So, 3 years have now lapsed since the last post on this thread so I thought it was about time I did something with the bamboo I cut. It looks well seasoned and is a nice colour.
I picked a landing net handle sized piece and used a heat gun to straighten it. I then sanded off the nodes.
I drilled a hole in the thin end to allow a 3/8" BSF threaded brass insert to be glued in with epoxy. The insert is about 3" long so hopefully that will cope with lots of heavy fish!
I drilled a hole in the thick end and glued in an oak stopper that I'd turned previously. The whole pole was dressed with heavy duty thread and the top section with the brass insert reinforced.
This species of bamboo has a prominent sulcus groove which makes the thread susceptible to damage where it crosses the groove so I expect the thread to wear or break in those areas. I treated the pole and whippings with 6 coats of danish oil which I've never tried before so hopefully it'll do a good job of protecting it. All I have to do now is go out and use it!
