Bamboo is a beautiful light hard wood but is a nightmare to work with on the lathe as it has a tendency to split and come off in chunks. This is how we take this: The first step is to plane it to get parallel flat edges - here I am just using a standard wood plane set to a fine cut. Once I have two flat surfaces on each side it is time to saw sections and then stack them and glue them. Finally drill a centre hole and turn very carefully on the lathe. I had to sharpen my lathe chisels a couple of times through the process. I can’t emphasise the importance of patience and sharp tools. And this is how finished item ready to be installed.
This custom glass fly rod built on a Kabuto fly blank is made with transparent guide wraps, an agate stripping guide from Perfect Agate Guides in Poland, a Lemke reel seat and flor grade Portuguese cork. The reel seat was turned from a beautiful piece of highly figured olive wood from Bethlehem. This is a lovely example of a new school fibreglass fly rod custom built. GouldFish Custom Rods
