I need your help on my "new" Heddon #20

Re: I need your help on my "new" Heddon #20

feeds@yuku.com (freestoner) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 14:08:31 GMT

8X, by the standards of Heddon varnish meltdowns, you rod is not in that bad shape. You may be able to get it into good condition simply by going to the polish right away, without needing to get into sanding or steel wool.

I guarantee that as long as you don't get so carried away that you break a section, you can refinish that rod. If you can't do it, send it to me and I'll do it free, just to show you it can be done.

The rod I'm working on right now is...

Re: I need your help on my "new" Heddon #20

feeds@yuku.com (steel2afly) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 14:03:59 GMT

Heres a 20 that suffered a meltdown. Im fairly new to bamboo and restoration. At first I thought this rod would be a complete strip down and restore. But I figured it would be a good one to practice polishing with first. Used the brownells and now it looks like only a few replacement wraps will be needed and a few other little things. I was pleased to say the least with the Brownells results. Certainly wont be a gem of an example , but it will look and work just fine for fishin! Im pretty...

Re: I need your help on my "new" Heddon #20

feeds@yuku.com (fisherman911) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 13:52:35 GMT

There is a thread in the rod repair/restoration section called "restored a rod lately' . Go to the 4th section and there are several pictures of a Heddon #20 with tipping.

Re: I need your help on my "new" Heddon #20

feeds@yuku.com (8xtippet) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 13:21:28 GMT

Now that you've mentioned it, there's ghosting on all the wraps. This has been refinished at sometime in the past, leaving the tipping off? Would that explain that the varnish is so soft now that I can leave a fingerprint in it?

I guess I'm keeping it, I've already put some steel wool to the butt section, it cleaned up nicely. I've also cleaned up the grip. I started on the the mid, but the finish is so soft the steel wool isn't really doing anything....

Re: I need your help on my "new" Heddon #20

feeds@yuku.com (bobbeegee) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 11:45:35 GMT

Sure does jz2! That would explain it. Good eyes!

After cleaning up the varnish meltdown and bag fuzz, you might want to add the gold tips to the wraps.
Think you will be correct in doing so. Should look really sharp!

Bob

Re: I need your help on my "new" Heddon #20

feeds@yuku.com (aparramoure) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 11:17:31 GMT

jz2,,, looks like you nailed it on the head. Thus no tipping.

Re: I need your help on my "new" Heddon #20

feeds@yuku.com (jz2) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 11:08:06 GMT

in the close up shot of the ferrule, doesn't it look like ghosting at the ferrule wrap and on the guide wraps?

Re: I need your help on my "new" Heddon #20

feeds@yuku.com (aparramoure) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 10:48:18 GMT

A little elbow grease and you'll have a great rod.

Bob, my book shows maroon, gold tipping from 1930 to 1954, Jasper, yellow tipping from 1924 to 1929.

Could be a re-wrap some time in the past? Could be that one of the ladies wrapping for Heddon got lazy and didn't tip it? Good question. (?)

Re: I need your help on my "new" Heddon #20

feeds@yuku.com (8xtippet) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 09:52:45 GMT

So when do you date this rod? Are you saying I have a one-of-a-kind?
Here ya go, Bob. A few more pix...

Re: I need your help on my "new" Heddon #20

feeds@yuku.com (bobbeegee) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 08:40:14 GMT

Dave,

Just a curious observation.

You say the rod has the Heddon spiral signature? Would not have expected that, as your rod does not have the maroon with gold tipped wraps.
The plain maroon wraps were supposedly only used during the last couple of years Heddon made the Model 20 and I always thought they were
using the straight line signature solely in those days?

Oh well, I guess you should never say never!

Bob

Re: I need your help on my "new" Heddon #20

feeds@yuku.com (8xtippet) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 06:36:22 GMT

Wow, thanks Freestoner! I'm really blown away by your response, thanks for taking the time.

I found the auction towards the end, just enough time to do a little research, it was what I wanted and looked to be worth my money. I got it for less than I was willing to pay. Good thing, too. I'll take up thissue with the seller, but I honestly can't tell if it was ignorance or deception. I'll take it out today and cast it to see if I want to push for a return.
...

Re: I need your help on my "new" Heddon #20

feeds@yuku.com (fisherman911) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 06:14:06 GMT

I think the finish damage shown in the pictures could be much improved by rubbing it out with Brownells 3f and 5f polish. You can get it dirrectly from Brownells online. Over all it seems to be a very sound and fishable rod and with a little TLC it will serve you well.

If you want to see what can be done with a badly damaged finish go to my post "Help with a #35 Heddon" in the appraisals section. This rod started out a 100 times worse then yours.

Re: I need your help on my "new" Heddon #20

feeds@yuku.com (freestoner) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 03:00:43 GMT

This is actually more of a topic for the repairs and restoration folder- and that's where I got my first pointers on how to do it. Basically, the varnish gets polished out by using either gunstock polish or auto detailing polish- both of which I've used, with similar results, and both of which are apparently the same thing- rottenstone mixed with mineral oil. One of the formulas for Brownell's gunstock polish incorporates kerosene, which helps to soften the old caked varnish for...

Re: I need your help on my "new" Heddon #20

feeds@yuku.com (freestoner) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 02:58:30 GMT

That's a really common problem for Heddons- so common, in fact, that the saying goes that there are two kinds of Heddon bamboo rods; re-finished ones, and ones that need re-finishing; i.e., most all of the original condition rods. Although there are exceptions- mostly likely due to being well-stored in a low humidity, temperate climate.

Heddon used spray-on varnish to finish out their bamboo rods. I'm just guessing, but I think that probably resulted in especially thick...

I need your help on my "new" Heddon #20

feeds@yuku.com (8xtippet) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:20:29 GMT

I just received my first ever second hand rod, and I'm a little disappointed. I need to know if it's justified.
This Heddon #20 8-1/2' 2-1/2F 3/2 rod was bought online. There were several nice pictures and a wonderful description of how nice it was. And it is, to an extent. But, there was no mention of any flaws in the itrem description. I feel...