152 AMATEUR RODMAKING 



which seem trivial to you, but are the result 

 of burning much midnight oil and trying, alter- 

 ing, testing to attain perfection. 



In making each of the strips you halve the 

 actual caliber, but only approximately. Finally, 

 you must work very slowly. If you finish six 

 perfect strips of whatever length in a day you 

 will work faster than you should. Remember 

 that you cannot use your split bamboo rod as 

 soon as finished, as you can a wood rod. 

 Therefore, go slow. 



These remarks are not intended to discour- 

 age you, but rather to make you cautious. The 

 first time I actually finished six strips of bam- 

 boo and began to glue them, my hands trem- 

 bled so that the work was very poorly done; 

 for I had been told that I could not do it, and 

 I half expected them to fly apart despite the 

 excess of glue on the strips, on my hands and 

 on the floor. As a matter of fact, you will 

 be delighted just as I was and the result 

 will be much more satisfactory than you antici- 

 pate. 



If you decide to use Calcutta, select several 

 canes i% inches or more in diameter at the 

 large end, having in mind the fact that the 

 burns must not penetrate the enamel. Pound 

 each piece smartly on the floor and examine 



