Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Primitive Skills => Topic started by: PrimitiveTim on November 28, 2014, 01:54:22 pm
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So I had this idea of how to make a bamboo fly rod. Basically I used the branches of the bamboo to make the eyes and I heat bent them around and bound them together with dogbane fibers. I did that all the way to the end. I thought I while on what type of fiber to use for the string and well, it was about time for my annual hair cut so I saved my hair and got to making string with it. Making the rod was a lot more fun than making the string. That's for sure! I made a spool by drilling (stone hand drill) through the wall and sticking the branch into it with pine pitch. I'm gonna take it out soon and see if I can catch a fish with it. The end of the line i weaved in dogbane fibers so I could get the line thinner and I figured the white line would be less visible than the dark stuff. Let me know what y'all think!
(https://scontent-b-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/1511265_380251695464718_6056342392023026832_n.jpg?oh=bf4ecda6d7b29d4892997e01a31ec60b&oe=54DA5B90)
(https://scontent-b-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/1618552_380251772131377_7137990860025450993_n.jpg?oh=dee449aa41a70962f954f4c3dc7dc1d7&oe=551FE6A2)
(https://scontent-b-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/14415_380251815464706_5123307443068099528_n.jpg?oh=17a98bbbb7682d0d16d944ae50e7e7d9&oe=5512A01D)
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10420236_380251908798030_5362267413657476781_n.jpg?oh=9b7dccefc3f8b49bff3570ba7999bddb&oe=550FD9F0&__gda__=1423282732_f27f151fd5462e8a00ad1d95e614f51b)
(https://scontent-a-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10392592_380251565464731_6907267355480399680_n.jpg?oh=091651bd2c90af0940dcc4cd3635b17d&oe=551C1EC7)
(https://scontent-b-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10501815_380251608798060_2977989024951679999_n.jpg?oh=c9eb7f408073e86030700c0d9914f0c7&oe=54D4C7B2)
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Does the line float or sink?
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Does the line float or sink?
I think it will float. Haven't tested it yet. I think I'm in the early stages of coming up with a good natural line. Hair is just kind of fun lol and it has a lot of good characteristics.
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I think you're inventive! And am hoping to see the fish ya catch.
In my case, accumulating enough hair for a line would take far longer than I've got left . . . .
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Looks good Tim.
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It looks really good! The only suggestion I would give you is, Your eyelets are kinda big. A smaller one will allow your line to glide through the eyes. If they get to big the line will coil between the eyes and either make a big mess or really slow down your cast. Also make sure your line isn't too heavy. Make the line the same length as your rod, then hold your rod straight out and attempt to pick the line up with the rod. If the rod bends more then just a touch, a little flex is ok. If it bends more than a couple inches then the line is too heavy. If that's the case then give your rod a decent heat treatment. Or wrap it he rod with some fine strips of bamboo. I really like this idea, it's been years since I made a bamboo rod. Can't wait to see all your finished pics! Patrick
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Also try infusing the line with some talo and beeswax. Patrick
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thanks guys!
Looks good Tim.
By the way it's all trapper rob's fault cause he gave me some flies. So I was like, well I got to make a fly rod now. haha >:D
lebhuntfish, I agree the eyes are too big. It was just a really fine line between the getting those thin branches warm enough to bend and burning them. I almost screwed up a few. I'm definitely going to experiment with this some more, especially with the rod. Once the rod is seasoned then it's all about heat bending it straight and making the eyes which is a million times easier than making line. Lol, my hair was pretty greasy when I cut it but we'll see how it does when I take it out today. It may need some wax or talo.
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I'll make you some more when you need them hope they work for you.
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I was thinking about the eyes Tim. Have you thought of using thicker bamboo and just hollowing it out? Fly rods generally don't have very large eyes. My Tenkara rod doesn't have any.
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If you cut donuts out of another piece of bamboo and tied them on with sinew I wonder how strong they would be? You could polish the inside of the donut and they would be as good as store bought. I read somewhere that in the Victorian era they used a single strand of horsehair for a leader.
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Tenkara line is usually hand knurled line, so just about the same as a bowstring, only 3 strands instead of two.
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I made a short fishing line last year to use with my bone hooks. I reverse twisted it 25 feet long and kept it as close to1/16 as possible with the last five feet tapering to nearly nothing. I made a sinew tippet about 8 feet long but instead of twisting, I braided it and made sure to stagger the splices. Im just guessing it was 1/32 of an inch wide, maybe a hair less. The i waxed it all. It worked great.
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Sweet! Do you have a hook already?
Keep us posted about how it works..
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Where's the fish pics ?
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Where's the fish pics ?
This was just the concept. There is a lot of developing to occur before I catch any fish. lol