I’m fortunate enough to have a terrific mentor who is helping me learn to refurbish old bamboo rods, and I’m absolutely loving it.
The one question I have, though, is whether there’s a way to expedite drying the finish? After I apply it, the coat reasonably dries after a day or two (in other words, not too tacky to touch lightly), but even one I refinished several weeks ago seems ever so slightly… not dry. I don’t want to cause myself headaches by destroying my hard work, but I wondered whether there’s a safe way to bring the rod to a really solid state? Is it really just a matter of waiting weeks and weeks?
The type of finish you use will be the biggest factor in how long it takes to dry. Since your working on cane rods I’m guessing your using a brand of spar varnish?
If you have time and the know ho you could always build yourself a drying cabinet. Basically it’s just an enclosed box usually with a clear front on it and then you put some lights in it to help raise the temp insdie the cabinet to around 85 (ir around there) which speeds up the drying process a bit.
Yes a drying cabinet helps. I’ve also had good luck using a de-humidifier in the varnishing area esp. when the humidity is up like it is right now after all the rain we have had.
Yes, I’m using spar varnish. Are there ways of using low heat without a cabinet? Has anyone considered something like an old freestanding wardrobe with some sort of heat?
Any box or like I made for myself is an 8 inch dia PVC tube. I cut a door into it and attached hooks in the top, fiberglass light socket in the bottom.
I differ with Steve, I feel from my experience in drying finish in my cabinet shop. 100 degrees inside the cabinet works quite well. 85 would be too low. Experiment with different wattage bulbs to get the temp you want. I use a 75 watt bulb. Not only does a drying box help the finish dry but keeps the dust off. When you apply your finish it should not be cold for dipping. Both the rod and finish should be warmed to above normal room temp. I use Helmsman Spar Urethane., Clear Gloss. All my wraps are first coated with 3 to 4 coats of the same spar varnish. Dried between coats. takes less than 24 hours for each coat. I use micro buffers to polish out any irregularities. (Sand Turtle Gleemers) Purchased from beauty Salon supply house. Used for fingernail work. ( Once the wraps are perfect it goes in for dipping. I dip 2 coats, always. I am a perfectionist so do not mind taking the extra time and having the drying tube I have never had any problems with finish not drying.
Since I varnish my boo rods primarily in the winter months, I suspend them over my boiler. The room is usually warm because of the running boiler and hot water heater
I have an oven that I built from sheet metal, extremely insulated and can be controlled to whatever temp I desire. This oven is very common amoung the pro bamboo rod builders. Mine is six feet in length and outside measurement is 12" x 12". It is used to temper the boo and to help set some types of glue. I feel you could possibly use an oven but wonder how you might support the rod because it would be laying horizontal? The way I see it, there would be marks left on the finish. When suspended vertically in a drying chamber one can attach a heavy duty thread to suspend the rod vertically. Hopefully there would be no excess finish on any rod you finish that would run down. Most of us stop the finish flow at each guide so when the finish is all drained out you will not have excess. A drying chamber would not need to be complicated. It could be very temporary and made from cardboard boxes and duct tape. Using a light bulb for heat. Keep it simple until you want to cross over into the dark side with the Pro Rod makers.
Denny
While my drying chamber is wood with nice cabinet doors it’s only because that’s what I had kicking around. I know several builders whose cabinets are nothing more than foil faced rigid foam insulation that is duct taped together including a duct tape hinge on the door. a 1/2" dowel is run through towards the top to hang the rods on and a 75 watt real light bulb in one of those lights you would use to look under the car(forgot what they are called cause it’s too early here).
Once again, I’m really impressed with the willingness of folks here to share their knowlege. I learn a lot both from replies to my posts and to other discussions.
I like the home-made approach to the rod driers. I’m not ready to play with the big boys in the world of rod making, so I’m going to use some of your “el cheapo” ideas to concoct something that sounds like it will be very functional.
I’m finding fly tying and rod restoration to be on a level with actual fishing for my enjoyment. Your generous ideas help add to that pleasure.
Yep, I remembered that (trouble light) after the second cup of coffee. just a note, I also vented my box. I drilled a 1" hole and then taped a left over piece of " no see um mesh" from a tent over it. I’ve seen folks use a coffee filter to loosely cover the hole to keep dust out and still vent.
I know what you mean by the second cup of coffee. I always tell my students that I’m not allowed to operate heavy machinery without at least two cups in my system!
What’s the idea of the vent? Will the box overheat? Do you place a thermometer in there to keep track of the temp?
someone told me to vent it so the vapors have a place to go instead of building up in the box. check out this site, http://www.bamboorodmaking.com/html/drying_cabinets1.html
some pretty elaborate ideas but I still like the KISS approach to making one. I should probably put a thermometer in there just to see. the beauty of the foam box idea is that you could just push the thermometer right through the side. I think My friend who has a foam box said he put the whole thing together for under $30 including tape and light.
This site has really interesting ideas. I may not go whole hog just yet, but I can see ways I can apply some of their designs in a much simpler pattern for my needs. Excellent!
This is a interesting thread. I have considered messing with bamboo but have not mustard all of the motivation yet. Question: Do you feel that possibly a moving card board garment box ( like one from Uhaul) would work as a drying chamber? I know that they have a cross bar which could be used as a hanger.
I would stay away from a trouble light just for the reason cheffy stated above. A simple fiberglass light base is inexpensive and you need to only add a cord with plug. One needs to cut a door into your chamber close to the bulb so you can replace a burnt out bulb. Far easier than trying to stand on ones head. Keep it simple. (and fun) The “moving garment box” sounds good. I might prefer to cut down one of them because one does not need it that large. Duct tape does work wonders.
I was a bit over whelmed when I first started by all the info I gathered. The thing that allowed me to go foreword with the making of all my own equipment was an article by a Rod Maker from Canada. He used two maple hockey sticks as his source for making his planing form. If he could make one from wood, why could I not do the same. Not having the maple sticks, I dug through my scrap in the shop and found some Maple. Made my own forms. They might not last as long and one needs to be careful when planing. Next I made my own from steel. Still use the first ones I made myself. I have also made my Quad forms from hardwood. All of the equipment I have was made by myself. (except for my planes". I made myself a power beveling machine for my Quads. Also made my own heat treating oven. Two different string binders.I will share my photos if anyone is interested.
There is no deep dark secret to making your own Bamboo rods. There are hundreds of proven tapers for anyone who wants to search. Some good and some not so good. Just because you make a rod with a proven taper does not say yours will be the same, unless you take the time to plane each strip perfectly. Buy a good quality mike. Learn to read it and take the time to plane each strip perfectly. Allow for the thickness of your glue. Go for it. Have fun.
I fished a 5 wt Driggs River special, Quad that I made for myself this past week over at Rocky Ford. Brought to hand a nice 22" Bow. I even crafted my own ferrule from Nic Silver. An interesting project to say the least. I do enjoy making my own tools, etc almost as much as making my own Boo rods from scratch. In making my own I know my taper is what I want not what someone else thinks is “close enuf”.
Do your best and have fun.