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Bamboo Rod Restoration
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What you did with my Orvis rod was just perfect; you kept it as close to original as possible, while retaining its integrity. P. Workman, Bellingham, WA |
9-1/2 ft Orvis Model "99" w/ Super Z ferrules personally made by Wes Jordan, 1955
We offer professional Bamboo Rod Restoration, including partial restoration to customers' specifications, & complete restoration to near original condition. We use the finest vintage American & English silks, fine Japanese silks, new & vintage guides & ferrules, vintage reel seats, premium spar varnishes, sealers & polishes - to bring your collectible or keepsake rod, or your treasured fishing companion, back to its earlier bright luster & fishable condition.
Full Restoration includes polishing original varnish & cleaning & re-coating any intact wraps; replacing missing or damaged guides & wrapping with matching new or vintage silk; lacquer/shellac and varnish new wraps; clean, polish and adjust ferrules; re-glue ferrules where needed; clean, adjust & polish original reel seat; clean & smooth cork grip, or rebuild grip if needed; remove any sets in bamboo sections; & re-varnish full rod as necessary or desired. $350. - 600.*
Partial Restoration includes polishing original varnish & wraps; replacing and/or re-wrapping a small number of guides & tip tops; cleaning & re-coating wraps, & varnish touch-up on cane, as needed; cleaning & lightly polishing ferrules; re-setting ferrules where needed; & cleaning cork grip & reel seat. $200. - 350.* (*replacement components additional)
Most Restorations require 5 - 12 weeks to complete; Quick Turnaround of 2 - 3 weeks offered for limited repairs.
**Current & Completed Restorations/Repairs include: Edwards, Payne, Gillum, Sedgwick, Leonard, Kusse, Winston, Paul Young, Bob Summers, EC Powell, W Powell, FE Thomas, vom Hoffe, Uslan, Granger, Divine, Heddon, Phillipson, Orvis, Cross, South Bend, Shakespeare, Union Hardware, Montague, H & I; plus Hardy, Allcocks, Sharpes, JB Walker (English), & Anderson Greenheart (Scottish).
Evaluation of Rod's Condition: Clear photographs can aid assessment of a rod's condition. However a thorough in-person inspection is always the best practice for determining recommended restoration work. After inspection an accurate cost estimate will be provided. There is no charge for this evaluation & estimate.
How Much Restoration is the Right Amount? When determining how much restoration is right, several questions should be asked: Is the rod primarily a collectible rod or family keepsake to be displayed; or will it be put into service for fly fishing? If the rod is primarily for display, it may be best to keep it close to its original aged condition, consistent with repairing any obvious damage. If the rod will be actively fished, missing & damaged wraps should be replaced w/ matching new or vintage silk, dried out wraps cleaned, sealed & re-varnished, any corroded guides & tip tops cleaned or replaced w/ new or vintage NOS guides, loose ferrules reset & re-glued, cracked ferrules replaced, & varnish brought up to a sealed waterproof condition. Cork grips can be cleaned or lightly sanded, or left in aged condition, as desired.
Less is Sometimes More: Often Less is More in restoration. For example, we often recommend a vintage rod's original varnish be polished out to a smooth luster rather than stripped & replaced w/ new varnish. In many cases, cleaning plus a light overcoat of thinned varnish on the original wraps will suffice to bring the rod back to fishable condition, providing protection & luster to the guide wraps & maintaining the look of an aged rod in well-kept condition. Ferrules can be re-set as needed, preserving where possible original ferrule wraps. Ferrules & reel seat can be cleaned & lightly polished, preserving their fit & the character of their aged patinas. Likewise, the cork grip can be gently hand cleaned w/o detracting from the rod's vintage character.
"...I've always believed that an old rod should look like an old rod. Age does some wonderful things to old objects which cannot be duplicated any other way. The slightly faded tint of old silk windings is inherently honest and correct, as is the richness of patina the tea-shaded varnish has acquired over the years." from Classic Rods and Rodmakers, Martin Keane, 1977.
We are experienced in evaluating older bamboo rods, & can help you choose the right level of restoration for your valued keepsake or treasured fishing companion. Please Contact us for guidance.
Full Restoration includes polishing original varnish & cleaning & re-coating any intact wraps; replacing missing or damaged guides & wrapping with matching new or vintage silk; lacquer/shellac and varnish new wraps; clean, polish and adjust ferrules; re-glue ferrules where needed; clean, adjust & polish original reel seat; clean & smooth cork grip, or rebuild grip if needed; remove any sets in bamboo sections; & re-varnish full rod as necessary or desired. $350. - 600.*
Partial Restoration includes polishing original varnish & wraps; replacing and/or re-wrapping a small number of guides & tip tops; cleaning & re-coating wraps, & varnish touch-up on cane, as needed; cleaning & lightly polishing ferrules; re-setting ferrules where needed; & cleaning cork grip & reel seat. $200. - 350.* (*replacement components additional)
Most Restorations require 5 - 12 weeks to complete; Quick Turnaround of 2 - 3 weeks offered for limited repairs.
**Current & Completed Restorations/Repairs include: Edwards, Payne, Gillum, Sedgwick, Leonard, Kusse, Winston, Paul Young, Bob Summers, EC Powell, W Powell, FE Thomas, vom Hoffe, Uslan, Granger, Divine, Heddon, Phillipson, Orvis, Cross, South Bend, Shakespeare, Union Hardware, Montague, H & I; plus Hardy, Allcocks, Sharpes, JB Walker (English), & Anderson Greenheart (Scottish).
Evaluation of Rod's Condition: Clear photographs can aid assessment of a rod's condition. However a thorough in-person inspection is always the best practice for determining recommended restoration work. After inspection an accurate cost estimate will be provided. There is no charge for this evaluation & estimate.
How Much Restoration is the Right Amount? When determining how much restoration is right, several questions should be asked: Is the rod primarily a collectible rod or family keepsake to be displayed; or will it be put into service for fly fishing? If the rod is primarily for display, it may be best to keep it close to its original aged condition, consistent with repairing any obvious damage. If the rod will be actively fished, missing & damaged wraps should be replaced w/ matching new or vintage silk, dried out wraps cleaned, sealed & re-varnished, any corroded guides & tip tops cleaned or replaced w/ new or vintage NOS guides, loose ferrules reset & re-glued, cracked ferrules replaced, & varnish brought up to a sealed waterproof condition. Cork grips can be cleaned or lightly sanded, or left in aged condition, as desired.
Less is Sometimes More: Often Less is More in restoration. For example, we often recommend a vintage rod's original varnish be polished out to a smooth luster rather than stripped & replaced w/ new varnish. In many cases, cleaning plus a light overcoat of thinned varnish on the original wraps will suffice to bring the rod back to fishable condition, providing protection & luster to the guide wraps & maintaining the look of an aged rod in well-kept condition. Ferrules can be re-set as needed, preserving where possible original ferrule wraps. Ferrules & reel seat can be cleaned & lightly polished, preserving their fit & the character of their aged patinas. Likewise, the cork grip can be gently hand cleaned w/o detracting from the rod's vintage character.
"...I've always believed that an old rod should look like an old rod. Age does some wonderful things to old objects which cannot be duplicated any other way. The slightly faded tint of old silk windings is inherently honest and correct, as is the richness of patina the tea-shaded varnish has acquired over the years." from Classic Rods and Rodmakers, Martin Keane, 1977.
We are experienced in evaluating older bamboo rods, & can help you choose the right level of restoration for your valued keepsake or treasured fishing companion. Please Contact us for guidance.