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Post by BillyTeo on Sept 7, 2007 6:48:56 GMT 8
Thanks Jim, after 7th month then I dare to go liow.
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Post by TarponCraz on Jan 13, 2008 11:33:02 GMT 8
LeoRod Story- Chapter IIIBorn of A Blonde with Green Eyes and Green WrappingsThis is the continuation of my long journey in crafting boos. This time a lightly flamed one with blonde body with green agate (jade colour) stripping guide and matching jade green silk wrappings. The reel seat is a Bellinger down locking screw barrel nickle silver hardware with Box Elder wood spacer. The taper is Garrison 209, 7-1/2 ft. Same as my #1 and it casts a SA GPX 4WT WF line beautifully, very much the same way as #1 with even a bit of oooohm. LeoRod #4 Overall picture LeoRod #4 Handle- cigar shape as requested by owner LeoRod #4 Reel Seat & Box Elder wood spacer Green Agate stripping guide and wrappings Nickle Silver winding check, Signature wraps & hook keeper Inscriptions of S/N & Owner's name LeoRod #4 mounted with Peerless According to my original plan, this rod could have been completed and delivered before the Christmas of 2007. However, an untoward event evolved that I accidentally fried the motor control unit on my wood lathe. I was left without necessary machine to complete the third last process and stuck there for a good 3 weeks. At the end, I bite the bullet and spent $4600 bought myself a better lathe with much more capabilities. Currently, I embarked on a new project turning our brass end cap/sleeve assemblies for the assembling of rod tubes for bamboo rods that I crafted. I know Tan Yik is going to say why not fabricate custom classic reels with this newly acquired capability. Well, it could be done provided I am more free in the future. LeoRod #4 De-floweredThe very first time the proud owner of LeoRod #4, Adi took it to NZ, he deflowered it with several PB's.
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Post by BillyTeo on Jan 13, 2008 11:44:02 GMT 8
That is a very very poisonous looking rod.
And already PH had already fallen once again to severve poison.
Who's next?
CY?
It would be a pity not to include a LeoRod in your world wide collection.
muahahahahahaha
Got you now.
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Post by alberto on Jan 14, 2008 8:05:50 GMT 8
Uncle Wong, You make us proud of you ;D ;D ;D
regards Alberto
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Post by Qwek on Jan 14, 2008 12:42:44 GMT 8
Hi Uncle Wong,
Great job! You really make us proud. Can't think of any other boo makers except Yong from KL.
Cheers Qwek
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Post by Chee Yung on Jan 14, 2008 21:45:52 GMT 8
I held it last week while it was drying and not polished yet and wanted to run off with it... then I remembered that my ultimate aim is to poison Adi and made the ultimate sacrifice ;D ;D Adi resisted everything from Aroners to Leonards... but what a rod to finally own ... it was light, sensitive and smooth as the first Leorod and had mojo to boot. Adi hit the most that morning and the most happy was the rodmaker... ;D ;D Another fantastic piece Oyah BT.... I hope to be uncle's regular fishing gang so I can test MORE leorods...hehehe CY
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Post by BillyTeo on Jan 14, 2008 22:13:14 GMT 8
The LeoRod is a"must own" for a Singaporean boo collector lah.
;D ;D ;D
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Post by ShadowCaster on Jan 15, 2008 16:34:14 GMT 8
Another fabulous rod! Nice work uncle Wong!
With that lathe, I see a Leo Reel on the way.......
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Post by TarponCraz on Jan 15, 2008 22:19:59 GMT 8
Thanks guys. There will be more to follow in the future. With you as my fishing buddy, Chee Yung, actually I benefit more in the ways that I have the chance to caress the like of Aroner Hunt, Leonard's Catskill, Jenkins, Jennings, Kagerow Kei Penta, T & T Paradigm, Jeff Hatton's Draw & Gwen etc, etc. ;D ;D ;D ;D What's next?
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Post by alee on Jan 19, 2008 10:05:40 GMT 8
Wong,
Very compelling story and I enjoyed every bit of it. One simple question: Why is a boo rod so bare in its finishing? Can't you put "skrimshaw", do some feather-in-lays, or add some jewelry like ivory to the reel seat or the cork handle?
