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 The cane in the photo at right is two culms of our A+ cane,
one inside the other. This photo emphasizes that culm
diameter does vary, even within the top grade. The smaller
diameter culm is much denser and cleaner (you’ll have to
trust us on this one since you can’t see it); the larger culm,
while easier to split into a sufficient pile of strips, is less
dense and has more visual blemishes over its length. When
ordering A+ culms, you may request thinner or thicker
culms. The former are best for lighter line, blonde rods.
The latter are often perfect for heavier rods requiring wider,
deeper strips.
Is our bamboo expensive? You could buy bulk bamboo for
less, but you’ll wind up with enough tomato stakes to outfit
a community garden for years. High-graded bamboo is
more expensive because we take the time to sort it; we take
the time and effort (blisters upon blisters) to put a drying
split in each of thousands of culms; we store it in a humid-ity and temperature controlled warehouse; we take great
pains in packaging it; and, we absorb the loss of all those
tomato stakes you’d otherwise be dealing with. For all this
we charge you only $78.95 per culm for our best material.
What can you do with this single culm of bamboo? You
can make two gorgeous split-cane rods. That's $39.48 per
blank in the blank material, plus your sweat. If you sell
your rods, you can easily sell a two-piece, two tip rod for
around $1000; if you develop a strong following among
collectors, you could sell those rods for over $2000 each.
How expensive is that bamboo? It’s running at 2.5%-4%
of your rod’s value for the best stuff you can buy. That’s
not terribly expensive.
TONKIN CANE CULMS
If you want select, high-graded Tonkin, we’ve
got it. We buy the best bamboo imported,
then we high grade each bale, individually
studying and sorting every single culm. We
divide the culms into four grades, A+, A,
A-, & B, based on the following criteria:
diameter, color, depth of fiber, heft, and lack
of flaws such as bug, watermarks, growers’
marks, burns, &c. It bears mentioning
that even our lowest grade culms rarely, if
ever, show a grower’s mark or burn—that’s
how good the cane is before we high grade
it. When all the variables are taken into
consideration, there are heavy culms with a
few blems and lighter culms that are more
nearly perfect blondes, yet both can be
found within the same grade. You do pay a
premium for this high-grading service, but it
is a popular service to judge from our cane
sales. As with our high-graded cork, we help
you eliminate the crap shoot when buying
cane, which is a natural product replete with
natural variety.
All
culms are priced as full 12’ sticks, though
we must cut them into two 6’ sections for
shipping. Half-culms are clearly marked to
the butt & tip, the grade, and, if you order
multiple culms, as to which tip and butt
match. Each culm features a drying split
we put in as we sort to minimize random
check splitting. Cane ships separately from
other goods by UPS in the U.S. and Parcel
Post Air to Canada. Like cork, A+ cane is
not always in stock, though we do our best to
meet demand on an annual basis. Stock up
when we have it and please be patient if we
back-order you. The quality of the A+ cane
will justify both courses of action.
[TCA+] A+ TONKIN CANE : $78.95/culm - 3 for $226.95
[TCA] A TONKIN CANE : $59.95/culm - 3 for $169.95
[TCA-] A- TONKIN CANE : : $31.95/culm - 3 for $74.95
[TCB] B TONKIN CANE : $21.95/culm 3 for $49.95
Shipping costs:
Add $48 for 3 culms / Add $22per single culm ( Prices above do not reflect shipping costs )
THE BAMBOO SAMPLE PACK
This package consists of one full culm A grade Tonkin (2x 6’ sections) and one half
of an A– culm (1x 6’ section).
Get your sample pack for only $82.95, shipping included. Practice
splitting with the A– culm, then make a rod or two with the A culm. Due to shipping
restrictions, these sample packs are only available for distribution within the U.S. Due
to the low price, each rodmaker may take advantage of the sample pack only once.
Thanks for your understanding. And have fun!
[BSP] Bamboo Sample Pack : $82.95
RATTAN STRIPS
We carry five different widths and an analogy
to silk is appropriate. The finer this stuff is,
the more turns it takes to complete a wrap
and, if you’re not careful, the more prone
it is to breakage. But - darn - the fine stuff
looks good (2.00, 2.25, & 2.50). The thicker
strips are perfect for restoration work. Use
a cork under-grip that is approximately
3/16” smaller in diameter than you want
your final grip—what a great way to use up
pitted, low-grade cork since it will be hidden
anyway. Wrap the rattan over a thin layer of
woodworker’s glue and tuck the ends under
your reel seat and winding check (or tuck
the ends under preceding turns, similar to
tying off a thread wrap, when making rattan
half-grips—pictured). Don’t forget that the
prettiest rattan grips always have a single turn
of red or orange silk inter-wound between
each turn of rattan. This serves to fill what
small gaps may otherwise be visible between
the turns of rattan. Varnish over the grip
with three thin coats of Sutherland Welles
Ltd® Marine Spar Varnish. All rattan is
packaged in 270’ hanks; individual strips vary
in length; splices may be necessary, but not
more than two per grip and even that is rare.
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