A Lady's Fly Rod

Just finished a couple 7'-2'' 2-piece bamboo fly rods with pink silk wraps. I have cast both rods and they work well with either 4wt or 5wt lines. The pictures are of the one destined for a gift to the lucky lady fisher in our area.

 

 

The 'AR' signature by the stripping guide is a memorial to Andy Royer of Bamboo Brokers in Seattle, Washington who passed away from cancer September of 2015. He was the supplier of this bamboo.

 

 

 

I selected a nice Redington 'Surge' 3/4 reel along with backing and fly line for this rod as well.

 

Band Saw Jig

My latest project, a band saw jig for cutting strips from culms of bamboo is finally finished, and I actually cut a few strips from some test material I got from Scott after finishing my fly rod making class last Spring. Thank you again, Scott!!!

This jig is based off the drawing and photos shared with me by Dana Fish in Maine. He was very helpful with the finer points of the material selection and execution of the build. I modified mine somewhat by elongating the tube structure for more support of a 6 foot length of bamboo as it is being cut by a single operator.

I made only 4 cuts with this device so far for testing its functionality, and was immediately impressed with its accuracy and smoothness of operation... Oh, and yes, I still posses all of my fingers!!!

It has a 'fence' attached to the tube that you can rotate along the axis of the tube to set the width of the cut. One simply holds the culm that has been split or cut in half against the tube and the fence and cuts through the band saw blade. Using a bi-metal 10/14 half inch blade makes the cuts accurately and smoothly. 

 

 

 

Ferrule Plugs

 

Happy Valentines Day 2016!!!  Today I finished a couple of ferrule plugs. First ones I made on the lathe out of hardwood. These are Oak. The darker one I dipped in some stain then both of them have been brushed with several coats of Helmsman Spar Urethane. I know my quality will improve over time, but these give the new mounted ferrules some protection now....

Newly 'minted' hardwood ferrule plugs. Right one has been stained. Both brushed with Spar Urethane.

Bamboo ferrule plug on left I made some time ago. It has no cork for the retainer.

Another older non-cork bamboo ferrule plug.

As the new two Garrison 204e fly rod wraps dry before final dipping, I decided to learn how to make ferrule plugs. These ornate (or not...) ferrule plugs protect the inside of the female ferrule while the fly rod is not being used and taken down and/or stored in a rod bag or rod tube. These little pieces keep dirt and dust out of the female ferrule that would otherwise case unnecessary wear on the female/male ferrule connection. I bought a couple of the CSE (Classic Sporting Enterprises) ferrule plug kits from Jeff Wagner to try them out. These are quite nice and are turned from aluminum and supplied the appropriate size cork in 5 different sizes.
I bought some aluminum rod to try to turn some of these in a design not decided on as yet. A small hole will be drilled on the base end and a brass 1/16'' solid rod will be pressed or glued in that will have the cork sleeve glued onto it. Then the cork is sanded down to where it is a snug fit into the female ferrule. The cork is then rubbed with wax to make it a little smoother fitting into the ferrule and will provide a moisture seal as well.

 This is a 12/64 CSE ferrule plug fitted into a blued female ferrule. It is a snug fit and adds protection to the inside of the ferrule.

 This is what the ferrule plug looks like removed from the ferrule. These fit nice and deep inside the ferrule and with a little wax applied to the cork area, provides a moisture barrier keeping the inside of the ferrule clean and dry.

 Drilling the small cork plugs that will be used in making my own ferrule plugs. I'm using a #57 drill bit here to make the hole all the way through the 1/2'' long cork plug. Believe me when I tell you that trying to drill these free hand is a disaster! This process keeps the hole centered and the right size to insert a 1/16'' brass rod.

Here are some of the components. Female ferrule that you would fit the completed plug into after the cork, brass rod and ferrule plug top has been assembled.

Below are various ferrule plug designs and materials.

Moving forward with a couple concurrent making of 7'-3'' 2/2 bamboo fly rods. Completed the first 'dip' of all 5 rod blanks yesterday in heated Helmsman spar urethane. This will be one of at least three dipping processes. The first two will be completed before wrapping guides on the blanks, then a third finish coat will be applied after the wraps are finished.