Sorry for the stupid question as I am not a "fly" guy.
Cheers,
Anthony Lee
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Post by TarponCraz on Jan 20, 2008 9:06:56 GMT 8
Anthony,
Traditionally, bamboo fly rods have been crafted without the fancy staff you mentioned. Even the modern graphite rods are finished this way. Fly fishermen carried on this tradition and do not value the feather inlay and featured handles as much as fishermen using spinning rods and baitcaster rods. Another reason is that those features adds on unnecessary weight to the rod. Thats my two cents opinion.
Wong
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Post by alee on Jan 20, 2008 13:23:42 GMT 8
Wong,
Ha, tradition dies hard. This must be the only reason why a new boo rod today looks as old fashion as bamboo itself. You guys make it seem so mystical.
Anthony Lee
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Post by Chee Yung on Jan 20, 2008 14:12:13 GMT 8
Hi Anthony, Talking about being mystical...If I may add to the cornucopia of purple prose in praise of bamboo rods... Canerod aesthetics comes from many angles.. Jeff Hatton loves the bells and whistles as he enjoys that aspect while some makers like Bjarne Fries & Japanese makers look for the Zen aspects.. Less is More How do we understand the Zen aspects? Well, bamboo as a material already has natural fibre grain patterns and each component either wood insert, silk wraps, metal components, agate guides have their own natural colour and form. The best of Zen style design plays up these natural patterns.. grain, flaming, transparency/colour of silk, patina of metal, mineral patterns of agates etc.. thereby producing a unique rod everytime. No two cane rods are identical unlike graphites that can be easily cloned. Furthermore, combine these natural aesthetics with the properties of the materials ie bamboo has fibres as strong as steel yet retains an organic not-too-fast tempo when made into a rod, Silk when wrapped perpendicular to the fibres double the strength of the rod yet can be made transparent, varnish is like sealing the entire rod in amber and allows repair anytime, agate smoothens the guides etc. .... and make it into a rod using hand tools alone... ahhh that is the ultimate beauty where form follows function. You feel like you have harvested the best mother earth has provided and translated them into a tool to dance with nature. There you go.... once a rod becomes unique, we start to imagine it is an individual and it starts acquiring mystical properties.. especially if it casts like a dream and catches fish like uncle's Leos .. the cane 'talks' about where it is grown ( foothills of Fujian), the willow wood if carved from a Colorado burl speaks of rivers yet visited, the metal marks tell of how it was forged and worked on by makers, the silk are wisps of magic spun by worms and dyed with ancient Chinese red ores, the flor grade cork smelling of a harvest day in a Portugese summer etc etc ;D. Its not merely tradition.. we do find it harder to dream of origins with graphite... a chemical distillation plant.. a rig in a sand dune? Nahhh.... This is why I started the series of 'Rod Stories'. Each rod does have a story to tell and in a world where everthing becomes faceless, we can start to create meaning again. Poisoned yet? Wahahaha!;D ;D BTW, your graphite craftsmanship is already top notch and these skills when translated to bamboo will only make the Craft better! Cheers CY
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Post by ShadowCaster on Jan 20, 2008 15:32:15 GMT 8
My take on the prevailing appearance of Bamboo rods is that it is mainly driven by the balance between utilitarianism and aesthetics.
Once you dwell into the evolution on the appearance of hardware, wraps etc., you will find that most configurations are driven by a specific function or utilitarian value, or by practical rod making considerations. While rod makers throughout the years are at their liberty to express their own interpretation of aesthetics (feather inlays and butt wraps included), the surviving features that prevail are those that are practical and serve specific purposes.
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Post by alee on Jan 21, 2008 12:02:40 GMT 8
CY and TY,
Now, it sounds more mystical.
I always advise new rod builders to build their rods anyway they like, go out and fish as the fishes will not know the difference. After a couple of rods, those who feel that they have some inclination will take up the hobby seriously and develop their own skills and particular expertise.
Yes, bamboo rod building is absolutely different. Both of you are good source of inspiration for people like uncle Wong and maybe myself someday. My LeoRod is on the line and when it comes around, let's see whether Wong would allow me to dress it up.
Cheers,
Anthony Lee
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