MINI weight BAMBOO rod in ONE piece

This bamboo blank was made by a fellow local bamboo rod maker which have been making bamboo rods even before I learned to do mine.

Measured at 5 feet plus, this blank definitely need to be extended. But before that, 2 coating of SPAR urethane was given to the blank and let dry for 24 hours.

A carbon graphite blank was used to extend the length of this bamboo rod to 5'6" which is just nice for little streams.

Half wells cork grip and a down locking burled wood insert reel seat for this bamboo rod.

Light wire snake guides and Pearsall's Silk 'Golden Rod' for this rod.

A glimpse of the bamboo rod before a thin epoxy coating is applied to the wrappings.

Translucent finish after epoxy coating.

The completed mini 'noodle' bamboo rod...

BAMBOO fly rod - Dickerson taper with a SWELL butt

This bamboo blank was made of out tonkin bamboo. A 6'6" 2 piece 2 tips 3wt bamboo fly rod of Dickerson taper added swell butt at the bottom.

The bamboo blank in golden brown color was finished with a few coat of spar urethane.


Parts for this rod.

Up locking vintage looking reel seat fitted.

Half wells cork grip finished off with a hexagon winding check on top.

Completed handle.

Agated stripping guide wrapped with Pearsall's Jasper Silk and black thread trimming.

Completed bamboo fly rod.

Completed my bamboo baitcasting rod blank..

A quick update..

Finished the bamboo blank last week. Binded and glued.
I skipped the final heat treatment process on the planned strips as I figured that I have done 3 heat treatment process on the rough bamboo strips was sufficient...
So, I applied a few coat of finishes on the blank...

I WAS WRONG... dead wrong!!!

I found out that the final heat treatment cannot be skip.. The glued bamboo blank was not flexing and it stay in shape after I bent it. DAMN!!!  Basically, I bend the tip and it stay bend...!!

I had to remove the finishing coat with steel wool and redo the heat treatment on the blank. I had to be very careful not to over do this as I do not want the glue to be debonded due too extreme high temperature..

After a several heat treatment process.. the bamboo blank seems to be stiffer and more reactive to the flexing. Finally I can finish off the bamboo blank with a few coats of Gorilla glue..

Just placed orders for the hardwares... Hope to see those at my door steps by next week.