Refurbishing a 3 piece to a 2 piece

[Todd K]

I am looking to make a small 2 piece bamboo stream rod from an old 3 piece. I have seen many examples on ebay of rods converted to 6-7 ft. from 9 ft rods.

Any advice? I don't own a 3 piece yet, but Im looking. This is ment to be a cheap project, and Im not looking for the perfect rod. I know that the flex could range depending on what i find in the first place.

Thx

[Troutfitter]

I've never done it but I've seen some fine examples of this conversion. The whole rod will need to be revarnished as the old varnish tends to dry out.

[pvansch1]

http://p205.ezboard.com/bclarksclassicflyrodforum

Take a look over on this forum, go to Rodmaking, restoration topic and look in the "Frankenrod" post.

As far as refinishing the rod, that forum will give you a ton of information.
If you have any spefic questions don't hesitate to ask, I'm a hobbiest builder with 4 rods under my belt and 3 on the bench.
Pete

[Troutfitter]

Great info on that forum.

[Todd K]

adding it to the link library

[pvansch1]

Great bunch on The Classic Fly Rod Forum.
There are quite a few CT and Farmington River rats that hang out there.
I'm one of the moderators. Last year there were a few of us that got together for a weekend - It rained but we had one good day.
Pete

[Ray]

I tried to find you guys last year in the rain and somehow missed everyone, I was at Ovation at the scheduled time too. I ended up at Classic & Custom eating sausages from the Albright RV. I had a bunch of rods with me too, hoping to see and cast a bunch of grass!

[pvansch1]

Ray,
We met at the picnic tables Friday afternoon, it was sunny and nice. Saturday, it was only me and Mike Rem (Mer) we fished a bit, then headed to the Housy so he could collect his repaired tip from Streamer. The weather sucked!!
Would like to do it again this year, but looks like the gathering of the bamboo clan will be in Roscoe the week after Memorial Day.
Pete

[Ray]

Pete, I will be in Roscoe the week starting Memorial Day through Sat. (5/29-6/3). Will they be there then?

[pvansch1]

Ray,
Don't think I'll be able to make it that weekend, but a bunch from the Classice board will be there, Banjo, Cloozoe, Ralph and gang. Should be a hoot! Catch 22 is going as well.
Pete

[ANDREW W MANCHESTER JR]

Hello
The problem with the popular rebuild to shorten a bamboo rod is that many
times you wind up with a poor example of a short Bamboo rod.
For example if you take lets say a 9' 3 Pc and do away with the butt section.
You many times wind up with a 6' short fairy wand with no back bone.
I see allot of folks doing this and they end up destroying a classic 9' rod that will never be built again and is lost forever only to build a short 6' rod they will never fish.
I suggest if you are going to try this use one of the cheap Post WW 2 rods made in Japan.
They most often have 2 tips and 2 mid sections.
These combo rods are a good choice to play with.
I also recommend that you only cut them down to say 7' or 7'6" and take the material off the butt.
You will wind up with a rod with a short butt section compared to the mid and tip but they will toss a line and are very fish-able.
When I see these hacked rods I get a rumble in my gut when they are built from a high quality Bamboo rod.
Another way is to remove material from each section at the butt end of the section.
Evan though the taper is not consistent they do cast well but this method is better suited if the builder has access to ferrules and knows how size them and to fit them.
It is better to have a rod that was designed with the length desired in mind when it was built. (Best by Design).
Bamboo rod makers spend countless hours perfecting the tapers for a given rod length action and line WT for good reason thats what you are paying for when you put down the cash.
There are many quality bamboo rods out there that may have the characteristics you seek in need of restoration and can be purchased for less then that of a new or mint classic bamboo rod.
This is better time and money spent in my opinion.
Also their are Bamboo rod makers that offer high quality Blanks and this is another great option for the home hobbyist builder and you will end up with what you wanted when you started your project .
Some may say that my Suggestion to use the Post WW 2 rods made in Japan is a bad solution.
To that I say the only difference I see between them and the new rods being offered from Offshore is the new rods have better hardware and less
thread work.
Just my opinion for what thats worth.
Please remember to have fun with what ever it is you build and please don't destroy a classic rod that will be lost and never offered again.
Tight Lines and Altered or Restored Loops.
Andy M