Betty,
Check out these reel seats and ferrule plugs for your bamboo creations.
I saw these a month or so ago. They look pretty cool. My Mom’s parents were really into rock collecting and my grandad had a bunch of rock saws and polishers. Now my uncle has them and I’m hoping to get him to cut me some really cool looking jewelry for my sons’ rods.
How do you suppose he mounts them? I’d imagine that a glue would work, but it would have to seal off all of the grooves around the rock or else you’d get water in underneath it and eventually where the glue off/rot the wood or cork. I’d be afraid of drilling a hole, even with a really slow speed, b/c of cracking or splitting. I wonder what he uses to mount these.
OMG!!! Incredible!!! The ferrule plugs sure caught my eye!! Maybe I need to go downstairs and do some measuring?!?
i seen some of the plugs on a antique bamboo rod once & wandered where i could get some fer mine…thanks fer the link
got me some ordered after i finally found my calliper to git a measurement…
In re: questions from WILD ONE–
“How do you suppose he mounts them? I’d imagine that a glue would work, but it would have to seal off all of the grooves around the rock or else you’d get water in underneath it and eventually where the glue off/rot the wood or cork. I’d be afraid of drilling a hole, even with a really slow speed, b/c of cracking or splitting. I wonder what he uses to mount these.”
I happen to be the one who makes the reel seats referred to. (Many thanks for the references and kudo’s.) So here are some answers to these questions:
- I mount them the same way that I think most people mount reel seats–That is, I wrap the end of the blank with something that will take up the space between the blank and the inside of the seat. In some of the old books and instructions the suggestion was to use masking tape. I would never do this! I wouldn’t trust it. I have collected a good number of spools of different sized synthetic cord from heavy thread through heavy string sizes. I find the size that fits best and wrap the blank with it, finishing it by epoxying it in place. If one is worried about weight, then one can wrap the cord so there is an appropriate space between the wraps. I then epoxy the seat over the wraps on the blank with a good, rather slow-cure, paste epoxy.
- “…seal off…grooves around the rock…”? Inlay is a method whereby, in jewelry or any other use, the inlay materials are cemented into the substrate material. I use an excellant cyanoacrylate cement that not only provides very superior holding qualities, but also fills and seals any space around the inlay materials. Water getting in around the inlays is the last thing that one would need to worry about. Besides this, when I am not using pressure-treated blanks, I use a wood sealer that provides water resistance and stabilization. With these reel seats one need provide a level of care no greater than one would normally provide for a bamboo rod–usually less, actually.
- I’m not sure where he proposes drilling a hole in one of these reel seats (or why?) but if one would need to drill the wood barrel somewhere, there is no more risk in this than there is in any other wood. I use many varieties of wood both treated and non-treated and I’ve never had a problem with drilling, grinding or other machine operations on them. If one is proposing to drill into the inlay materials, then, depending on which material it is, it could be a problem. Semi-precious gem materials tend to have a hardness of 7 or above and cannot be drilled with steel. Although materials such as shell or fossil ivory can be machined with steel, I cannot think of a single good reason to do so in a finished reel seat. If nothing else, one would undoubtedly mar the finish.
I have made up four of these reel seats on rods that I fish with often for product testing. I don’t treat them with any special care and after three years have no problems due to materials or workmanship. I gaurantee them against such defects or weaknesses. As I have written on my site, these seats are made to be used as well as admired.
J. Marcus
http://www. flyrodjewelry.com
J Marcus,
I had know idea you were a member here! I found your site from another link and thought your reel seets and ferrule plugs would be of interest to Betty (and others) who love bamboo. You make beautiful pieces.
I, too, had no idea J.Marcus was a member here!!! The inlays and ferrule plugs are beautiful!! I “happen” to have a wonderful bamboo rod, that I’m in the finishing process on right now, that a set of plugs would be beautiful on/in. Should I wait till you offer matched sets again, or should I go ahead and order a set, and have them made when you have the time?
Betty
OMG!!! I’ve been so busy drooling over the reel seats and ferrule plugs, that I just now went to the rest of J. Marcus’ website … to learn he makes jewelry for HUMANS in addition to his jewelry for rods!!! Incredible!!!
Betty those plugs are very nice.