SPLIT BAMBOO RODMAKING 189 



two inches the finished length of joint. Put 

 identification marks on each strip, and lay them 

 all aside. 



Select another set of strips for the middle 

 joint of your rod ; and two more sets for the 

 tips that is, if you intend to make a spare 

 one. It is sometimes well, however, to leave 

 the tips until the last, for it is more than prob- 

 able that you will reject some strips after they 

 are partly finished, as not quite up to standard 

 for butt or joint, and if these are not defec- 

 tive in any way they may be worked over for 

 tips. 



In all of this work of selection it is a good 

 plan not to pick out for any one joint more 

 than two strips from each cane split up, and 

 one would be even better. From several 

 good canes it is likely you will get a better 

 set than if they were all taken from one or 

 two. If two strips from the same cane are 

 put in a joint, see that they do not lie on dia- 

 metrically opposite sides, as the strips of a 

 rod work in pairs, and each pair should con- 

 sist of two perfect strips. 



Mr. Letterman prepares the rectangular 

 strips for the final beveling by drawing them 

 through the large V in his center gauge. 

 These gauges are highly tempered, and the 



