Orders

Before I started building, I collected rods. As a school teacher I couldn't afford all of the rods I wanted to own. So that is one main reason I started building. One thing that always amazed me was that builders would give you an estimate of when your rod would be ready and it would NEVER be ready on that date. Sometimes the rod wouldn't be ready anywhere near that date. I just figured when rod builders went to bamboo rod building school they offered a class on how not to deliver a rod on time. It had something to do ultimately with making their rods more desirable. Well, the shoe is on the other foot and sometimes I have a hard time delivering rods on time.

There are many reasons for not delivering rods on time and doing this blog isn't really one of them. Since switching to micro ferrules there is an increased time that goes into fitting and setting those. I didn't realize it at first, but quickly found out that the smaller ferrules don't set straight on the blank like longer ferrules do. The added time in assuring the ferrules are straight can be maddening. Another factor is the varnish I use. I want my rods to last a very long time. The particular varnish I use has tung oil and linseed oil in it. These two additives take longer to dry. Since I hand rub most of my rods with about 6-8 coats of varnish it can take almost a month just to do the varnishing and letting it cure. There are many other factors that play into delivering rods on time and it seems none of which are ever the same with each rod.

I am currently in the process of making 9 rods. I am closer to finishing some than others. After my trip to Idaho and Colorado I plan to take a several month break working on a couple of new tapers and lengths before I start my fall orders.

An added note I would like to thank who ever is visiting my blog from Iran. I didn't realize they fly fished in that country, but have been thinking if more people in that country did fly fish and with bamboo we would be whole lot closer with them!!!! :-)