54 AMATEUR RODMAKING 



novice in tapering his joints. This also applies 

 to the center. In purchasing ferrules always 

 specify " capped and welted ferrules, closed- 

 end centers." Some of the centers are left 



Fig. 14. Plain Capped and Welted Ferrules. 



open at the bottom, which is necessary when 

 dowels are to be put in. 



I have given preference to capped ferrules 

 for the reason that they are better for the 

 novice to work with than straight ferrules. By 

 straight ferrules I mean those in which the 

 female is a true cylinder inside and out. Many 

 serrated and split ferrules are made straight, 

 but if they are not to be fastened with pins, 

 they may be set too far down on the wood 

 and work loose more easily if the cementing is 

 imperfectly done. It is possible to obtain 

 straight ferrules which are shorter than those 

 that are capped. For three-joint rods less 

 than six feet in length, by using short straight 

 ferrules, you can slightly lessen the total 



