SPLIT BAMBOO EODMAKING 175 



not with a wobbling hand plane or file? If 

 you make up a set of joints for a rod, work- 

 ing entirely with hand tools, would you refuse 

 to prepare the ends for the ferrules on a fine 

 lathe, on the ground that that was machine 

 work, and whittle the ends to fit instead? 



I am merely stating a case. Think it over. 

 If you possess the skill and the equipment, try 

 it. Otherwise, let us see what may be done 

 with an improved plane. A great deal of 

 very satisfactory work, I assure you; work 

 that is absorbing, interesting to a degree, and 

 in which you will find recreation and freedom 

 from worry and care. 



In Chapter XIV I favored the short, 

 grooved block and the filing of the strips. 

 My reasons for so doing was to give novices 

 a very simple method. I believed then, and 

 still believe, that a full length groove is better, 

 but it is not every beginner that is handy 

 enough with even simple tools to work in this 

 manner. Making one groove for the strips 

 for each rod joint requires time and care and 

 should be considered a very important part 

 of the work. 



For this purpose I procured two blocks of 

 hard maple from a mill man who assured me 

 that the plank from which he cut them had been 



