CHAPTER III 



ROD-MAKING 



THOSE who have plenty of spare time, coupled with 

 skill in woodwork and metal, will not find it difficult 

 to construct a rod to their own liking. It is better to 

 work to a pattern, say, of an old favourite rod, but it 

 may not be quite so easy to match the material. 

 Canes, greenheart or other rod timbers can be 

 obtained from any firm specialising in rod-making 

 accessories. 



The tools, etc., required, are a small smoothing 

 plane, a range of flat i-inch files, including "dead 

 smooth," emery paper and glass paper, a vice with a 

 wedge of wood slotted for taking the diameter of the 

 joints, a couple of tapered mandrils, brass wire for 

 rivets, an Archimedean drill, French polish and non- 

 resinous varnish. 



The success of the whole cane rod will depend 

 solely upon the choice of the taper and strength of 

 the canes, and these will not require to be touched 

 except to round off the knots with a file and to plug 

 the hollow ends with hard wood. Thoroughly dry 

 and straighten the canes over a hot fire. They will 

 then be ready for reinforcing by plugging the hollow 

 ends with hard wood, applying silk wrappings over 

 the knots, French polishing and dressing the cane. 



If greenheart is used, it can be bought in the square, 

 and should be quite true and straight grained. A 

 " cast " to one side in the wood can never be satis- 

 factorily set right. The wood should be laid on a flat 



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