How and where did you learn to make Bamboo Rods?

Re: How and where did you learn to make Bamboo Rods?

feeds@yuku.com (jayhake) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 19:34:05 GMT

I was at a restaurant/bar once where there was a flamenco guitarist playing. He was outstanding. I went up to him and asked him when he learned to play guitar. He said, "I started playing 20 years ago and I am still learning." This is how I feel about bamboo. I started learning a couple of years ago with the help of several builders, including Matt Schliske, Roger Bill, and of course numerous e-mails to the esteemed Rev. Boyd. I have only made a few rods. I will be learning for years.

Re: How and where did you learn to make Bamboo Rods?

feeds@yuku.com (mdraft1) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 19:21:32 GMT

I showed up at Ron Barch's house one day looking for a few pieces of bamboo to practice with and he ended up spending the summer teaching me how to build rods. He's a great guy and very generous with his time and talent.

Re: How and where did you learn to make Bamboo Rods?

feeds@yuku.com (Blitzen) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 22:24:22 GMT

I learned from A.J. Thramer.

Re: How and where did you learn to make Bamboo Rods?

feeds@yuku.com (john channer) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 23:59:27 GMT

I learned the general ideas from Claude Kreider's book first, then Wayne's book . I made my forms and started my first rod on saw horses in the yard while I was building my first shack, er, shop. I don't think I bought the Garrison book until sometime after the tenth rod or so. Rodmaking is like anything else you do with your hands, you get the tools and materials then you proceed to make mistakes and screw things up and eventually, if you apply your mind, you learn how to make it...

Re: How and where did you learn to make Bamboo Rods?

feeds@yuku.com (oysterbamboo) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:56:03 GMT

Bought a copy of "the bible", and haven't been the same since.

Bill O.

Re: How and where did you learn to make Bamboo Rods?

feeds@yuku.com (fisheye444) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 12:43:57 GMT

I came to this site for an appraisal on my Grandfather's old Heddon Bill Stanley Favorite. It didn't ammount to much, but its invaluble to me ~ I'm currently bringing it back to life, which is a wonderful thrill.

I bought Wayne's book and a couple culms, tried to build my own forms, then bought some, and began my quick descent into the this never ending whirlpool of rodmaking. One thing always seems to lead to another. I bought a Granger to restore and sought out...

Re: How and where did you learn to make Bamboo Rods?

feeds@yuku.com (Joel Anderson) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 12:05:45 GMT

My story pretty much parallels Hexamainiac's (Looking forward to meeting you tomorrow, Henry!) I think we all reach a point in our fly fishing lives where we seek a new challenge. I'd always been interested in cane, but I couldn't justify the expense. So I thought I buy a second hand rod. Doing research, I found Lon Blauvelts class and calculated that I could learn to build my own rod for about th same price as a good used rod, and like Hex, the classes were very handy to me. I...

Re: How and where did you learn to make Bamboo Rods?

feeds@yuku.com (Tarheel) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 08:59:24 GMT

I had the good fortune to break an old bamboo rod that someone had given me. This led to my introduction to Monty Kirby. Monty convinced me that I could make a bamboo rod, then had me start my second rod before the varnish was dry. I couldn't have asked for a more patient teacher. Monty is a constant tinkerer. He is always looking for a different (not necessarily better/easier) way of doing things. If he ever read some where that a plane would work better if you worked in only your...

Re: How and where did you learn to make Bamboo Rods?

feeds@yuku.com (HexaMaineiac) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:37:17 GMT

At a flyfishing show, thought that's interesting.
Then got the GW catalog looking for components to build plastic and realized that people really made these bamboo rods.
Then, Kathy Scott showed our TU chapter the video she made of David making a bamboo rod.
Next thing I know, I'm taking a week-long vacation to take Lon Blauvelt's class, handily a half-hour from home.....

Now I've got books by Maurer, Cattanach, Garrison/Carmichael, Howell, Holden,...

Re: How and where did you learn to make Bamboo Rods?

feeds@yuku.com (Photojoe4) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 23:51:01 GMT

I have had the great fortune to have been taught by three of our crafts most gifted individuals- Chet Croco, Bill Bennett and Daryll Whitehead. Whatever rodmaking skills I have aquired are a result of the time I have spent in their company.

Re: How and where did you learn to make Bamboo Rods?

feeds@yuku.com (Lee Koch) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 21:56:58 GMT

In the 90's I started buying $20 junkers and re-habbing them, then eventually moved up to $80-$100 junkers (abused Grangers and Phillipsons, in general), then eventually decided I could make these things myself. Bought Cattanaugh's book, spent 2 years gearing up, and finished my first 2 rods without ever having spoken with a living rodmaker. Then I learned about the rodmakers' gatherings, (SRG 2002 the first one) and most everything I've learned of good came from them,...

