Restoring Bamboo Rods

Restoring Bamboo Rods
Douglas Easton
9/11/2004
Principles and Practice
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Definitions
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What's the difference between “Original” and
“Authentic?”
– Originality is priceless; authenticity can be bought. 1
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What does a “Rod Restorer” do?
– RESTORATION - return to a former state; (usually
fishable, with authentic parts).
– REFURBISH - renovate, make as if new; (strip and
replace with appropriate parts and finish).
– CONSERVE - keep from decaying; (for museum pieces).
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Mike Sinclair
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Bamboo Rod Grading System
from "Antique and Collectible Fishing Rods" Identification
and Value Guide by D. B. Homel
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MINT CONDITION
New or un circulated, a rod that looks perfect. The mint rod may show signs of careful
handling. Mint will always have original bag, case or tube. All tags, labels, decals are pristine.
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EXCELLENT CONDITION
The highest grade that can be assigned a second hand rod, just as it came from the
manufacturer Rod will display: Fine Original finish
– No missing sections or components
– No breaks, fractures, dirt or wear
– Shows evidence of minimal use
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Original bag, case with tags and labels
VERY GOOD CONDITION
A completely sound rod, no evidence of hard use or abuse. Rod will display:
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Original finish with few flaws
Grip, ferrules and reel seat show average, moderate use
No missing or altered components (exceptions noted)
Some minor wear to wraps and guides acceptable
Rod complete with original bag and tube or case
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Rod was well maintained and fully functional
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Condition Guide- Continued
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GOOD CONDITION
Essentially the same as "very good" condition rod, "fishable" with few more maladies or wear and tear,
"mostly" original and authentic.
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Repair or maintenance work on rod noticeable without being obnoxious.
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FAIR CONDITION
– Common characteristic of a "fair" rod is that it has been poorly refinished or needs some degree of
restoration.
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We're talking about some damage here, rather than use and wear. Often the original bag and tube are
missing.
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POOR CONDITION
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RESTORED*
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The rod needs complete restoration which might include construction of new rod sections.
Completely refinished to required level (usually very good to excellent) .
Original hardware/specifications were used
REFURBISHED*
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Non-original hardware and/or specifications were or may have been used.
stripped and all wraps refinished replaced
*Defined by Doug Easton
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A Rod in Mint Condition
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Heddon Premier #115 – Mint/Excellent Condition. Note the level of finish
on the rod is not the “Gossamer thread/high-gloss varnish” job we do on
the rods we make.
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Goals for the Restorer
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First- Do no harm!
– originality cannot ever be replaced (There are simply
some rods that should never be restored. They deserve
a place in a museum somewhere).
z Do as little as needed.
– The toughest job a restorer/repairer can undertake is to
replace one or two guides or wraps on a rod that is
otherwise in excellent condition. Think of it as a face-lift.
– If you (or your client) intend to fish the rod, you must
then determine how much needs to be done to reach
that goal.
z Do the best you can to maintain the original look and feel of
the rod.
– Use original components, colors, materials etc. Do not
over restore.
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Refurbish?
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Remember, as soon as you begin to strip a rod it
will never be the same!
– Somewhere there is a point where the value of
the rod in the refurbished state exceeds that of
the rod in the original state.
– Some rods cannot be made fishable without
refurbishing.
– Some rods cannot be made fishable with
refurbishing (Antique rods – pre 1900).
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Refurbish Vs. Restore
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What sorts of rods are most likely to qualify for
refurbishing?
– Good fishing rods with low to moderate
collector value
– Rods with serious flaws which interfere with
functionality and collectability
– Rods with little collector value, as is, can make
nice displays if refurbished
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Learning Curve
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Start with “handyman specials.”
Resources
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Books
Todd’s tips
Clark’s online bulletin board
The Rodmakers List
Online photos of rods (eBay & dealer’s sites)
Tools & equipment
– Standard rodmaker’s tools
– Thread collection
– Salvaged parts
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Techniques
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Standard rod making techniques
– Ferrule setting, wrapping, varnishing etc.
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Restorer techniques
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Identification & documentation
Thread and cane color matching
Finish restoration (polishing)
Finish removal
Scarfing
Cane repair (fractures/delaminations)
Straightening
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Standard Procedures
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Examine and document rod.
– Determine make model and approximate age of
rod.
