bluewaterspecial

The Rod is an antique unknown make bamboo flyrod. 8'6". It's previous condition was not useable. the thread holding the eyelets were so dry rot if you barely touched the eyelets they fell off. The original cork handle was very dry rot and mostly peeled away. I completely stripped the whole thing down to bare bamboo. Almost entirely tiny light scrapes with a razor blade as to remove old varnish but without removing any wood. I had to re-secure a couple of the ferrules. I cut away the old handle section and started fresh with Walnut and Maple woods glued together. I turned the handle to shape on my small wood lathe. I used the original hardware that holds the reel. I'm proud to say the handle is a near perfect snug fit in the hardware. I lightly cleaned/polished the hardware with fine steel wool. The wood handle has Ivory inlays supplied from an old broken piano. hand shaped and carved with a hand knife and sandpaper, little by little til the diamond shaped ivory matched with the holes carved out. The rod has a wrap pattern with silk thread, Green, Red and Black. The eyelet thread is secured with flexcoat epoxy...the bamboo and wood handle are sealed/coated with 4 light coats of Tru-Oil. I sanded between coats with 600 grit sandpaper.

Three different woods...2 cherry, 2walnut, and 1 Koa. 5 layers glued together. 5/16 inch drill bit drilled into wood block. After hole drilled...I turned the wood in handle for a comfortable shape...then ground the butt end of drill bit into knife blade shape. Heat treat and temper the blade....then epoxy the drill end into the wood handle. It took me two days to make, only cause I had to let the glue dry where I glued the wood together...the rest I did in one afternoon...yesterday! I know it's not a lure, but I thought appropriate since I think this knife will be making a lot of my future lures. and being lure makers...I thought some of you may wanna make your own knife too!

close up of multiple blank...I see lots of potential different shapes and designs, with similar basic idea. I guess I have some carving to do....oh, I get to use my new carving knife that I made from scratch yesterday...pic of knife to follow.

One turn on the lathe..... three cuts lengthwise on miter saw, makes 6 pieces, one quick little cut of three into six(twice), makes twelve lure blanks...6 about 3 inches, 6 about 5 inches. This is the first time I used or tried this mass production...haha mass(12). But I made 12 basic blanks in about the same time I have spent to make one in the past.

2 1/2 inches.... Hand carved with a pocket knife and sand paper....brush painted, Flexcoat topcoat....19 guage SS wire-thru, copper spinner as diving lip. RT63, I like how it turned out, but it's not mine anymore...It was made for a trade with another TU member. The honor is mine, as he is a fine lure-maker.

sorta Rush Tango, one of my few without wirethru.

My first lure with propellers. Basswood, weighted in the belly behind eyes in front of hooks.