MOUNTING AND FINISHING 51 



Wood forms for handgrasps can be pur- 

 chased from rodmakers in various lengths 

 and sizes, with either single or double grasp, 

 and with a hole of any size desired bored clear 

 through. They cost twenty to forty cents. If 

 you can have access to a lathe, however, it 

 will be a pleasure to turn your own handgrasps 

 from staghorn sumach, which you can obtain 

 in almost any thicket during a walk in the 

 country; or white pine. Bore the hole first, 

 fit a plug in this, center the ends, and shape 

 the outside to suit, bearing in mind that the 

 cord to be wound on will increase the diam- 

 eter about 1-16 inch. 



Cord for this purpose is obtainable from 

 fishing tackle dealers. Light green braided 

 cotton cord looks nice when varnished, and 

 makes a good firm grasp, but it is inferior to 

 cork. 



All ferrules, reelseats, tapers, and buttcaps 

 should be German silver. These cost a trifle 

 more than brass nickeled, but they are harder, 

 stronger, and more durable. Besides, nickel 

 glitters while German silver tarnishes just 

 enough to become slightly dull, but is not in- 

 juriously affected by the presence of chemicals 

 in the water. 



There are only three types of ferrules that 



