CHAPTER XIV 



SPLIT BAMBOO RODMAKING FOR THE BEGINNER 



FEW amateurs attempt to make split 

 bamboo rods because they believe the 

 work is too complicated. It is at once 

 a difficult and yet a very simple proposition, 

 as will appear later on. Good material prop- 

 erly worked up will give you a first-class rod. 

 Patience and perseverance are necessary, for 

 the preparatory work requires great care, and 

 the least slip of plane or file may ruin an other- 

 wise perfect strip. 



You cannot copy a wood rod in bamboo, for 

 aside from the fact that they are essentially 

 different in every way, you can always measure 

 the exact diameter of your wood rods, but 

 must measure the " flat " surfaces of the hex- 

 agonal bamboo, and these do not give true cali- 

 bers. Neither can you hope to determine its 

 calibers in the professional way. Long experi- 

 ence tells them where a rod needs strength, 

 and where it should be tapered rapidly. Even 

 in examining one of their rods you will not 

 notice the slight variations at certain places, 

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