158 AMATEUR RODMAKING 



simplicity, that your first groove is to be for 

 the rough beveling of the strips of the butt 

 joint of a two-piece rod, whose diameter at 

 the large end is to be 15-32 of an inch, and 

 at the small end 9-32. We will also assume 

 that the depth of the groove is uniformly % 

 inch from end to end. Secure the block against 

 shifting and plane its face until the depth of 

 the groove at one end is 15-64 and at the 

 other 9-64 inch. To be certain there are no 

 uneven places, test with a straight edge, both 

 lengthwise and across the block, then mark its 

 entire face with a pencil. 



The depth of the second groove will range 

 from 9-64 to 3-64, assuming that the tip end 

 of your rod is to be 3-32 inch when finished. 



Now place a squared strip of cane in the 

 large groove of your block, with the rind at 

 one side, and take off a very fine shaving with 

 your plane. Turn the strip and plane the 

 other side, being careful to go over the knots 

 with a shearing motion, else the plane will 

 " bite " into the knots. See that you do not 

 cut into the face of the block, which you 

 marked with pencil for this purpose. 



By this time your strip will be roughly tri- 

 angular, but the edges should not be sharp. 

 Take up another strip and bevel it in the 



