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Boris L
30th August 2010, 01:53 PM
Hi fellas,

I've been making a few more rods and I discovered how beautiful ebony - "gabon ebony" - Diospyros crassiflora is to work with. I used it for a two toned rod I'm making. The dark bamboo is is achieved by caramelising the bamboo by heating it with a gas torch. Anyway, enjoy the pictures.

I vacuum impregnated the timber and finished with CA.

The wood
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b317/plutrach/Bamboo%20techniques/CRW_9424.jpg

The vacum chamber & pump
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b317/plutrach/Eccentric%20Reel%20seat/IMG_9610.jpg

The impregnating resin
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b317/plutrach/Eccentric%20Reel%20seat/IMG_9607.jpg

The ebony fizzing but the red mallee didn't fizz but slower smaller bubbles
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b317/plutrach/Eccentric%20Reel%20seat/IMG_9622.jpg

The three seats; red mallee finished with CA - ebony unfinished sanded to 1200 grit - ebony finished with CA
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b317/plutrach/Eccentric%20Reel%20seat/IMG_0938.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b317/plutrach/Eccentric%20Reel%20seat/IMG_0947.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b317/plutrach/Bamboo%20techniques/IMG_0943.jpg

The ebony winding check & seat still need to be glued on and wrapped on this two toned rod.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b317/plutrach/Bamboo%20techniques/IMG_0941.jpg

This timber was so easy to turn and the cuts were so smooth and crisp, geat timber!

dai sensei
30th August 2010, 07:01 PM
Interesting, but why were you trying to impregnate ebony & red mallee, both are extremely fine grained and dense to start with? Also, what were you trying to impregnate them with?

At the end of the day, both work and look great :2tsup:

Cheers

ps How is the cast banksia handle going?

artme
30th August 2010, 07:22 PM
Beautiful pieces Boris!!:2tsup::2tsup::2tsup:

Neil I can only surmise that the reason for impregnation is to protect the wood from the depredations of the weather and salty water.

Boris L
30th August 2010, 08:34 PM
Hi Neil,

Artme is right, no matter how hard and dense the timber it still needs protection from water since these rods are made to last a few generations. The added benefit is that if the wood isn't wet the bamboo will stay dry too in it's epoxy coat.

The epoxy resin is called "everdure" which is an International product. It's designed to penetrate wood to protect it from water, above & below the water line. It's a very liquid resin with the consistency of water even before it has been thinned.

I haven't got to the banksia grip yet, I still have two project to complete before I start to experiment with it. But I should be putting it in the lathe soon. But I'll let you know.

Thanks for the kind words artme. Oh, no saltwater for this little baby, sweet water only!

artme
30th August 2010, 09:30 PM
Yes Boris, I am not a fisherman but I still should have realized they are fly fishing rods.:B:B

Ed Reiss
1st September 2010, 11:26 AM
never did any fly fishing, but do know a piece of art (not you Arthur:q:D) when I see one.
Very nicely done Boris :2tsup::2tsup:

hughie
1st September 2010, 06:46 PM
Boris. If I ever need a fly rod, your the man. :2tsup: Excellent work, heirloom rods with out a doubt.

fxst
1st September 2010, 08:18 PM
mmmm I use a swatter but I guess for sportsmanship a rod would be fun:D
What for is catching flies too small and not much meat.

Aside from that nice work Boris love to be able to go fishing ...:2tsup:
Cheers
Pete

Boris L
1st September 2010, 08:33 PM
Hey fellas, too generous with your praise... thanks.

Avery
1st September 2010, 08:57 PM
Boris,

I have a stack of bamboo that I have recently cut down. I have kept it because I just know it must be useful for something. Some pieces are over 6 meters long and over 100mm diameter at the base.

Can you use any of it or can you give some hint as to how I might use it?

Boris L
1st September 2010, 09:48 PM
Avery,

Unfortunately it's not suitable for rods. The species you've probably got is Arundinaria gigantea. Yes it's a big one but the power fibres are not dense enough to produce the stiffness or recovery needed for a fly rod. Compared to Arundinaria amabilis it doesn't rate. This is the famous "Tonkin" cane so prized for rod making.

See the photos below and compare the density of the dark dots which are the power fibres. Note the amabilis has very dense cluster of fibres closer to the outer enamel. Now look at the gignantea, lots of fibre more evenly distributed but not nearly as dense.

A amabilis:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b317/plutrach/First%20Bamboo%20rod/IMG_8455.jpg

A gigantea:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b317/plutrach/First%20Bamboo%20rod/IMG_8872.jpg

Big bamboo makes lots of nice stuff, even reel seats.... :2tsup:

But I bet they make great tomato stakes..:D

Avery
1st September 2010, 10:11 PM
Looking at your photos, I think you are right. I might cut a piece and photograph it tomorrow morning, just to be sure.

Still, I can't believe that it is not useful for something. I did cut a piece a few weeks ago that was large enough for a pen blank. It was interesting to turn and made not too bad a pen.

Rifleman1776
2nd September 2010, 08:59 AM
Beautiful work.
I couldn't tell much about the rod though. :sad3:
Send to me for closer examination. :rolleyes:
I do stabilizing. You might want to try plexiglas dissolved in acetone. Much less expensive than the commercial brews. Especially if you have access to free scrap like I do.

Boris L
2nd September 2010, 02:04 PM
Beautiful work.
I couldn't tell much about the rod though. :sad3:
Send to me for closer examination. :rolleyes:

Nice try Rifleman... :no: but to thank you for your kind words and input here I'll be sure to post the pictures of the finished rod for your delight... :D



I do stabilizing. You might want to try plexiglas dissolved in acetone. Much less expensive than the commercial brews. Especially if you have access to free scrap like I do.

Yeah, I've read about using perspex etc. I plan to try it down the track.

Cheers