Discovered during the fist dip of the day on a tip section that small indentations appeared near the ferrule. I removed the section and noticed the indentations were made by the 3-jaw chuck on my lathe during ferrule fitting and installation. I got these sanded down on all three tip sections. Also noticed these pressure marks on the butt sections as well, and got them sanded off.

 

 I was going to use blued hardware on these two rods but because I do not have the quality I want from that process I have decided to stay with the shiny polished nickle-silver hardware look on both.

When I am satisfied that the depth and quality of blued hardware is where I want it, then I will make other fly rods with that hardware.

I used some new wave style corks I got directly out of Portugal on one of the rods and used traditional cork I got from a US supplier on the other one. I really like the look of the wave cork and will use it often. I applied some clear shrink wrap on both handles to keep them clean and undamaged during the finishing process.

I LOVE the movies....

January 8, 2016

Five years later...

I am in awe of myself... Actually have NOT been keeping up my blog, and I have Facebook only to blame!!!
A lot of water has passed under the bridge since I have been here.
1. Learned to make bamboo fly rods...
2. Many modifications to the Harley...
3. Several vacations...
4. Forced into retirement...
5. Celebrated several anniversaries with Geri...
6. Adopted two munchkin kitty kats...

Now that Geri and I are both retired since December of 2015, and I have not held down a job since October of 2014, we get to spend more time together cuddling on the couch and sharing more meals too. She likes to read and fuss over the many house plants she takes care of as well as napping. I spend my time primarily in the rod room, working on and making bamboo fly rods as well as corresponding with many like associates in the rod making world.

OUCH ! ! ! !

It is the next day after surgery, and I’m ‘feeling it’ pretty much. Yesterday I had a left side inguinal hernia fixed. Not really too sure how long I’ve had this but have been ‘tucking my gut’ back in way to often since last Spring. During our Harley trip to southern New Mexico in the late summer really reminded me that I needed to get this fixed, and soon. Our insurance is changing at the end of the year because of Geris’ employment changes. The management and/or ownership of the dialysis unit of St. Patrick’s Hospital has changed and will be effective come January. He insurance options and carrier will change at that time, so ‘we’ decided that I should go ahead and get this done before the end of 2010.

I chose the Dr. that came recommended by the majority of professional and non-professionals in our area. Dr. Bellamah did the surgery on the 29th of December in the morning. I did not get the opportunity to speak with the Dr. after the operation, but he did tell Geri the details of the work performed. I guess the hernia had become as large as a fist, and needed a fairly large mesh patch to cover and reinforce the area. I told the Dr. before the surgery that I was going to be wrestling around large Harley-Davidson motorcycles for the foreseeable future, so please make the patch large and strong, and to ‘throw in a few extra stitches’ for good measure!!

Surgery was scheduled for 8:30, and Geri took me home from the hospital around 11:30. Now to wait for the bills to come in!! Ugh~~~.

I have a large ice pack bag given me at the hospital, and Geri picked up my pain meds from the hospital drug store. She took a couple days off from her work to take care of me the first couple of critical days. She is a great nurse, both figuratively and actually. You see, she is a Registered Nurse with St. Patrick’s Hospital, is my loving companion, so I am in the BEST of care.

My med is 325MG tabs of Oxycodone, which I have never taken for pain before. It IS effective, for sure, and really takes the edge off the pain.

Many years ago my old friend Dean had a double hernia surgery, and I remember that he had an infection issue with his, and damned near didn’t survive it. He is long gone now, and I wish he were still around to visit with about this… RIP, brother….

During my initial consultation with Dr. Bellamah, he indicated I would be healing for some stretch of time, and to plan being away from work for a week to three weeks, and that my lifting capabilities would be greatly reduced up to a few months. I work shipping and receiving for my employer, so that will hamper somewhat. It is the slowest time of year for our business, so this is the best time to take off. I know it is going to stretch and strain our finances a bit, but we feel we can handle it.

I am really looking forward to not having to deal with a herniated body come this summer. It will make life so much more productive and relaxed for me.

Meanwhile, I am home in the loving arms of my mate, warm and fed and with LOTS of computer time!!!!