straightening bamboo

[oldster]

I'm thinking about redoing an old bluecollar rod. The tip has a couple of crooks in it. I know that I've read somewhere how to straighten it but have forgotten and can't find anything now. Once again I'm asking for help.
PS thanks for the help on identifing the mystery rod. No , that is not the rod I'll be redoing.
Thanks, Oldster

[bobbyg]

Oldster,

I'm not a bamboo rod builder or restorationist but I'll offer some advice as I have been down this road.
Most folks will use steam or a heat gun to straighten a tip section...........very carefully!! You don't want to cause a delamination and this can happen with the old glues the early makers used.
The problem is if the rod is fished after this the tip will invariably take the same set.
If you are refinishing just for display this process should be fine.

One method that seems to be better than others is to strip the tip and mount the guides on the opposite flat, then straighten.
If you end up with an upward curve to the tip just fish the rod and it will straighten out on its own.

[cheffy]

Oldster,
PM me and I'll walk you through it.
It's a lengthy e mail and I don't want to take up too much space here.
Unless everyone wants me to post it.

[kbproctor]

Sounds like it would make a good article. If you are going to write it out, you might as well send it to Neil to be published.

[Kaboom1]

Oldster

I know some of the bamboo experts will cringe, but I used a clothes iron to straighten the tips on a couple of bantys that I rebuilt. I just put the sections on a dead flat surface(I used my table saw table), and ironed away. I kept checking the sections until they were straight. I built these rods 3 years ago and they are still going strong.
YMMV

Brad

[oldster]

Thanks to all of you! I knew I could depend on y'all.
Cheffy, Pm sent.

[Cliff955]

I'm with Kevin - this would make an interesting article if you were able to write it up Cheffy .

Cliff