Hello All
Thank You Everyone For Such Bountiful Bench Offerings So Wonderfully Shared !!!
Looks Like Folks Have Been Very Busy.
Must apologize for my sudden departure mid projects some 10 or so days ago.
Not to worry it wasn't anything anyone said,I've been under the weather sort of dancing to a different beat.
My Tickers Been Acting Up Again.
Before my departure had started 3 new projects and was finishing up 2 others putting on the finishing touches.
I'll be picking up where things left off soon enough,had planned on sharing photo's of my projects and took many photo's on the last day at the bench.
You see I share my work here in almost real time usually the same day or the next day as the work is being done.
The Point Of
Whats On Your Bench Is The Actual Work In Process.
Anyone whom has ever had rod work done by me knows this is how I have worked for years,ever keeping the clients involved with his or her projects in real time or as close to the work as possible.
Guess I'm Just Old Fashioned .
So Much so back In the Old Days I Used Poloroid Photo's and Hand Written Notes to document the work.
That's My Tip For Today
The Herters Bamboo Rod I was looking at for my friend is nearly finished,the ferrule was reworked,re qualified fitting amazingly well for brass.
The thread repair work is done, all that's left now is a reel seat exchange.
At some point someone switched out the original Herters Reel Seat with a lousy aluminum replacement.
Just so happens in my hoard of rod making components I have a New Old Stock Herters Reel Seat Complete With The Faded Price Tag.
It's not nearly as pretty as some of the stuff you have been using,however for this rod its just what it needs to become original & whole again.
The 8' Herters Cane Rod came in with a loud clicking ferrule,the ferrule also would not seat fully.
The click was so prominent you could feel it in the grip when casting the rod.
If You held the rod and flexed it by the grip and ferrule it sent vibrations into your hand.
Upon removing the Female 1/2 of Ferrule from the blank it was clear why the ferrule wouldn't seat.
someone had used a prick punch to tighten the ferrule.
That had actually split the blank by causing the splines to separate.
Will not go into all the details of the bamboo blank repairs those are better saved for elsewhere.
The ferrule was reworked and re qualified back to it's original condition less the tarnish.
Next the reel seat will be swapped,then the rod can go home to fish back in my old stomping grounds
Fiberglass 7'6" 2/1 Jenkins P.L.G. 5 Weight currently in process at one of my work stations,so far the grip was turned, the reel seat fitted,ferrule support ring made,fitted,guides selected and prepared.
I'm going to share "My Special Jenkins Thread" with you,this is something I only have shown to or offered to Custom Jenkins P.L.G.Rod Seekers.
Think you will agree The Colors Really Pop against the Blank Color.
These colors work like Black And Silver Jaspers does on a black blank another favorite.
All that's left now is about 3 hours of thread work and this rod will be in final finish.
The Carbon Fiber O.Y.R.S. 8' 3/1 4/5 Weight was also finished I'll get some pictures of the completed rod in my next rod photo session.
For now this was the final touches the dust plugs being made and fitted.
Before walking away from my bench the last doings were on the H.I. Cascade I'm remaking for my 9 year old Grandson.
Allot of work already went into this blank stripping,refinishing,re-gripping,the fancy reel seat,re-fitting the ferrules,straightening the blank sections lots and lots of work getting everything ready for thread work.
Managed to get the Butt section thread work completed 10 or so days ago.
The first coat of Color Preserver has been applied to the Gudebrod Size A Nylon Spring Green Thread.
The Can Of C.P. in the photo's has been used on countless rods,occasionally I have to thin the material with some Lacquer Thinner.
This is the C.P. I use on most Nylons when looking for my color to be spot on.
The Use Of Green Rubberized or Bonded cork as we used to call it was to get the green theme throughout.
The shape of the grip may be strange by your standards,however it's specifically custom made to a 9 year olds hand.
As my Grandson grows and his hand becomes larger he only need change the location of his griping.
Custom Made.
Reel Seat By Ray Lee.
No Winding Check Needed.
Salvaged Strippers Rock !
OOOOOOOOOOOO That Smell
Wet.
Color Samples
Thanks again for all your contributions,unfortunately my time here is going to be less again,I truly hope I helped everyone get through a unmentionable period for us all !! I'm currently being pulled in many directions all of them away from my Rod Making Benches,I'll do my best to get more up as the current projects finish up.
At this time I don't see myself starting any new projects however.
As always if anyone needs my help please don't hesitate to reach out,I'll always do what I can to help a friend or fellow Rod Maker .
Tight Lines And Finishing Up Loops
Andy Man