Greetings,
I'm looking to acquire my first bamboo rod. Anyone know of an online dealer that specializes in Heddons. Thanks.
I'm looking to acquire my first bamboo rod. Anyone know of an online dealer that specializes in Heddons. Thanks.
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Heddon
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 scribe |
Heddon |
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Posts: 1 03/04/2009 09:28 |
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caneseeker |
#1 | |||
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Posts: 393 03/04/2009 10:00 |
Scribe,
You have come to the right place to find a good Heddon rod. By searching the classifieds here on the board, you might quite possibly find what you are looking for at a reasonable price. There is a lot to learn about bamboo and Heddons in particular, but if it's Heddon you want, you will find it here. Model, length, and condition are the variables that can make quite a disparity in price, so don't be shocked to see a nice Model 10 Blue Waters 8 1/2' 3pc/2tip for a couple hundred dollars and then a Model 50 President 7 1/2' in the same condition for over $1500. While all the Heddons are good rods, I might begin my search starting with the Model 14 Thorobred. It has good ferrules and adequate number of guides and the prices are reasonable. Don't, however, rule out a model 10 or 13 in nice condition in a desireable length. The Featherweight is a 2pc made in 8' and shorter lengths and offered in several models that many feel is one of the finest casting rods made. Of course, you can expect to pay a premium for the Featherweights. A less desireable feature about Heddon rods is the tendency for the bamboo at the mid section female ferrule to break. This is more common in the lighter weights of the 8 1/2' (1 3/4 ferrule). You will often see good used Heddons for sale with the ever present "short" mid. There may be other "gotchas" but this is the most common one that I can think of. Keep an opened mind, don't get in a hurry and enjoy the journey. I think Heddons are great rods and should provide you with a goal that doesn't break the bank. Marc |
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scribe |
#2 | |||
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Posts: 2 03/04/2009 10:57 |
Marc,
I'm not a collector, but if I'm going to buy vintage bamboo for a first rod, I may as well find something original. So thanks for the info. It will make the journey that much easier. Gary |
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oneculm |
#3 | |||
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Posts: 492 03/04/2009 10:57 |
Scribe I have sent you a PM dave
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cwood |
#4 | |||
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Posts: 536 03/04/2009 11:34 |
There is a fella on the board, Dave (oneculm) that often post nice Heddons for sale that I believe he refinishes. He fixed up a Phillipson for me and it has
been a great rod. If anything, he knows a lot about Heddons and really appreciates their great tapers. One of my first bamboo rods was a 8.5 ft. 2 f Black
Beuaty and it is a great rod. I've also owned and still own several others and all have been fantastic casters. Good luck.
Cwood |
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cwood |
#5 | |||
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Posts: 537 03/04/2009 11:35 |
I see Dave beat me to it. You are in good hands. Good luck!
CWood |
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mattcliff |
Ummm . . . | #6 | ||
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Posts: 74 03/05/2009 16:29 |
The problem with the female ferrule snapping off is real, and it can happen on a rod as stout as the 8 1/2-foot 2F. Still, I cannot recommend this taper
highly enough. Just be careful, and at all costs avoid getting into any arguments with the streamside vegetation.
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Eperous |
#7 | |||
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Posts: 29 03/05/2009 20:05 |
Matt,
Could you elaborate on your comment about the threat of a Heddon cane rod breaking at the female ferrule please? Years ago on my first tour with cane I had an English rod - I believe it was an R.H. Woods Constable - break just above the male ferrule. It could have been I damaged the tip and weaken it, it could have been anything, but I am very curious about your statement and Heddon rods. Thanks. Ed |
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 bobbeegee |
Bamboo break at the mid ferrule | #8 | ||
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Posts: 2456 03/05/2009 20:28 |
Regretably, I have to agree. My old "no name" 8' 3/2 2F succombed to this affliction.
My favorite rod too! A great taper, and I would love to somehow have it repaired without shortening the section. Possible? Bob Go Heels!!! |
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Eperous |
#9 | |||
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Posts: 30 03/05/2009 20:37 |
Could that mean a 2 1/2 f would have less of a chance of breaking than a 2 f? Are the breakages a function of the ferrule length or rod construction or both? Any thoughts....? |
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JPMarci |
A break like this one? | #10 | ||
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Posts: 171 03/05/2009 20:46 |
Bob,
Did your rod break like the one I posted a couple of weeks ago? This break was at the female on the mid of a 7.5 ft #17 1.5F. http://clarksclassicflyrodforum.yuku.com/topic/21886 This is the only rod I have had break. It did not snap off as much as explode on a back cast. John |
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tedgolden |
#11 | |||
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Posts: 2747 03/05/2009 20:51 Moderator |
Are the breakages a function of the ferrule length or rod construction or both?
I believe the general consensus is the 8 1/2' Heddons with a 2 F are prone to this problem. It must be a design flaw rather than construction fault or ferrule length. There are many reasons for breakage, most are user related, not manufacturer. |
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Eperous |
#12 | |||
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Posts: 31 03/05/2009 20:55 |
Drew,
Thanks. Ed |
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bobbeegee |
#13 | |||
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Posts: 2460 03/05/2009 21:17 |
JPMarci wrote: John, No it did not. I hadn't had the rod out of its tube since this happened back in September out in Montana on Belt Creek. Didn't want to look at it! I just took it out and was amazed that it took me a couple of minutes to actually find the delamination. When it happened it looked as if the rod had shattered. Now it just appears to be a delamination of the rod about 4 inches above the first guide on the midsection. I think a little injected glue and invisible wrap and I'm good to go! Unreal, I thought it was a disaster when it happened! bobbyg p.s. scribe, please forgive this stray from your original question. And most of all, don't let this put you off Heddon rods. They are really wonderful fishing rods and most are great entry level bamboo also! Go Heels!!!
