anywheres near as easy as this rod and you have to do some finagling...but this one is just fine!

More or less later...

Mike

so, today...

Today I get on 3 new rods.

From left to right...an 8' 6" 3pc 7wt Payne Canadian Canoe...one of the smoothest casting rods, in a 7wt 3pc configuration, I have ever had the pleasure to cast, next is yet one more Payne 100 and I hope the last of the years 100's. I think this will be the 5th or 6th "100" I have made this year, and lastly on the right, an F.E. Thomas 7 footer for a three wt. Simply one of the finest 7 footers for a three weight you could ever hope to fish. Sweet and smooth as chocolate is the only way I can think of to describe this rod ans she will go to a girl in Michigan.

The very butt ends...these will be unceremoniusly chopped off as time goes on. Yes the CC has a bit of bend in it but it won't be there when I'm done...I hope...
That CC is almost 4" across the butt end. It is a piece of bamboo I was saving exactly for a rod like this. Deep power fibers, extremely hefty, simply perfect for a he-man's rod as the Canoe is.
The 100 is also a butt section, quite straight and solid for a 4 wt. The last one is straight as an arrow, more than adequate power fibers for a three weight and should make one sweet as chocolate rod.

Little things

Well, after yesterday's tragedy, having the wind taken out of one's sail's takes a toll. I get depressed and have a hard time moving on. I have to actually have a stupid conversation to buck meself up and move on. A "pep talk" if that makes any sense to you. I have these with my self quite often. I mutter, swear, ask, complain, plead, and apparently there still is no god.
Yes I have little gods on the bench to help the process, but often they do NOT earn their keep. Still, there they are.

So yesterday, after a dismal failure at bluing, I pondered (again) the idea of making my own solution for oxidizing.

Now I've tried a bunch of oxidizers. I mean really.
I have never found, and expect to NEVER find anything that works as well as the product Dave LeClair made and sold. In fact, I love it so much that I drove a total of 4,000 miles to buy three ounces of this magic juice. 2000 miles round trip to northern California for one ounce and 2000 miles round trip to Denver for two ounces. Both trips quite enjoyable. It probably cost me $2000.00 after fuel (when it was five bucks a gallon driving an F-150 with the big motor,) motel bills, food, etc.

Anyway...I'm currently on a quest to find out just what the hell this juice is and how I can make it for myself.
The stuff last nights dreams were made of...and rats. I had rat dreams too. Don't ask.

So this mornings stuff was pretty much at a stand still. I have a blank that needs to go to a brother in Hawaii. The blank (a Dickerson 8013) is finished, bag made, and I needed to make the tube up for it.
Done. Now to obsess over the secret formula...enough obsessing for now and I get back to work.


Day before yesterday I think, I made up the bag and tube for the brother in NY.

I'm really finicky I guess about the fit of a rod, bag, tube. I never thought I was until someone pointed out that I seemed to go to a lot of trouble to make things fit properly. This was brought home by another rodmaking brother, Harry Boyd. Apparently Harry is as finicky as I am.
A few years back I actually had the pleasure of finally shaking Harry's hand in Colorado at the Colorado Rodmaker's Reunion. We swapped rods for a test cast. When he unscrewed the cap off of mine the first thing he said was "WOW, someone actually knows how to make a bag and tube!" Hell the rod was still, obviously, in the tube and bag and, unfortunately, I don't recall if he actually liked the rod itself, but he damn well liked the fit! Was that a run-on sentence or what? I'm still trying to pare my words, sorry.

Anyway...today...the topic is proper fit. I'll leave proper finish up to your discretion. To each their own.

