170 AMATEUR RODMAKING 



ners rounded slightly. It is then ready for 

 handgrasp and ferrules. I prefer to rub 

 lightly with varnish and let this dry before 

 winding. Split or serrated ferrules should be 

 used on bamboo rods in preference to the ordi- 

 nary capped ferrules, and in fitting these only 

 the corners of the bamboo should be removed. 



To recapitulate: In order to lead from step 

 to step without a break, I have tried to de- 

 scribe how the butt and tips of a two-piece rod 

 may be made. It naturally follows that a 

 three-piece or a one-piece rod is made in the 

 same fashion, the depth of the grooves in 

 your little block varying to accord with the 

 caliber of the rod-to-be. 



I would, however, advise you to make sev- 

 eral experimental sections of cane before at- 

 tempting full length strips; in other words, to 

 practice with short pieces until you master first 

 principles. 



In order to do this, make your six-inch block 

 (Fig. 48) first of all. Take some rejected 

 strips a foot or two in length and bevel and 

 finish them with great care, having in mind a 

 certain taper and following this religiously. It 

 is surprising how quickly this will teach you the 

 niceties of the system. The short pieces will 

 be handy to fit and glue together, and later 



