Of Blood and Bamboo

The time has come for me to give an update on the Bamboo Fly Rod I am building for my Grandpa. I decided on a Jim Payne 97. It is a 7 foot 4 weight rod that is a classic taper. I have been trying to get all of my tools built for the last 2 years and I finally have everything together to finally finish the rod. I Finished the final planing on the butt section last night so no I just need to glue it up and then I can start to varnish, add the cork, the guides and and the reel seat. Then it is off to planing the two tip sections and finish those off. I am rapidly trying to complete the rod before the family reunion so that Pa and the rest of the fly fisherman can test cast it and tell me how bad of a job I did. With all of the hours I put into the tools I figure I am sitting at about 40 hours on tools. And another 30-40 on the rod itself. For those of you who dont know, once you plane the strips of bamboo down to the shape they need to be for gluing, they become razor sharp. I have sliced lots of different parts of my fingers off over the tie I have been doing the work. Unfortunately you really need to feel the material with your bare hands in order to really work the materials. I will post some pictures when I get everything glued up and then some more when I start to add all of the finishing touches. I have really enjoyed the process and I hope that by the end of the year I will have completed 2 more. One for Logan and one for another surprise member of the family!