Hello People!!!
I want to start making my own rods but i no idea where to buy the metal for the planing forms… Can someone tell where i can buy those? Also how should i make the wooden preliminary planing forms?
One more thing. I have some sites i found on how to make the rods and tools, but if you can share some sites or resources with me that would be great!!!
Thanks!!!!
Angel
Replies
Golden Witch ( http://goldenwitch.com/ )is a good source of supply for the tools and "how-to" information. They used to sell the premier metal planing form but seem to have dropped it from their catalog. I think they still carry wooden ones for the initial shaping.
If you want to try to make your own I would use either brass or aluminum, and get a good machine shop to do the 60-degree shaping of the edges and the drilling/tapping of the adjustment screws. This is one variety of woodworking where precision measurements (in thousandths) is important!
If you can find a copy of "A Master’s Guide to Building a Bamboo Fly Rod" by Everett Garrison/Hoagy Carmichael at your local library you can find the pattern plans for numerous classic rod tapers. I think you will be surprised by the level of finesse required to get a rod to load correctly and cast a straight line! If you decide the buy the book, now back in print, it will set you back around $90 for the current edition. The original 1st edition, in good shape, can still be found for several hundred dollars more from collectors.
Regards,
Ron
RON..
A long wooden stick taken off a local tree with good bate will work Sometimes!
That reminds me of a line from an old bluegrass song:You say there's lot of fish in the sea.
I say your bait ain't what it used to be.:<)Ron
Ok i have been to golden witch. i like what they have and i didnt think of having a machinist shop make the forms for me... how much do you think that would cost me?
Not a clue! I know the Golden Witch form was selling for around $800, suggesting they were paying about half that for production costs and amortization of the engineering drawings and prototyping.The old guys managed to do alright making their own forms so it should be possible to make your own using a much harder wood than bamboo. Hard maple is readily available and could be a useful starting point for experimentation.I seem to remember an article in FWW (many years ago!) that specifically dealt with making bamboo fly rods but I can't find it using Search. Maybe another "dated" member like myself can remember the issue?Regards,Ron
hmm ok... trying maple had crossed my mind... Another good on would be lemonwood. its used for bow and arrows... also osage orange. i plan to experiment with more, but i guess its time to look for the metal thanks!!!!
Just stumbled across this site:http://www.bamboorodmaking.com/index.html
Ron,
Right you are; Issue #31 has a response in the Q & A section by Les Beitz (Austin, TX fly rod expert) and an article in #34 - Fly Rods From Split Bamboo.
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
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