YOLO! - FlyBillz' First Bamboo Build

Mike Monsos said:
My son just showed me a way of uploading video content links (you are in trouble now LOL). So, here is a quick little video of splitting the 1/3 of the half culm down to quarter inch wide strips. The first piece is just over 1 inch wide. So, the strips just need to be split in half twice which makes it easy to keep them even during the process. The clamp is holding a bread knife as the splitter. I start the split with a side cutter to fracture the end of the strip.



Mike
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THREAD DRIFT: I don't see me getting into building a bamboo rod but I enjoy threads like this, looking at photographs and now your video. My wife, who is Japanese, loves bamboo rakes for yardwork and gardening. They're hard to find anymore, and locally - forget it. This is one of our favorites:
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It works really well for raking between flowering plants. As you can see, it's been McGyvered to keep it together.

Okay, back to YOLO bamboo rod building. Thanks for letting me interrupt.
 
This thread has a lot of good content and info, so I updated the title to help it be more searchable.

Edit: to which Bill subsequently changed again
 
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Mike Monsos said:
Bill I just noticed you missed a great opportunity in the Pay it Forward by Colinshots. Too bad it would have been a great catch for you.
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I actually have a nice rod wrapper my friend Ron and I built, so I'm good with that. I do need a motor to turn a rod after epoxying but know what I want. I'll see you soon!
 
Well I made it back from our South America cruise, so Bill and I got to pick up where we left off a few weeks ago Bill is using heat to straighten the strips and flatten the nodes. Bill was learning the art of bending bamboo over a heat source. There is a lot of technique to correct some of the bends, sweeps ups and lows in a strip of bamboo. Five strips down another 12 to go

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Had another session with Mike today and will be continuing my project Monday and am working on straightening the 18 pieces of my rod. Also flatten out the nodes.

6 are backup pieces, if we need to replace any of the straps. We did have one break so will use at least one of the backups.

Another fun day and Mike was working on the lathe as I worked on this step! So much fun! He had been gone for 3 weeks and we chatted about his trip as well!

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Cheers!
 
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flybill said:
Had another session with Mike today and will be continuing my project Monday and am working on straightening the 18 pieces of my rod. Also flatten out the nodes.

6 are backup pieces, if we need to replace any of the straps. We did have one break so will use at least one of the backups.

Another fun day and Mike was working on the lathe as I worked on this step! So much fun! He had been gone for 3 weeks and we chatted about his trip as well!

View attachment 180458View attachment 180459View attachment 180460

Cheers!
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Gotta admit...this is the part I enjoy least. A lot of rodbuillders that use a beveler skip this step. It's a part of bamboo that is so interesting though. The strips when they just reach that correct temperature almost feel like soft plastic....unless you char it....then it breaks! These are all the steps you'll remember as you're fishing your rod on the stream. Makes it that much more special.
 
I have to agree, this is one of those last steps before setting the forms that can test your patience. We are using a heat gun that is a noisy affair. I have an alcohol burner, but I'm not really experienced with it so I'm not comfortable having Bill take lessons from me on how to use it. The advantage is a quiet much more zen experience. You'll need to do this on your own Bill when you set up your shop at your house. Then you can teach me the way.................
 
Mike Monsos said:
I have to agree, this is one of those last steps before setting the forms that can test your patience. We are using a heat gun that is a noisy affair. I have an alcohol burner, but I'm not really experienced with it so I'm not comfortable having Bill take lessons from me on how to use it. The advantage is a quiet much more zen experience. You'll need to do this on your own Bill when you set up your shop at your house. Then you can teach me the way.................
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Alcohol, fire and lamp!! I'm in!! Might have to get one just to light my cigars.. let's give it a go!! 😄 🔥

Maybe I'll get a small solo fire pit and work on my technique while outside and smoking a cigar! My new bamboo rods will be named Up in Smoke Rods!! Flame finished of course!!
 
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