Would you rather own and fish a correctly restored rod or the same rod in unrestored condition that has significant cosmetic issues? Which would have the
higher dollar value? Would it make a difference if it were a higher or lower end rod such as Leonard vs. Heddon? I own and fish both restored and un and I find
that I like each for different reasons. My restored rods give me pleasure to see that after decades of use and/or abuse they are again catching fish and look
as good as they did many years ago. And I love fishing my unrestored rods that have been taken care of because I feel part of a continuum of fishermen that
have enjoyed the pleasure of using a well made rod. The patina and cosmetic flaws are evidence of a job well done -- and are a badge of honor.
This forum began as Clark's Classic Bamboo Rod Forum, founded by Clark Davis for all who share a passion for classic rods. The forum is now owned by Whitefish Press aka Dr. Todd Larson - banjo.
For those who don't use English as their primary language we now have a translator for your language of choice hosted by Google.
0 Kudo
- Members Corner
- Forum Announcements
- Collecting Bamboo Fly Rods
- Fishing Bamboo Fly Rods
- Rod making, restoration, repairs and discussion on those related topics concerning bamboo rods.
- Rod and Reel Makers Forum
- Information About Makers & Manufacturers
- Taper Exchange
- Appraisals & Identification of Bamboo Fly Rods
- Ephemera, empherma and Ephemerella.....
- Book Talk
- Photos, paintings, written stories and talents.
- Classic Reels
- Collecting and Tying Classic Flies
- The Cooks Kitchen
- The Classic Fly Rod Classifieds
- Technical Support
To restore or not to restore -- that is the question
| Author | Comment | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 tiptop |
To restore or not to restore -- that is the question |
Lead | ||
|
Posts: 341 09/12/2008 16:36 |
|
|||
|
|
||||
|
kimk |
#1 | |||
|
Posts: 588 09/12/2008 18:35 |
A fly rod is made to be fished, and just like the fishermen who use them, fly rods show the years. I don't think there is any thing wrong with a rod which
shows the evidence of it's time on the water and I have a few rods that are in original but well worn condition. I touch up the varnish as needed and fish
them. Then there are rods which were unfishable when I received them. If the seat, grips and ferrules are all intact I restore the rod to the original wraps
and colors. If I have to replace things like the reel seat, and if it is a Monty or H-I or the like, I figure the originality is gone and I will take some
liberties in the rebuild.
AgMD |
|||
|
|
||||
|
Southbranch |
#2 | |||
|
Posts: 362 09/12/2008 21:02 |
If a rod is in good enough condition to fish with, that's what I will do. If it needs minor repairs, that's what I will have done. If it needs more
than that, and it is a desireable rod, a conservative restoration would be the ticket.
|
|||
|
|
||||
 Flyfishbill |
#3 | |||
|
Posts: 1006 09/13/2008 08:30 |
I think a rod should only be restored or refurbished if the condition of the rod is such that it is not fishable or possible damage could could result if
fished (i.e. loose ferrules). For example, I had a Folsom that the varnish was cracked from butt to tip, the guides were corroded, and the cork was very soft.
I had the rod redone and it is great. When I use to buy Phillipsons and Grangers, I would fish as is.
FFBill
Go Bucks! |
|||
|
|
||||
|
Gnome |
#4 | |||
|
Posts: 1705 09/13/2008 09:56 King of the Gnomes |
And there will always be that small group of rods that no matter how much we want to fish them they should be held in reverence and awe and that list might
include;
H.L.Leonard , Hiram himself. Murphy Krider Phillipe Conroy etc. There are always exceptions as we owe the chance to see these rods in their original condition by the many generations of anglers yet to wet a line. To take one out and fish it and break it would be a tragedy of epic proportions in the gnomes view Jeff My 4 tipped Nichols has two tips that are short and one was broken in modern times. A tragedy with out a doubt. |
|||
|
|
||||
|
Flyman615 |
Restoration | #5 | ||
|
Posts: 2894 09/13/2008 10:37 |
Never replace that which you can repair;
never repair that which you can refinish; never refinish that which you can restore; never restore that which you can clean; never clean that which you can use. -Anonymous |
|||
|
|
||||
|
hatch1 |
Restoration or not | #6 | ||
|
Posts: 189 09/13/2008 11:46 |
Classic rods, classic cars, classic antique furniture.Imo, rusted guides on a Payne rod are the same as a rusted fender on a '68 Shelby King of the Road.
Touched up varish jobs generally are as bad as a coat of shellac on a fine cabinet. A good restoration job has its place and I would rather fish with a M R
Dickerson than my uncle Harrys varnish overcoat from 1962. Just my .02 worth.
|
|||
|
|
||||
|
joaniebo |
#7 | |||
|
Posts: 1595 09/13/2008 11:50 |
I remember reading that Garrison switched from using spar varnish to the use of Varmor polyurethane because it was more durable and he didn't have to
"refinish" customers' rods every few years. If Garrison refinished his rods, who am I to disagree with him ? !