Re: How and where did you learn to make Bamboo Rods?

feeds@yuku.com (tapermaker) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:36:48 GMT

My addiction to cane rods led me to many books on the subject.a voracious reader ,this wetted my appetite.I stared by doing restorations on rods i found at flea markets ,garage sales and the like.This led to questions that were not covered well in the books.I was fortunate to run into a man who had been restoring and making rods for 20yrs. we started a friendship while fishing and talking cane. thousands of questions later ,my restorations started taking on a more polished look.This fellow...

Re: How and where did you learn to make Bamboo Rods?

feeds@yuku.com (jim royston) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 17:41:23 GMT

After a 30 year wait, from the time that Garrison's/Carmichael's book was published, I had the great good fortune of having the following question answered here.
Who's splitting cane in Dallas? And Dan Smith replied that he would be happy to show me the ropes.
I had forms, planes, books, etc but without hands on assistance I don't think I would have ever gotten it done.

Re: How and where did you learn to make Bamboo Rods?

feeds@yuku.com (fishketcha) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 17:25:34 GMT

I was lucky. It was under the close supervision of the late George W. Barnes. He is probably the most unrecognized leader in our bamboo rod making passion. George would go out of his way to make sure that any questions asked of him, were answered clearly in order for another to excel towards perfection in the triumph of making their own bamboo rod.

Lead on George.

Re: How and where did you learn to make Bamboo Rods?

feeds@yuku.com (BigTJ) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 13:33:55 GMT

Bob hit the nail on the head. As, Emerson said, nobody could have taught Shakespeare poetry any more than somebody could have taught Beethoven how to write music. I just read an article on Eddie Van Halen, the guy doesn't even know how to read music, yet look at the songs he's wrote. If you want to be the best you can be, start with books and advice, but ultimately you will have to figure out things for yourself and make the process "your own". It's the personal...

Re: How and where did you learn to make Bamboo Rods?

feeds@yuku.com (Larry Swearingen) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 12:39:31 GMT

Well let's see.....
Wayne Cattanach's book
Gearge Mauer's book
Rodmaker's Listserv
and most importantly an afternoon spent with Tony Spezio in Flippin, AR !
That afternoon with Tony was the big thing that actually got me going.
Yes, I can do this. It's NOT rocket science. Just need to be accurate.
And consistent. And stubborn. And have a wife that's not always on my case
with honey-do's.

Re: How and where did you learn to make Bamboo Rods?

feeds@yuku.com (rlnunleycom) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 12:38:06 GMT

I know now there were, but 20 years ago, I didn't know there were any books about bamboo rodmaking... I didn't exactly live in "Flyfishing Heaven" ya know... so I started bugging people.

First, Gary Howells, who was very guarded at first, but opened up over the years to give me a few tidbits. I sent one of my early rods to Gary, probably my 20th rod or so. He was kind but critical, telling me that the rod was "OK", but nowhere near perfect, pointed out...

Re: How and where did you learn to make Bamboo Rods?

feeds@yuku.com (WhoBeBoo) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 10:34:17 GMT

First I bought the basic books to know what I was getting in to...that helped me decide on my approach...I decided on nodeless so that eliminated some of the steps (and added a few different steps.) Also my first rods are one piece jobs so that eliminates learning ferruling.
I first got the bug to build a rod in early 2008 and my goal was to have a finished first rod by the Southern Rodmakers Gathering in October.
It took me all through Spring and Summer to make the planing forms...

Re: How and where did you learn to make Bamboo Rods?

feeds@yuku.com (Chip Node) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 10:29:40 GMT

Made the mistake of reading Garrison/Carmichael book - never was that good in math! So, it took me another four years before picking up Wayne's book and the light bulb went off that I can do this. Like Pete said start, you really don't need a lot in the way of tools. I got set up with what it would of cost to buy a new rod, figured my time was better spent making rods then equipment. My only power tool being a heat gun for straightening and running a Neumanann style oven for heat...

Re: How and where did you learn to make Bamboo Rods?

feeds@yuku.com (pvansch1) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 09:33:37 GMT

Joel,
Ooops!! Forgot about those!! LOL

From past readings mostly on the Rodmakers List serv, the hardest part to to making a rod is getting started, "Just do it"
People spend time and $$ gathering tools and gadgets, making tools etc.
Get the basics;
Roughing form
Plane and a decent blade
A way to sharpen the plane (wet dry paper and the scary sharp system)
Final planing forms
Caliper / micrometer
Depth gage
Msic stuff;...

How and where did you learn to make Bamboo Rods?

feeds@yuku.com (franklin) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 01:49:54 GMT

I am curious to where and how you all learned to make Bamboo rods? Thanks Paul