86 AMATEUR RODMAKING 



latter at the 66-inch mark. Warm the agate 

 top over the flame of a match and remove it 

 for the present. 



Select a number of corks and warm your 

 glue. A piece of thin 15-32 inch tubing is now 

 needed. An old ferrule will answer. File the 

 outside of one end until the edge is sharp. 

 Holding the tube in the center of a cork, with 

 a pad in the palm of the hand to prevent that 

 end from cutting you, turn the tube evenly until 

 it cuts through the cork like a wad-cutter. The 

 result will surprise you a nice smooth hole 

 through this seemingly difficult substance to 

 work. Do not, however, try to hammer the 

 tube through the cork. 



Drop this cork circlet over the tip of your 

 rod and push it slowly down to the butt, the 

 last inch of which has previously been coated 

 with hot glue. Punch out another cork, slide 

 it down, coat the first one with glue, press them 

 into close contact. Proceed in this manner 

 until you have ten corks on the rod, giving you 

 a handgrasp approximately five inches long. 



Now procure a piece of white pine 5 inches 

 long and % inch in diameter. Bore a 15-32- 

 hole through it and round off the outside until 

 it will go inside the reelseat easily. This should 

 be perfectly made, and it may be best to have 

 it turned in a lathe. Taper one end until it 



