I am new to bamboo. I would like to understand how to evaluate the quality of a blank, whether I buy it or make it myself. I don't want to start making blanks if I don't really know how to evaluate whether what I made is crap or pretty good. For example, how uniform should the three measurements be for width at the same point? I purchased a blank to get started, and this blank has one tip that measures 0.076, 0.081 and 0.082" and the second tip is 0.076, 0.080 and 0.081". Near the tip of the butt section it is 0.200, 0.201 and .0208"? Is this reasonable?

Thanks for any help.

Looks pretty good to me. You've got a lot of variables at work when gluing up a blank, six strips that are all planed differently glued up with different pressures or a spline is not in the exact location compared to the others. It should make little or no difference on how the rod casts or fishes.

Ken

As far as quality goes, those numbers are pretty mediocre. .006" is often understood to be the equivalent of a line weight (well, sort of...). .008 (or 4%) off in the butt section isn't terribly bad but .006" off in the tip is quite a bit more (8%). However, like Ken says, even though the numbers may be off, the rod will likely still cast and fish just fine, though I would be extra careful in locating the spine of the rod with flat-to-flat numbers like those.

Ideally most people like to see numbers within .002 of target and compared to each other, while .004 is probably more realistic.

Also, the blank should be reasonably straight and should have very few glue lines, and those it does have should be small (in both length and width).

There should be a definite pattern to the node spacing, or at the very least not have 2 nodes next to each other on adjacent flats.

Ferrule fit should be snug but still release with a firm pull and nice popping sound.

Again, these may not matter much to the fishability, but it does make a difference in what makes a 'quality' blank.

Personally, I don’t worry too much about glue lines. That’s probably because my own rods have glue lines but I’ve also seen glue lines in rods of some excellent rod makers, past and present (Garrison and Leonard to name two). I’m more concerned with whether those glue lines are overly large and are they uniform along the length of the rod. In other words, they don’t get bigger or smaller at the nodes, or anywhere else for that matter.

I also look at uniformity of the powerfibers. IMHO, the powerfibers should be small and in great quantity. Large powerfibers to me signals too much sanding and too little care in the final preparations. Powerfibers that vary in size down the blank are also a no no in my opinion as are powerfibers that vary drastically at the nodes. The power fibers should go in and out of the nodes in a straight, uniform way. They shouldn’t suddenly become larger ¼ inch from either side of the node.

Sighting down the rod, you shouldn’t see any waves or dips. Run your hand over the nodes, you shouldn’t feel any peaks or valleys.

A really good blank just screams out at you.

Jim.