36 AMATEUR EODMAKING 



cutting before you can be satisfied with the 

 squared stock; and another thing, you must de- 

 cide which end of your stock is to be the butt, 

 or large end, before you begin the work of 

 tapering. 



There are two or three peculiarities about 

 this wood that will astonish you at first. Stock 

 that is cut thin may be very crooked. I have 

 worked pieces so crooked that it seemed a waste 

 of time to do anything with them, but after 

 they were finished and the rod hung up by the 

 top on a brad driven into the wall, all the kinks 

 soon disappeared and the rod became as 

 straight as a perfect arrow. 



This method of straightening is advisable 

 with any rod, and especially tips. Where rods 

 are put away in tackle cabinets or closets, with 

 all parts tied up in a cloth partition case, it 

 very often happens that one of the strings of 

 the case is tied more securely than the others, 

 thus bending the tips slightly; and, if left in this 

 shape for long, with perhaps some heavy object 

 resting against all, a very crooked rod may be 

 taken out later on. Even standing joints on 

 the floor with the tops resting against the wall 

 may warp them. Better hang tips up, and the 

 whole rod, too, if practicable. Dealers who 

 handle the finest wood rods often suspend them 



