Building a Hollow-Built Bamboo Switch Rod – Chapter 2

Work is continuing on the hollow-built switch rod.  The next step was to glue on and fit the ferrules.  There is a #20 ferrule on the Butt/Mid Sections and a #14 ferrule on the Mid/Tip sections.

Fitted Ferrules

Then it was time to layout the grip and reel seat on the butt section.

Grip Section Layout

Grip Section Layout

The butt section needed to be turned down on the lathe to accommodate the reel seat and lower grip.

Turning down the Butt Section for the reel seat and lower grip.

Turning down the Butt Section for the reel seat and lower grip.

The Butt Section was now ready for the upper cork to get glued on.

Turned down Butt Section

Turned down Butt Section

Cork for upper grip.

Cork for upper grip.

A little sidetrack…I needed to turn a reel seat and butt cap on my wood lathe.  I chose a new piece of highly figured English Walnut.

Turning the Butt Cap on the lathe.

Turning the Butt Cap on the lathe.

Turned Reel Seat.

Turned Reel Seat.

Now it was time to sand down the upper cork grip, glue on the reel seat and hardware, glue on the lower cork grip and sand it, and finally glue on the butt cap.  This resulting finished grip section of the rod came out looking great.

Finished grip section on my switch rod.

Finished grip section on my switch rod.

The next Chapter of my build process is making a custom winding check, wrapping the guides, varnishing, and final finish work.  I’ll share that in Chapter 3.

 

 

 

 

 

 

4 thoughts on “Building a Hollow-Built Bamboo Switch Rod – Chapter 2

  1. Oh, that is nice, really really sharp. Maybe you could get a reel company to use some of your walnut to make matching reel faces.

  2. Nice job. I like the walnut and the fighting butt end.
    If I might ask, what type of lathe do you have for your rod building Dave?
    Happy Holidays to you and and your Lady.

    • Hi Larry,

      I have two older lathes for my rod work. The first one is an old and relatively inexpensive Craftsman wood lathe that I do most of my reel seat and cork work on. The second is a small Atlas/Craftsman that I do my metal work on, as well as most of my bamboo turning. I’ll post a couple of photos.

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