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Old bamboo fly rod

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Hawkdancer:
JEB,  I remember those days!  Was the finish Varnish or shellac?  Don't remember what happened to my split bamboo fly rod, though!
Hawkdancer

JEB:
Hawk I  used varnish. The Op has a decision to make with his set up. If he puts new guides on with new thread it is going to show.  If it were mine to USE I would check the rod to make sure it was usable  strip the guides and finish off to the brand name down by the handle. I would leave that part alone and then wrap new guides on and use it. If it is not usable. I would leave it alone and hang it.

I went back and looked at it again and I would hang it. My bet is the bamboo and glue is pretty brittle and the rod may break on the first fish.  I noticed there is a hook keeper above the handle yet the owner did what most did back in the day, used the handle for the hook. That rig would look great hanging over your fire place.

Mo_coon-catcher:
Thanks for the input everyone.
your exactly right with what I want to do with it. I want to keep as much of the old patina and signs of being used, but bring it back to a good useable condition. I wouldn’t doubt that it is pushing 100 years old. My granddad is about 80 and this rod is a hand me down to him from his uncle, that I presume bought it before he was born.
I’m hoping to find some of the old style wire loop guide to go back with as this rod doesn’t really have any left except for the first running guide and the tip. It’s missing the stripper guide and most of the wraps. It appears that they used black thread to wrap them. Te finish has cracked up a bunch and is chipped off in spots, so it probably doesn’t need refinished. Hopefully I can find a near original finish that will be compatible with it. I wonder if chipping off a piece and seeing what dissolves it will give an idea for a finish that will bond with the old finish. That way I could strip the old down as far as comfortable without touching the aged boo, then put on a thin coat of the new finish that will hopefully remelt the old to help fill the cracks without being visible.
After you mention it JEB, I don’t think I’ll re sting it so it can’t be used and broke so soon after fixing it. I’d be comfortable flexing the boo, but the old glue may be suspect. But I’d still like to straighten it out and make it pretty agin while leaving it showing it’s age and life of use. Hopefully getting it back to how it was when my Grampa used it.

Kyle

JEB:
Are there any snake/wire guides on the rod? If so post a close up and if I have any that match I will send some to you.

Mo_coon-catcher:
Here’s the two snake guides that were still there. I have no issue givin you something for the guides of you have some that would be a fairly close match. I used te calipers to give an idea of the thickness of the wire.

Kyle

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