Cheers and Safe Fishing Bob |
|||
|
|
||||
|
john channer |
#8 | |||
|
Posts: 641 09/14/2008 23:26 |
Like most every other question about bamboo rods, the only answer is"depends". Generally speaking, the more it's worth, the less should be done
to it as the value of any antique depends on it being in original condition. You have to decide what you want a rod for, it's use or it's value,
sometimes there is a big conflict of interest involved.
john |
|||
|
|
||||
|
Serendipity |
#9 | |||
|
Posts: 1231 09/15/2008 00:47 |
In another thread, I just mentioned a conversation that I had recently with Tom Dorsey . I'm feeling like a name dropper. Nevertheless, something he said
during that conversation may be relevant here. I brought a Henry's Fork to him to have two wraps redone because the original had small cosmetic blemishes
that I thought detracted from a rod whose varnish coat was otherwise perfect. (You can see the rod in my profile.) Tom was pleased to do the work because he
loves to see his rods well cared for. He told me about buyers who would get a new rod, fish it hard and not give it proper care and then bring it back in
neglected and abused and ask him to make it like new. He said he hated to see fine rods abused by people who could afford to buy anything they wanted but
didn't show a trace of respect for the craft or the beauty of the rod. I think his comment has a place in this conversation.
Personally, I'm not altogether clear what my position is on restoration. I guess it depends on the value of the rod, its condition and the quality of the restoration. To those who argue that rods were made to be fished, so we should fish 'em hard, I'd point out that many older cane rods are available today precisely because people didn't fish them, or took exceptional care of them. Where art and high craft are involved a certain amount of stewardship is a good thing. richard |
|||
|
|
||||
|
WatercolorMan |
#10 | |||
|
Posts: 1018 09/15/2008 03:45 |
Tiptop It's a great question but very hard to answer. I like Johns answer "depends". . .
Yes, I have been fishing unrestored rods with cosmetic issues for years. If you like the way they fish why not. I also like to fish the rods I've had correctly restored. I like the idea of rod redone and ready to be fished another 50 years or more. I have several rods with there badge of honor proudly worn out on the river. I do get a little extra something when I see my 1927 Leonard bend in half as a fish makes his run as it has done so many times over the last 80 years. I think there were made to go fishing and we should do what we can to keep as many rods as possible in "fishing condition", and take them out to the river. What is fishing condition "depends". . . |
|||
|
|
||||
|
czkid |
Make Sure of Your Definition of "Restore" | #11 | ||
|
Posts: 3629 09/15/2008 08:27 Moderator |
Because someone's definition of "restore" was different than other folks, I now own a couple beautiful PHY rods at prices I could afford. The
classic definition of "restore" is to return the rod to "like new" condition INCLUDING all the writing, etc. There was a time that that
wasn't considered important I guess, and so therefore I'm a lucky owner.
Otherwise, I agree wholeheartedly with the gentlemen before. As long as the wraps are faithfully done, and the materials used conform to the original... why not??? Especially if the previous owner didn't take care of the rod. IMHO you are doing the rod a service, in that bad varnish can allow damage to the cane. Missing guides can put odd strains on the rod. There are probably a host of other "no-no's" I haven't mentioned..... Ralph |
|||
|
|
||||
|
fishbates |
#12 | |||
|
Posts: 57 09/16/2008 22:47 |
excellent points, i have had several rods restored and only accept perfect restorations, correct wraps in pattern, and color, correct guides and even weather
the rod is dipped or brushed, ec powell rods are very lightly varnished, and paynes a bit more both brushed, garrisons are dipped.
my last gillum looks much better redone and the lettering is more legable redone then before. dave |
|||
|
|
||||
|
wb4tjh |
#13 | |||
|
Posts: 369 09/18/2008 13:09 |
If you have a sound, but older car and it only needs a new coat of paint, it's a lot cheaper to get it repainted than to repace it. If I have a sound, well
made rod that might have some cosmetic issues or minor mechanical problems, I will get it repaired/refinished to original or better condition. Then like the
car, I will take it out and USE it. If anything, the rod will come out ahead of being brand new, because the varnishes and other matierials of today are much
superior in many cases to what was avaiable years ago.
Fine flyrods can be made from different materials, but bamboo is the Benchmark against which all the rest are compared......
|
|||
|
|
||||
- Members Corner
- Forum Announcements
- Collecting Bamboo Fly Rods
- Fishing Bamboo Fly Rods
- Rod making, restoration, repairs and discussion on those related topics concerning bamboo rods.
- Rod and Reel Makers Forum
- Information About Makers & Manufacturers
- Taper Exchange
- Appraisals & Identification of Bamboo Fly Rods
- Ephemera, empherma and Ephemerella.....
- Book Talk
- Photos, paintings, written stories and talents.
- Classic Reels
- Collecting and Tying Classic Flies
- The Cooks Kitchen
- The Classic Fly Rod Classifieds
- Technical Support
Quick Reply
The Orvis database by Greg Reynolds Finally available again!!
Check out the Paul Young Rod Co. database which is owned and maintained by member Robert Golder (quashnet).
Paul Young Rod Co. database by quashnet
DISCLAIMER:The views, and opinions, posted here are the sole responsibility of the poster. Negative comments, when directed at individuals, or other private concerns, will not be tolerated, posters should treat this media no differently than any other media source, in other words, if you would not submit what you are going to post in the newspaper, or a magazine, and sign your name as the author, kindly refrain from doing so here. The Classic Fly Rod Forum is not an open air forum for vendor/maker complaints. If you seek resolution, it is recommended you talk to the vendor/maker. If you seek an audience, it is recommended you go elsewhere. The admin and the Moderators reserve the right to remove any items deemed inappropriate according to the rules of conduct prominently displayed on each forum. If you have any questions or concerns you are free to email us at
send email to the Classic Fly Rod Forum
Posting to sell Domain names and the like, i.e. SPAM, is against YUKU Policy, if you post these types of posts here you will be banned from this board and YUKU will more than likely ban you from the site entirely. Thank you..........
The Fly Fishing Loop is sponsored by flydepot.com
[ Home Waters | Next | Random | List | Search ]