Last Edited By: bobbeegee 03/05/2009 21:26.
Edited 1 time.
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mattcliff |
#14 | |||
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Posts: 75 03/05/2009 21:47 |
Eperous wrote:Ed: I can only speak from limited experience. When I took my Black Beauty out for the first time on he Pit River last fall, while I was gently (I swear!) trying to shake the line/leader loose from a bush in which they had become entangled, the female suddenly snapped off (as you can see in the picture to the right). I guess I have seen a umber of Heddons with short mids, so I assume it's a weak point in the taper. I believe there is a hump in the stress curve around that point. Matt |
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mattcliff |
#15 | |||
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Posts: 76 03/05/2009 21:57 |
Yup, I just checked the stress curve on Hexrod, calculated from the measurements I took of my 2F (before it broke). The stresses rise steadily throughout the
mid, with a steep rise just before the upper ferrule. A working theory would be that that, combined with the abrupt transition from cane to metal at that
point, could lead to breakage. Come to think of it, I did break a South Bend 346 at the same point a number of years ago, though during the more-honorable act
of casting rather than fighting with a bush.
Yes, I do tend to be a bit hard on the gear. |
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tedgolden |
#16 | |||
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Posts: 2748 03/05/2009 21:58 Moderator |
So is this type of failure than unique to 8 1/2 foot Heddons mostly, and not other length rods that they made?
That has been my limited experience, and not all 8 1/2' Heddons. Those with a 2F ferrule seem particularly afflicted. I am merely summarizing prevailing board experience, not mine personally. Others may interpret the data differently. Obviously a lot of those rods are still full length and go fishing all the time. |
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Eperous |
#17 | |||
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Posts: 32 03/05/2009 22:16 |
Thanks one and all, interesting stuff....
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freestoner.fiberglassflyro... |
#18 | |||
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Posts: 138 03/06/2009 00:15 |
I agree with Ted's remarks on the Heddon 8 1/2' 2F, based on abundant time browsing listings and auctions all over the place.
Earlier, someone mentioned that it was the 8 1/2' 1 3/4F rods that were more prone to midsection breakage at the ferrule, but I haven't noticed that to be the case. But I haven't seen nearly as many 1 3/4F rods offered for sale in the first place. The 2F models were evidently much more popular when originally made and sold. The problem with 8 1/2' 2F Heddons breaking just below the mid-tip female ferrule is so pronounced, in fact, that I'd say it's affected more than 50% of the rods I've seen offered up for sale. Interestingly enough, on more than one occasion I've heard from people claiming that they cast just as well with 1-5" of midsection missing. Also, I haven't seen a breakage problem on 8' 2F rods to nearly the same extent. I don't have a micrometer, so it's only an eyeball guess- but it appears to me as if that last 3-4" of midsection taper on the Heddon 8 1/2' 2F levels off at about the same diameter all the way up to the mid-tip female ferrule. For what that's worth. I've also wondered if the stock guide placement is to blame (at least partially)- and if arranging the guides so that there's a snake guide 2-3" below the mid-tip ferrule and 2-3" above it might help with the breakage problem, by distributing the stress of the line across the rod more evenly at that point. Finally, I've wondered whether reinforcing the last few inches of midsection with overwrapped thread might help prevent breakage on the full length 2F sections- possibly wrapped all the way to the welt of the midsection female ferrule.
Last Edited By: freestoner 03/06/2009 00:21.
Edited 3 times.
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Middle Branch |
#19 | |||
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Posts: 578 03/06/2009 00:55 |
One thing that I've noticed (I've broken several 8 1/2 foot Heddons at the mid) is all of the breaks were clean breaks. Pretty much like you cut it
with scissors, not a catastrophic fragmentation/splintered break like it would be if it was just a weak taper. This leads me to buy into the ferrule stations
dipped in hot sand theory. I know Sinclair says in his book that this treatment was limited to higher grade rods, but perhaps it was done this way on the lower
grade rods too? I don't know, all I know is all of the Heddon mids (2 8 1/2' 2F's and one 8 1/2' 2 1/2F) I've broken were clean breaks. Two
were right below the ferrule shoulder and one was right at the pin. I could see the half round mark where the pin sits on each end of the broken section.
And of course the pin-hole could be to blame for some of the breaks also. |
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freestoner.fiberglassflyro... |
#20 | |||
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Posts: 141 03/06/2009 04:31 |
Or the combination of the factors.
That is a shame, if so. A flaw in the construction process. I also wonder if the mid ferrule breakage problem was associated rods of a certain era- and if earlier or later models might not be prone to the problem. If weakening of the cane from the hot-sand treatment at the ferrules stations is the main issue, is the cane only weak under the ferrule? If the ferrule is re-set below that point, does that pretty much solve it from a functional standpoint? (And has anyone tried cutting back all three sections on a Heddon 8 1/2' 2F in the process of re-doing one, to make an 8' 3" rod with equal sections? Esthetically, the result would look better than the result when only the midsection is shortened- but I wonder how it affects the taper?) I've broken several 8 1/2 foot Heddons at the mid Ouch.
Last Edited By: freestoner 03/06/2009 04:38.
Edited 1 time.
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- Members Corner
- Forum Announcements
- Collecting Bamboo Fly Rods
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- Rod making, restoration, repairs and discussion on those related topics concerning bamboo rods.
- Rod and Reel Makers Forum
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- Appraisals & Identification of Bamboo Fly Rods
- Ephemera, empherma and Ephemerella.....
- Book Talk
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