But a proper fit of rod section to bag, imho, is a bag that "just" covers the rod sections. You don't want the bag too long. If it is other problems will rear their ugly head when you make the tube.
As for length of rod sections...the current train of thought is that all sections MUST be equal length.
Well I guess that shows attention to detail and if they aren't the same length, the maker was sloughin' and going through the motions.
But "what if" your maker had something else in mind? What if your maker wanted a stout butt section to protect a delicate set of mirrored tips? Would he maybe make the butt section just a smidge longer than the tips? Say 1/16" or so? So the butt would protect the tips? Maybe.
I do. Sure the rod still assembles at the prescribed length. An 8 footer is going to be an 8 footer not an 8' 1/2" rod.
But figuring this number out ahead of time takes a bit of thought and measuring and measuring again.
Then it's time to make the bag.
Most all tube maker's stick a little piece of neoprene on the caps, butt and tip. But, it's a skimpy cushion at best. Not much there really.
SO...I like my bags to slightly cover, be longer, than the finished rod sections. Since I make the butts of my rods to be slightly longer than the tips, I like the bags to be slightly longer than the longest piece in the bag. Just a smidge longer.
When the bag is in the tube, I like the bag to slightly fold over the top of the rod or, at the least, be even with it. I prefer the bag be just a bit longer than the sections so that when the bag is in the tube, the bag folds ever so slightly over the sections when the tube cap is screwed on. Friction does the rest of the job. The bag helps keep the sections from sliding much up and down in the tube and there is no slop between bag and tube.

In other words...I "think" it should look like this when assembled;

Mundane crap? Yep!

But I think you should know that your rodmaker is thinking of mundane crap regarding the rod he makes for you. You are after all paying through the nose for it.

Sorry my posts seem to always be so wordy...there's just stuff to write about and why one does what they do ya know?

There always seems to be a reason for everything.

I'll eventually run out of stuff to write about but for now, this place is new for me, I'm having a bit of fun, and if you don't wish to read it...well, screw me.

Mike

Udder stuff...

First...since I can't seem to get google to allow me to reply to comments...indulge me for a few replies right here. Yes, I've tried rebooting. Ain't working. Get error messages. I hate error messages.
So below are a few replies to Mijo who has bothered to even read this divvel, let alone reply. But hey...he's the only one that knows this is here.

Mijo bruddah...you knows I loves ya...but...
#1) As for golf...I tried it when I was 10 or 12. My dad liked the game. I went out and hit more than a few buckets of balls. My dad sagely advised me to "stick to baseball." I know he was looking to me to be able to share a Sunday doing something he enjoyed. I'm quite sure I disappointed him yet one more time.
Since I can't hit a ball worth shit, I actually admire that you can. I have long since lost any interest in the "sport."
#2) Thanks for pointing out that the rod is lacking a reel seat, I hadn't noticed. I'll correct that as soon as a set of hardware shows up. I've ordered it 3 times, and I am optimistic that it will finally show up in the near future. I'd order from somewhere else but the insert has been cut and finished and I need a particular set of hardware to finish this rod.
#3) You don't like my bags? Tough shit. At least my bags actually fit the rod sections. And though you were once a teacher...that is not piping. Piping is round. That is Bias Tape. Makes an easy job of a hanging loop as well.
#4) Yes, there is shrink-wrap on that grip. I felt it prudent to protect 25 bucks worth of Portuguese cork from the filth and ravages of Central AZ. That rod was sitting on the bench for too long and I needed to keep it in "as new" condition. I hope you understand?

So...where was I?
Oh yeah, udder stuff...

Well...there's Bonniethedog...

She loves games. She's a red, smooth-coat Border Collie. Unusual looking for a collie but I chose her because I love the breed (she's my third Border Collie), has wheels turning inside her head and can think things through (wish I could), and comes from a wonderful working bloodline of collies. She has a strong work ethic (much stronger than mine, and I have always somewhat prided myself on my own work ethic), and she is relatively easy to care for in the rathole. Having fur that is short, allows her to be a bit more comfortable living in central AZ, rarely needs a good brushing but she does enjoy it, always ready to play (work for her as I sadly don't own any sheep), and has a somewhat meager appetite. I love this dog...she doesn't eat me out of house and home, loves Frisbee and is damn good at it, not terribly interested in balls, but loves you to throw the rope. She will do flips, twists and knows I love it when she does. She does get her snadwhiches, ice cream, cookies and the like.
And before anyone rags on me for owning a Border Collie living as I do, giving her a half a ham sandwhich or a bite of ice cream, she is not an unhappy dog, is healthy, stays occupied, amuses herself without being destructive, and is a wonderful, smart, intelligent companion, though overly protective of me and this stupid rodshop. But she is after all a sheepdog, and, given the opportunity, a damn good one I'd wager.

