Pau Ferro 4-strip

Post by **john elder** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 1:22 am

Well, I glued up the blank for this 4-strip pau ferro rod about a year ago and I finally got around to turning it into a 3/2 8 ft fly rod

square stock to round blank, using a table saw jig:

Different size step-down blocks in the same set-up allows turning of the butt, mid, and tips to approximate diameters:

Some serious lathe time and addition of poplar handle with cocobolo reel seat:

Ferrules made with a bit of brass tubing and solder...and lots of polishing. Installation is aided by using standard metal taps to size the tips of the shafts:

Out of my element and still playing with the configuration, but the brass reel locks are coming along, methinks:

Have to decide on guide style and get the wraps done and it will be ready for testing...stay tuned!

Teal · Post by **Teal** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 10:01 am

Holy moley rocky! That is a sweet looking stick. Wonder what it will feel like when it casts? I understand pau ferro is similar to lancewood in properties?

-- Dr. Todd

Post by **john elder** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 11:51 am

thanks! ...I envision it to be more flexible, but need to turn some old lancewood to similar in order to tell. I'm glueing up a blank of the greenheart you helped me obtain, as well, so will be neat to do a side-by-side-by-side comparison of the 3.

Ron Mc · Post by **Ron Mc** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:11 pm

nice work, John.
Kind of a different animal, but take a look at this one I just took delivery on from a local rodbuilder.
http://www.warmfly.com/index.php?option ... pic=1903.0
I'm not taking credit for this other than having a reel to tempt Floyd with, but check it out...

Robin Sayler · Post by **Robin Sayler** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 1:47 pm

Very Cool, John.

Post by **john elder** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 3:13 pm

Thanks, Guyz...Ron, please pass on kudos to Floyd..his work puts mine to shame! I'm stuck with working brass at the moment, just due to workability and available materials/tools. I need to pick up a jeweler's lathe and some NS stock so I can expand my horizons a bit. At this point, in brass, I could go with rings, trumpet guides, or just fabricate brass snake guides...probably the latter would end up fishing and looking better on a user rod, which I intend this one to be. I'll go play this weekend and see what pops out. I like his idea of using wood/NS combo for the ferrule plugs also. The ones shown in my pics are just wood..and not too creative, at that..

ReelMan1988 · Post by **ReelMan1988** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 4:03 pm

John, do you have any pic's of your collection posted on here or anywhere else?

Ron Mc · Post by **Ron Mc** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 6:35 pm

Floyd posted a beautiful assay of his tools on our TU chapter website - unfortunately it was in the lease-members-only forum, so there is no public access.
I'll be fishing with Floyd this weekend.
Floyd keeps his prices high because he doesn't want a big backlog of orders, but he is maybe too easily tempted by nice reels - he sees his rods as a means to add toys. A good friend couldn't afford a rod but he could afford a reel I have that Floyd really wanted, so we were able to work out a deal to get my friend a rod, as well.

Tony Malatesta · Post by **Tony Malatesta** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 10:05 pm

Very nice looking rod.Doesn,t the name of the wood you,re using translate into Iron wood? Seems to me that this would be kind of stiff if that were the case. Probably will make a great salt water fly rod.

Post by **john elder** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 11:36 pm

another name for it is Brazilian Ironwood, no doubt because of it's toughness. The property allows it to be turned thin and still have strength...it's amazingly flexible for such a tough wood. As I mentioned above, I want to turn similar rods from several woods so I can compare for flexibility.

Jim Wiegner · Post by **Jim Wiegner** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 12:18 am

Woodmeister John:

As always, beautiful work (for a left hander that is). And I suppose that fancy imported wood is fine.

Up here in the northwest, the natives use home grown materials, and a more direct approach. Such as dropping a 200 ft cedar on a 9 ft sturgeon. Works great!

Jim

Teal · Post by **Teal** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 9:35 am

Tony,

Ironwood was used by a number of 19th century rodmakers before split cane dominated the market. Apparently it made a very durable and tough rod.

-- Dr. Todd

Post by **john elder** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 10:32 pm

something to stick on the rod..reel is made of lacewood and spool, goncale alves..I'm making it useable, at least for line storage, but probably won't...pic shows some stages of making a clicker gear...still haven't quite decided on a clicker mechanism

Jim Wiegner · Post by **Jim Wiegner** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 11:59 am

Neat project John

And a most interesting pattern in that lumber. Almost looks like petrified fish parts.

Jim

Post by **john elder** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:01 pm

thanks, Jim...yes, that lacewood is really something...has incredible depth when in the sun. now, I have to see if I can get this thing wrapped so it does justice to the wood.

Jim Wiegner · Post by **Jim Wiegner** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:22 pm

Gad zooks John:

You do have an eye for beauty. Very very nice.

Norm may soon be calling on you for advice.

Wiggy

Post by **Brian F.** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 4:34 am

'Nuther great job!

Post by **john elder** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 7:56 am

NOTE TO SELF: next time you decide to wrap a rod using classic Montague silk, make sure you have enough to finish the job!...better yet, save if for repairs and find a current source...sigh...

Post by **john elder** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 6:35 pm

Okay...about there. Still not happy with the finish, but getting the hang of the wraps...I'm about ready to fish this thing!

Post by **john elder** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 9:03 pm

Handy carrying case...get the handle on...then go fish...

Jim Wiegner · Post by **Jim Wiegner** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 9:39 pm

Really really really cool.

And not bad either!

Jim

Post by **Brian F.** » Fri May 01, 2009 12:11 am

Yes! Repeat what Wiggy said.

EclecticGuy · Post by **EclecticGuy** » Wed May 20, 2009 9:58 am

That looks great John! I've been making good progress on my rods and reels too. I've also now successfully made a 25' tapered KNOTLESS furled horse-tail hair fly line.

cheers,
Michael

Post by **john elder** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 9:19 am

Hey, that line would work great on this outfit!

So, I'm hoping for one final post, with ribbon, but in a tough category, so not counting on it. In any event, several movements since the rod was last "finished". I liked the other case, but no room for the reel...so I built a new case from Aftrican Mahogany that was 4 inches longer and put in a reel compartment. I also didn't like the spool, so remade it using lacewood. Decided to lob in a trout collage for box decoration.

EclecticGuy · Post by **EclecticGuy** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 9:41 am

John, that is absolutely beautiful. PM me your address and I will gladly send you a horsehair line to put on that! Seriously.

I love the trout! What type of wood did you use for the body? Very scale-like.

I am going to post a thread with my first fly reel - all brass, hand made.

cheers,
Michael

Pau Ferro 4-strip

Pau Ferro 4-strip

Wow!