Here are some more images of bamboo rod making classes that went on Monday.  John is the solo student this week, as his classmate had to reschedule to June.  John is getting plenty of attention from me, and is really making great progress.

John removing inner node prior to straightening

This image shows John removing the inner portion of the node prior to splitting and straightening.  This allows for more controlled splitting.

After this step in rod building, John proceeds to splitting into narrower and narrower strips.   After choosing his node stagger, in this case a Garrison style, John went to town straightening and roughing his strips.

John straightens out the sweeps in his bamboo rod strips

This month’s rod building class got off to a fast start!  Culm selection, splitting and straightening cane, roughing and binding the pieces for the bamboo fly rod occurred quickly.

John tries out the Upper Sac Special

John started off his week Sunday afternoon, casting a couple of bamboo fly rods.  He ended up selecting the Raine Upper Sac Special taper for his build.

John splitting cane for his bamboo fly rod

John decided to use the Payne method of culm selection and got to work splitting the cane.  It wasn’t too long before he had the culm split into workable strips.

Saturday found us out across the street casting Gene and Wayne’s bamboo fly rods.    Both of the new rod builders ended up with beautiful fly rods-rods that were instant family heirlooms, and would turn the head of anyone that happened to walk by.

Wayne casting his newly-completed fly rod

Gene casts his newly-built Garrison 212e

Comparing the two newly-built rods was an interesting affair.  The Upper Sac Special felt smooth and throughout its length and the Garrison 212e was obviously stronger in the butt.  Gene had remarked during planing that Waynes numbers on his planing form were almost identical to his.  But what a difference in the actions! After giving their rods a thorough work out,   Gene and Wayne put their rods in the tubes, and were on their way home!

Cork grips and ferrules, sanding and dipping were done and now the fun part of wrapping their rods was on the schedule.

A combination of YLI and Pearsalls threads made the color of the bamboo really stand out.  After the non-stop build days of Sunday through Wednesday, a little sit down time was in order.  Because of the tapers Gene and Wayne chose, they were able to use size 14 ferrules made right here at Raine Hollowbuilt Fly Rods!

Wayne wraps his bamboo fly rod

Gene wraps his bamboo fly rod

Well, Wednesday was a blur!  Wayne and Gene got their bamboo rod sections glued up and they came out of the binder straight!

The instructor forgot the camera, so no photos  of Wednesday.

Here is one of Wayne admiring the efficiency of the air vise when it comes to straightening nodes:

Look ma, no hands!

The “straightening suite” used in the rod building class is simply top-drawer!  The combination of heat gun, Waara node press and air vice makes the classic work of node straightening a breeze!

It’s important to realize that heat gun temp and length of jaws on the air vises play an important role in “getting it right”.

We don’t saw strips.  We don’t grind down enamel here at the school.  No short cuts!  All of the steps are “Old School”, guaranteed to give you the look and performance equal to the masters of 60 years ago!

There is nothing that puts a smile on a rod makers face faster than the happy little sound of a sharp plane iron zipping across a section of bamboo!   Plane, plane, plane!!  Both Gene and Wayne enjoyed the day, amazed at the tiny strips  needed to glue up into their tip sections.

Planing bamboo strips into tip strips

By late afternoon, Gene and Wayne were close to being done with the hard part of the job, when it comes to building  a hand planed bamboo fly rod.

Gene and Wayne’s rod building started out with a flurry of activity Monday morning.  After selecting culms and tapers the previous day, the two new rod makers went to work!

Wayne and Gene marking the inside of the culms

Removing the inside of the node flush with the pith

With only two students in the class, there was plenty of instruction and each question was answered immediately!

Gene preps his strips prior to roughing

The work progressed quickly, with the emphasis on straight, straight strips!  Easier to work, and the way to a straight bamboo fly rod!  The large belt sander was only used on the pith side of the strips, to remove the “bumps” created by the inner nodes.  All the culms are split into strips by hand, ensuring that the “grain” is followed.  This is “Old School” in the finest sense of the word.

Last weekend started out with a bang when Gene and Wayne arrived in town to attend their rod building class.    Sunday afternoon had both students selecting their culms, after casting a couple of rods to decide on which taper to use.  Wayne selected my Upper Sac Special, and Gene decided to build Garrison’s 212e.

Selecting culms for rod making class

Wayne had driven 600 miles to get to the class…..and Gene drove 2000 miles to attend!  Both students liked the look of the gold toned rods, and off they went to split and straighten.

Coupla things before you view this video:  when making a bamboo fly rod, the strip is put in the Waara Press with the Enamel UP!  It is then put in the vise with the enamel against the front jaw of the vise.   Very important.  Waara press, enamel up.  Air vice, enamel towards front jaw of vise.  Got it?  I know you do!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkhoF0_7pVc[/youtube]

The waara press is a great tool to use when pressing out the kinks at the nodes.  It is fast and easy to use.  One tip for those new to its use:  get some junk strips, and break a few nodes!  This will get you in the groove.

This is the roughing table that comes with the Original Bellinger Hand Planers Friend.  When I got the machine from Al and Hugh Bellinger, this table had the feed for strips sawn on their gang saw.  I hand split my strips, so there was a need for me to have a way to adjust for width and I wanted to hold the strips against a fence, too.

While I was at it,  I put a Mitotoyo micrometer head on the end of the table, that allows for repeated accuracy.

Modified Hand Planers Friend for Genuine Bellinger

The only caveat I have is if you are using the Porter Cable router, it may be necessary to use a spring clamp on the head.  The PC router can vibrate at certain rpms.

The price is $195.00 which is a great bargain.  Plus shipping, of course.  First come, first served, via email.