Lastly for what this is worth...
I want to thank a brother/customer for giving me this godess. I was sent a picture and description of her when she was 6 weeks old and living in Missouri with her momma on a breeder's farm. I was asked if I would like to have her and all I could muster as a thank you was "Hell yes!"
She cost the brother a hell of a lot of money. More than I could afford.
3 weeks later when she was old enough to part from momma and fly on an airplane, I drove into hell (Phoenix) and picked her up at the airport from American Airlines.
She just celebrated her second birthday last month (August 9) with cake and ice cream. She let me have some too.

Now onto stuff...
Yes I live in my shop. It's quite glamorous I assure you.
Some of you might think that everyday I am hunched over the bench, diligently, laboriously planing out strips one at a time. Well, I do. Sometimes in the summer, it ain't easy, more than a chore, and amounts to drudgery.
In fact a lot of what I do I consider drudgery. But it needs doing or it don't get done. I know because I've checked.
A few things aren't drudgery. I actually enjoy planing strips. It's still really the only part of this process that I do enjoy.

So anyway... today I measure, cut and glue up the rod tube to fit the bag that I finished out yesterday with Mijo's horrid "piping." He doesn't like it. I don't care what he likes. He can make whatever he damn well pleases in his own shop. This is how I mostly make mine. They look like mine and that's that. But they DO actually fit the rod. Not an inch or so short...ya know?

So anyway...below is the tube that I put together for the brother in NY.

Measured, cut, epoxy measured out ready to mix and apply

...and now glued up, excess' wiped clean and the mixing cup will stay on my bench until tomorrow. I use it to make sure the epoxy on the tube is set properly.

This tube came from Landmark Components. I use this tube exclusively. The tube is mill finished. Expensive lesson learned after some pricey annodized and powder coated tubes got banged up and fookin' ugly in the back of my truck. This tube will look no worse for wear after sliding behind the seat in your truck, on the dashboard, or in the bed a year later. My kind of tackle.

There are other things I do to try to have fun in the shop. They don't ALWAYS involve Bonnie.

Above is a bodkin I made out of the cut-off of the above NY brother's rod.

The cut-off is chucked up and the ends shaped and one end drilled to accept the needle, signed and two coats of spar varnish. The brother is a more than accomplished fly tyer and maybe he'll enjoy using a bodkin with his old Hockey number (No 27) inscribed on it made from the rod he ordered and has patiently waited for. Maybe it don't mean squat, but I made it anyway. He can do with it what he wishes.

I make other things from cut-offs. Ferrule plugs, ferrule honers, etc. Use your imagination.

OK...10:00 am here and it's, once again, getting hot.

Time to slam the doors, fire up a fan, take a nap...then off to the library to get some new movies to watch come dark.

Later...

Mike

Rod Bag Tuesday

It was time to finish out a rod bag today for a rod going to a brother in New York.

I make a few rod bags at a time and leave them unfinished. This way I always have a bag or two on hand when I need one.
All I have to do is measure the finished length I would like and sew the bottom, turn it rightside out and stitch the partions. Takes about 5 minutes not counting the time to set up the machine, dig out the iron and press the bag. Hell, it takes me 10 minutes to find and dig the sewing machine out and another 10 minutes to wipe the dust off it.

This bag is for a "Payne 100", a 7'6" for a 4wt.

Along with this bag I finished one out for a "Dickerson 8013" an 8'0" 5wt and got another bag ready for yet another 100. I'll wait on that bag until the blank is finished out.

I'm about out of fabric again and I'll try and remember to pick up more if I ever get down to the big city.

Ran a few errands posted this dribble and it's pushing 95 inside. Time for a nap.

As a PS kind of thing...for some google reason, I am currently unable to post a reply to any comment...how rude.