– Make a tracing of rod
– Place lose parts in a labeled container
– Note all apparent problems (missing guides,
delaminations, lose ferrules, fractures, etc)
– Estimate the value of rod
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Determine requirements, benefits, and issues
involved in restoring, refurbishing or conserving
the rod.
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Time Requirements
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I timed it out - restoring rods, that is - with a time clock. Mostly
because I wondered what my hourly rate was for doing rod
restorations. After a while I stopped timing because it became
too depressing. I’m a little faster at performing some of the work
now, because I don’t make as many stupid mistakes that have to
be redone. But the truth is, it takes a lot of hours to restore a rod.
Just how long always depends on a lot of factors such as the
maker of the rod, its age, current condition, how much
restoration the customer desires, the phase of the Moon and
whether there is any likelihood of a decent hatch in the next few
days.
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~ Mike Sinclair
I don’t expect to make any money restoring rods! I mostly do it
for myself. ~ Doug Easton
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Some Case Studies
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Case Study #1: Gene Edwards
A & F Favorite 7’6” 3\2
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Missing one tip, other tip down 5”
Bag marks (sticky finish)
Loose butt ferrule
Tube but no bag
Guides missing
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A & F Favorite Continued
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Rod striped
– Two new tips made to
taper
– All snake guides replaced
with near match
– Ferrules removed/re-set
– Re-wrap with close match
thread
– Re-varnish
– Reel seat insert sanded &
re-varnished
– Cork cleaned
– New bag made
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Case Study #1: Gene Edwards
A & F Favorite
Refurbished Rod
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Case #2: Dame Stoddard (Boston)
9'6" 3\2 by FE Thomas
Pictures can be deceiving
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Case #2 Dame Stoddard
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Issues noted on inspection
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1 tip down 8”
Striping guide missing
Some snake guides missing
Some mildew on cane
Finish missing on some sections
Some intermediates missing
Reel seat carved with jack knife
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Case #2: Repair work done
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Reel seat sanded to shape
& refinished
Second tip scarfed
Striping guide replaced
with NS/Agatine
Finish removed by
scraping (original wraps
retained)
Missing guides replaced
with original Thomas
Missing intermediates
replaced
Rod re-varnished
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Case #2: Restored
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Case #3 F E Thomas Special
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Somewhere there is a
rod in there.
– Of all the tips there is
only one original and it
is broken at the butt
and the tip
– There is a dark stain at
the butt ferrule
– The tip ferrule is
missing and the butt
ferrule is cracked
– This rod is in baad
shape!
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Case #3 Restoration Work Done
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Make two tips based
on known tapers
Replace top ferrule
(build up station)
Scarf butt below
ferrule
Replace butt ferrule
Strip finish leaving
good wraps intact
Replace missing
guides & tip top
Re-wrap and
varnish
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Case #3: Restored
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Resources -Books
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Sinclair, M. Bamboo Rod Restoration Handbook.
Out of print – limited availability.
The book will help you understand a little of the
history of the major bamboo companies,
characteristics of their rods and gives exacting
detail on wrap colors and placements, reel seat
types, guide types etc. All the details necessary to
restore the rods included in this book . The book
concentrates on low and mid-range rods. All
important techniques are discussed.
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Resources - Books
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Kirkfield, Stuart The Fine Bamboo Fly Rod: A
Master’s Secrets of Restoration and Repair.
Out of Print- limited availability. This is a
comprehensive book on the subject. Starts
with good overview of bamboo fly rod
evaluation, and walks the reader through the
entire process of stripping, repair, varnishing,
and includes minute details of each process.
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Resources - Books
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Campbell, AJ Classic and Antique Fly-Fishing
Tackle. Lyons & Burford, 1997.
In-depth coverage of traditional tackle from the
1860s to the 1920s, and affordable production
tackle from the 1930s to the 1960s. Discusses the
history, design, construction, fishing
characteristics, and identification of gear, and
offers tips on future collectibles; he adds specific
instructions for the care and repair of antique and
classic tackle. Lots of helpful photos and old
advertisements.
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Books with Some Relevant
Information
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Garrison, E. & Carmichael, H.
A Master’s Guide to Building a Bamboo Fly
Rod. Out of print – limited availability
Cattanach, W. Handcrafting Bamboo Fly
Rods. Lyons Press, 2000
Gould, R. Constructing Cane Rods: Secrets
of the Bamboo Fly Rod. Frank Amato
Publications, 1998
Schweibert, E. Trout, 1978 and 1984 Out of
print –limited availability
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- The End -
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