Hey everyone,

I'm new to the forum and to bamboo rod building. I live in NW Pennsylvania (Mercer County. My home water is the Neshannock and its tribs). I've been a fiberglass addict for about 2 years now and am thinking about making the jump to bamboo, in particular to building bamboo rods. I've looking at this form for a few weeks now and am blown away by the amount of great info. I primarily fish small to medium streams and prefer dries and classic wets.

I'm starting to assemble my tools. I plan on building most of my own tools, beveler, oven, etc. However I do have a question about forms. I'm considering building my own out of wood or possibly buying a set of the bootstraps forms (I like that they have a swelled butt option). I'm also interested in making long one piece rods and am thinking about making a wooden set that are 8' long with an adjustable groove only on one side. Any opinions on the best beginner option? Has anyone seen/handled the bootstraps forms since they've been redisgned (not sure how long ago, may have been a while). I like to do a lot of reasearch before I jump into something. I've spent the past couple of months reading the Cattanach, Mauer, and Howells books. I've also tried to get my hands on as many internet articles as possible. I've ordered the Golden Witch dvds, but they haven't arrived yet.

Also, does anyone know of anyone who build/sells wooden forms.

Thanks and look forward to posting more.
Jay Crumbacher

I am brand new at this too and built my own preliminary and final planing forms. The prelim is a simple 60* form made of red oak. I used a triangular file epoxied to a 5" wooden block to carve the groove. The final form was made of cold rolled steel bar stock 3/4" x 3/4". I followed the Penrose instructions meticulously which can be found here (http://www.thomaspenrose.com/bamboo.htm). It was a lot of work (about 60 hrs) but I convinced myself that if I couldn't do this, I probably wouldn't have the persistence or precision necessary to make a bamboo blank. I am now planing the third section of a 3 pc rod (my first) and have been very happy with the results I get from MY form. I urge you to make your own if for no other reason than the experience of making a precision instrument and the satisfaction of seeing it work so well.

Hi Jay,
Welcome to the forum. Regarding your question about forms: I have a set of bootstrap forms and for the money I couldn't be happier. The more expensive forms are nice, but when you are just getting started there are plenty of other tools you need and saving $400 on the bootstrap forms will provide a nice head start.

Golden Witch used to sell wooden forms. They used to sell lots of tools, but something happened and they stopped, and nobody else took up the sale of wooden forms. They are pretty easy to build if you have a drill press and access to a planer to surface the wood. You can make 8 foot forms if that's what you want, or even longer if you can get the wood for it. You can make one piece rods longer than your forms, or so I'm told. Wood will do fine for a dozen or so rods before needing a tune up... longer if you use a grooved plane.

The bootstrap forms seem to be functional for most beginners. Forms in the same price range can be had from http://bamboorodsmith.com/planing_forms.htm and http://bambooflyrods.tripod.com/planing.html
I got a set of used forms from a maker that no longer needed them. I had to be patient and wait a while. I used my wood forms until the used ones became available.

You can make your own metal forms with just a drill press, some files, and lots of dedication. The idea that making forms has anything to do with making a blank is incorrect. You don't do any drilling, tapping, or draw filing on a bamboo strip.

welcome.....its good to see someone from NW PA....my original fishing grounds (warren co.). i took the easy route and bought my forms from lon. couldn't be happier with them...disclaimer, i've only planed out two rods on them.

enough research....jump in....MUHHa ha ha ha ha ha!

Thanks for info everyone,

After thinking about it, I might do both actually. I might make a set of dedicated wooden forms for one piece rods and then order a set of steel forms down the road for multi piece rods.

Thanks for the info,
Jay