I was cycling along the river today with my old split cane rod, not in a hard case (fool that I am), when some muppett cut me up...ended with the rod getting caught in the spokes. Terrifying moment with lots of expletives.

Thankfully the reel seat took the brunt leaving no obvious damage but on returning home I put the rod together and found a slight bend of only a couple degrees near the ferule in the upper section which leaves it very slightly distorted.

I've done some internet research and seen a post on another forum very confidently recommending people to cautiously heat with a steaming kettle the section and then applying pressure to remove the bend.

Has anyone tried this?
Will it not damage the varnish?

thanks

Hi John

If it’s done correctly it won’t damage the varnish
But the secret is applying enough heat to take the bend out without blistering the finish.

Steam is not the best way to do it as it adds moisture at the same time what you need is dry heat the best from a spirit lamp.

Hold the rod depending on the size of the flame a few inches above the heat and continuously turn the rod applying the heat as you go to the area.
The right amount of heat is just sufficient so you cannot hold the section to your lips. So you need to keep testing it. Once you get the rod to that temperature counter bend the rod slightly and hold it for a few minutes.
Let the rod cool down and sight down the shaft.
If all is well its job done if not you may have to go thought it all again.
It’s easy for someone who knows what there doing but not so for a guy who as never done this type of thing before.
Its up to you


Gary
Nicho Bamboo Rod Co

I always recommend steam rather than dry heat, having scorched a few canes in the past. With a steaming kettle you can't generate more than about 110 degrees C no matter how long you apply it for, which makes softening the natural resins a lot easier. Moisture is only a problem if the varnish is iffy, but I always give the affected section(s) a good thick coat before straightening. It might not look pretty, but it means I can assess the soundness of the cane without spending a lot of time and effort on a noodle. If it passes muster I then strip it down before re-finishing properly.

I've got a shedful of cane rods I've bought for next to nothing, owing to severe sets putting off all other potential purchasers, and every one is now as straight as a cane rod will ever be.

What concerns me most about this particular tale of woe is the manner in which the bend occurred. A set usually develops over time, from repeated deflection in a particular plane. The sudden shock inflicted by the bicycle spokes may have over-stressed one or more of the cane segments beyond its elastic limits, in which case no matter how often you re-set it it will revert to bent as soon as it's flexed in that direction. A quick coat of varnish, an application of steam to straighten it out and a casting session on the lawn will soon show whether this is the case. If it is, the only real solution is a new section - which is where Gary comes in!

Thank you both for your respective replies.

I concur three rivers. I worried that the bend showing immediately is a sign of more serious damage. There are no outward signs of damage in the bamboo itself and the varnish is not marked in anyway, but the ferule would have been quickly and violently yanked to the left (I'm recoiling now just thinking back to it). Its not a valuable rod (an old Bird and Martinez from Allcocks) but it has huge personal value used by my grandad on small streams, lovingly restored by a since deceased family friend.

bbamboo - assuming its just a matter of a set, if I were to take it to a specialist how expensive a piece of restoration work would this be?

Put it this way it would cost more in postage than the price of the job.

Gary