What Varnish Do I Use To Repair Split Bamboo Fly Rod Guides

This Beautiful rod was made by Gary Lacey Photo by Louis Cahill

This Beautiful rod was fabricated past Gary Lacey Photograph past Louis Cahill

By Louis Cahill

I've had several folks request some content on making elementary repairs to bamboo fly rods.

I fully intend to to that for y'all, but it means that I have to find the fourth dimension to get in the shop. That seems unreasonably hard these days. Earlier I become into doing repairs, I thought information technology would be prudent to write about caring for that bamboo rod and maybe avoid some repairs all together.

Bamboo is not as finicky equally most people think. In fact it'southward remarkably tough but there are some basic rules for treatment and storing rods that will add to their longevity significantly. Unfortunately, too many guys end up with a nice bamboo rod before they know how to care for it and learn the hard fashion.

Most guys showtime out with graphite rods and assume that yous treat a bamboo rod the same way. It'south a fly rod, right? Yep, simply the materials are very different and some very common practices that are fine with a graphite rod will practice serious impairment to the boo.

General Care

I'll start with the simplest and most common matter boo nubes do to their rods. You know that little string on your rod sock? Why this thing exists, I'll never know. I've never had a rod and so eager to striking the river that I had to tie it downwardly but a lot of guys tie that string around the disassembled rod, I guess because it's in that location. Practise that to your bamboo rod and adjacent fourth dimension yous take it out to fish there volition be a piddling dog leg in the tip, only where that string falls. Cut that string off and throw it away.

One of the most damaging things to a bamboo rod is, ironically, water. Of course, it doesn't injure your rod to go information technology wet. What hurts information technology is to stay moisture. The absolute worst affair you can exercise to a bamboo rod it to seal it up in a rod tub moisture. Whatsoever amount of water trapped in an air tight tube with your rod will cause serious harm. The best you could come abroad with is mildew in the varnish just things will likely be worse. One time the wet penetrates the finish it will outset to rot the pikestaff. Once that happens the rod is done. Many bamboo rods that seem to accept broken for no reason were put away wet. Get out the rod out in its sock for a mean solar day or two earlier putting information technology back in the tube. I set mine on the drapery. Later sixteen years my wife doesn't fifty-fifty see them there anymore.

The varnish on your bamboo rod is a vital barrier that protects the cane. It is pretty resilient but there are a couple of easy means to screw it upwards. Never exit information technology in the hot motorcar, especially in a tube lying in the sun. The heat will bubble the stop and cause information technology to separate from the cane. The unabridged rod volition need to be refinished. Never use solvents on the rod. Even rubbing booze will damage the varnish.

Keeping yous rod clean is a skilful practise. Non only does information technology expect meliorate but it assures that no harmful chemicals or mildew go left on the finish. Don't over remember it and outset using harsh cleaning products on your rod. Soap and warm h2o is the best thing. You can use a soft vegetable brush on the cork and a tooth brush on the guides and hardware. Dry it thoroughly and oil the ferrules when you're done.

This actually applies to whatever rod but I'grand still shocked when I run across guys do information technology. Never stick a hook in your cork. If you lot're older than six y'all have no excuse for doing that.

Ferrule Care

The quickest mode to ruin a rod, almost beyond repair, is by twisting the ferrules. It's a common practice to twist ferrules on a graphite rod to seat or unseat them but that simple movement will will gall the metal ferrules on a bamboo rod. The ferrules will starting time to twist during fishing and eventually become as well loose to stay together. The only solution is new ferrules and that's a risky proposition no rod maker wants to have on.

Never put your rod together while the ferrules are wet. Moisture inside the assembled ferrules will cause corrosion and the ferrules volition stick. You'll risk breaking the rod getting them apart and once the corrosion is buffed down they wont fit as well. If yous do take stuck ferrules read my mail service on getting them autonomously safely. Here

Never go out a bamboo rod together over night. It's tempting on a multi-day trip to leave the rod strung up but again the ferrules volition stick and you'll be in a pickle. Have the fourth dimension to break the rod down and dry it every dark.

Keep your ferrules clean and lightly oiled. A Q-Tip works well for cleaning the within of the female ferrules and the all-time thing to make clean and oil them with is camilla oil. You tin can get it from a skilful woodworking supply. Information technology'due south the oil of the camilla blossom. It'southward completely inert and does non get rancid with fourth dimension. For the ferrule at the top of the mid on a three piece rod you will need to pinch some of the cotton off of the Q-Tip. It's all-time to store your rod with ferrule plugs in the female person ferrules but if y'all don't have them put the rod in its sock with the female person ferrules facing down to keep dust out of them. Check them before assembling the rod to be sure they are clean. Don't wax your ferrules. Some people will disagree with me but the wax builds up and gets nasty. Camilla oil is improve.

If your ferrules are bright, meaning not blued, whipped or finished, you tin can vitrify them with never slow to keep them looking skillful. Just put a bit of masking tape over the varnish where the bamboo meets the ferrule to continue from dulling the end.

When putting a rod together y'all will often encounter folks rub the male ferrule confronting their nose. Information technology'south not a expert idea. There's not only oil on your olfactory organ, at that place's table salt too. Salt can crusade corrosion on the ferrule. Some folks have torso chemistry that's worse than others. You come across the same affair on guitar strings. I can play a set for a year only I have friends who have to alter every two weeks. Again, employ camilla oil.

Bamboo rods are nifty fishing tools and a joy to ain and fish. In that location'due south no need to be afraid of them. Follow those simple rules and that new bamboo rod will concluding a whole lot longer and expect like new for years to come.

Louis Cahill

Gink & Gasoline

www.ginkandgasoline.com

hookups@ginkandgasoline.com

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