How to restore a bamboo fly rod
In this video series we walk you through everything you need to know about how to restore a bamboo fly rod. We keep the amount of tools and materials to a minimum. If you have any questions that are not covered in the videos below, please feel free to send us an email.
The first video takes you through selecting a rod to restore. The video covers what to look for in a vintage/used rod and what to avoid.
Our second video takes you through creating a "rod map" as well as changes you might consider when refinishing a rod. You can find a PDF of the "rod map" diagram on our tutorial page.
In video 3 we start stripping down the rod. We cover how to remove the grip, reel seat, tip top, guides, and varnish. To remove varnish we use a cabinet scraper and steel wool.
In video 4 we show you how to remove a set from a blank. We also cover how to apply finish to your blank and polishing. In the video we use tru-oil and rotten stone. If you would like more information on these items or would like to purchase these you can find them here:
In video 5 we show you how to wrap main guides and trim bands. We also go through a few fixes for wrapping ferrules and signature (intermediate) wraps. We finish the video by demonstrating how to apply color preserver to silk and finally how to seal the thread with varnish.
In the last video of this series we walk you through how to repair a rod section that has become delaminated. If you need any of the supplies shown in the video you can find them at the links below:
In video 6 we take you through how to fix a delaminated rod section. This is a pretty common problem with older rods and the fix is pretty straight forward.