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I'm constantly on the look out for interesting timber and have just acquired some nice burrs that I am in the process of converting. Brown Mallee on the left Eucalytus centre and Red Mallee on the right.
Below a detail of the nicely figured Brown Mallee.
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Custom made aluminium rod tubes added to my supply, see new page.
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Over the years I have used a variety of materials from Brass for classic rods, Nickel Silver for the majority of new rods and latterly Titanium and Bronze. All have different advantages and disadvantages.
I have now acquired a supply of a material that offers the best of most options with the most notable disadvantage being cost!
The material is a high grade nickel alloy - Arcap is the trade name. With a Nickel content of 25% it is much higher than the range of Nickel Silvers than are contained in the 10 to 18% range. Accordingly it has higher strength and better resistance to tarnishing. It is in fact usable in a Salt water environment that will rapidly destroy normal Nickel Silver.
Finished bright it is pure silver in colour with no yellow tinge and it also blues satisfactorily.
It is over twice as strong as the more normally available Nickel Silvers which enable it to be made lighter by closer tolerance machining, like bronze. Unlike Titanium it does not gall so a tightish fit is possible without seizing. Unlike high strength bronze it machines without problems of overheating.
I will be introducing this material on all larger fly rods and some coarse rods over the coming year.
The trial ferrule above shows the even slide marking developed after over 100 trial fits. The picture below is for colour comparison, from the top, Bronze, Nickel Silver, Arcap, REC reel seat (18% NS)
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I am always on the look out for new and interesting timbers to add to my collection and of the ones bought recently those pictured above stand out.
On the left is a Pollyanna Burr which has a very fine and intricate grain structure. On the right is a Black Ash Burr, lovely fine pippy burr. In the centre is a rare material, spalted Walnut, this has the most dramatic changes of colour and figure and looks quite different all round and each piece is completely individual.
All the above suit the golds and browns in silk colours but the Black Ash could go with anything.
Pictured below is part of my new stock of culms just imported by Andy Royer. This cane is the cleanest I have seen in years. For those not aware of Andys's reputation in the US for importing hand selected Tonkin I have added a link to the Bamboo Broker.
I have just received this years (2009) shipment which is very clean bamboo, looking forward to using it over the coming year.
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Some of the best clean blond cane you will ever see. In this case loose strips ready for gluing.
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And after a bit more work...........
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All that glisters may not be gold but these ferrules certainly look the part.
The pair at the back are standard bar stock nickel silver, those at the front are made from high strength Naval standard (NES 833) bronze.
It is an admirable material sharing many of the properties of nickel silver. It does not corrode even in contact with sea water but will develop the classic bronze patina if un-polished. It is an excellent colour match for flamed cane and with matching reel seat components and bronze guides can look very harmonious.
Like Nickel Silver it can be made to have a smooth fit as the material does not gall and the really good part is that it is around 50% stronger, so with closer tolerance machining can be made lighter.
Like standard ferrules it can be blued but it can also be given a bronze patina from new.
This form of bronze was used by Winstons on their cane rods for many years under the trade name "Duronze".
They will be offered as an option on all my custom fly rods.
By the way the Nickel Silver ferrules really are silver in colour but they are basking in the reflected glory of the bronze ones!
Image: ferrules
All of my rods are custom made and the specifications are developed with the purchaser to achieve the required solution, the following rods are typical current examples.
Now working on my second 4 piece pack rod, pictures soon of this successful configuration.
Dickerson 8013 replica waiting for collection along with a two tip Garrison 206. Just started on another 11ft 2 piece Roach Trotter, this and the Barbel rod have been my most popular coarse tapers.
On the restoration front I've just finished a Hardy Perfection and a Crown Houghton and well on with a Hardy De-Luxe and a JA Walker rod.
The possibilities for reel seat inserts are endless but the photograph below shows three varieties that are very suitable being hard and close grained.
Although six blanks are shown there are in fact only three types of timber. The pair on the left are both Rosewood the far feft from Brazil (Pau Rosa) the next from Bolivia (Morado). The centre pair are two varieties of Olive wood, the one on the left is from Israel the one to the right is a wild African Olive.
The pair of exquisite burrs on the right are both Mallee burr from Australia the left showing very fine pippy marking whilst the far right shows fine swirling grain.
Current woods available from stock include:
Native Yew
Burr Walnut
Big leaf Maple burr
Red Mallee burr
Brown Mallee burr
Amboyna burr
Rosewood
Spanish Olive
African Olive
Spalted Walnut
Corrugata Burr
Black Ash Burr
Pollyanna Bur
Image: Woods for reel seat inserts
The handle is 5 3/4" long constructed from selected 1/4" shives and is shown without any filling so the surface flaws can be seen as minimal. These fine lines will be filled then re-turned and bleached.
Now fitted to the completed rod and for sale on the flyrods for sale page.
Image: Uplocking slide band
Now supplied as standard and also available individually. Turned from split cane as shown below or from selected close grained hardwood. Each stopper is turned and polished by hand before being fitted with cork that is individually turned and fitted to each ferrule.
Image: ferrule plugs
Image: Hardy ferrule stoppers
The array shown above is part of a collection of Hardy style ferrule stoppers turned from Rosewood. Not surprisingly these are destined for a collection of fine Hardy fly rods.
I have now started to make my own agate lined guides so that I can replace any style. Pictured below are a stand off butt ring and a Hopton style tip ring.
The frames are made from solid nickel silver joined throughout with high grade silver solder and the liners are genuine agate currently available in plum and white/clear.
Image: rings
Image: Clear agate stripper
Pictured above is one of my clear agate stripper guides. Made from solid nickel silver and featuring finely bezelled liners. See also the flyrod range page for more pictures showing some of the different frame styles available.
Now available with red agate liners.
It has been very difficult obtaining excellent quality cork at any price but I have imported hand selected high grade shives from the USA.
To short circuit this roundabout supply route and ensure a good ongoing supply I have now imported cork direct from the factory in Portugal. These are flor grade and I will select from these to make my handles.
Image: Cap and ring nickel silver
Two new additions shown above. A Garrison style pocketted cap and knurled ring set appropriately fitted to an all cork handle for a Garrison 206.
The other reel seat is again polished nickel silver but with a plain end cap and a morticed olive insert. A variety of end cap designs can be provided with knurled plain or other designs of sliding ring.
Image: Blued components
Blued components on this siding ring reel seat make a nice compliment to the Amboyna insert and the black tips to the whipping.
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