Horizontal OPR application for the rodbuilder?

[easterngray]

Hi Folks -
I just watched the SS #4 on the OPR and am impressed! I am considering using one as a power beveler in the production of split bamboo rods, and thought I'd ask what you think...
For the maker of split bamboo rods, the initial hand planing of the six bamboo strips into 60 degree splines is done in a planing form - but it is slow going, and tedious. In order to speed the process up, a fellow named Alan Medved came up with a power beveler through which the initial rectangular strips are fed, one side at a time, to create a 60 degree angled strip quickly and efficiently. His tool, called the Medved beveller, is not available commercially, but is easily made by building a housing, a grooved bed for the bamboo to ride in, and using a router with a straight bit as the cutting tool. There are spring arm hold downs to keep the bamboo strip in place as it is pushed through and cut. Here's a picture of a rather nice one that a fellow made from metal, complete with dust collection!

http://www.rodbuildingforum.com/uploads/gallery421e947e64d26.jpg
Medved Beveler (front)

http://www.rodbuildingforum.com/uploads/gallery421e948ad8a5c.jpg
Medved Beveler (back)

I don't see any reason why I could not accomplish this same task with an OPR on my Mark V, by making a fence/bed with spring hold-downs and mount it to the table.
Am I missing something?
I have been putting the tools together to make bamboo rods for the past few years and look forward to getting started... thanks for any feedback!
Alec

[dusty]

Alec, Background, please.

I assume the finished product is ganged together with five other pieces to constitute a complete rod. Is that correct?

Are the nonbeveled sides essentially parallel flat surfaces? or are they an arc?

Again, I assume that the stock being beveled is rather thin and not all that wide. The finished rod being on the order of 1/4" in diameter.

Consider making application for a patent.

[easterngray]

Yes Dusty - thats right. After the non-tapered strips are beveled to 60 degrees, they are laid in an adjustable planing form, where they are hand planed down to the final taper (i.e. thick butt section, fine tip). All six strips are then glued to gether to form the rod blank. The non beveled sides are flat, after light sanding removes the outer enamel of the bamboo.
I don't believe Alan Medved patented his machine - he kindly shares his design with rod makers both pro and amateur.
Don't you think this same process could be accomplished on the Mk. V with an OPR as I described? Thanks again - Alec

[dusty]

Yes, Alec it does seem that this process could be done using the OPR.

I don't have a lot of experience in this sort of process and would not be inclined to make recommendations but it does seem to be an appropriate application.

There are people on this forum who use the OPR and their comments are much more valuable than mine. I, along with you, am waiting to hear.

[reible]

Hi,

Well building rods is well out of my normal everyday woodworking skills but I do find router project interesting even if I personally never use them. This is one of those cases I find very interesting.

I've heard that bamboo is very hard, but I've never worked with it, with the router this may not be much of a problem but trying to keep it "still" while routing might be another issue. In any case a fixture or jig is no doubt going to need to be made. If this is a case of wanting to get the OPR, then by all means get it and work from there.

So if you don't mind could you answer a few questions??

What size of raw stock do you start with? Is it processed to the point of being a uniform length, width, thickness? Do you have to worry about defects? Will it splinter easy?

When you do the shaping is is just taking off the edges at 30 deg. (I think a piece of this rod is processed on each side by taking off 30 deg so it fits together so you could use a 30 deg router bit?). Are the rods hollow inside?

How long are the pieces? Can they be kept to say 3 or 4 feet? When you do the final taper do you a "shooting board" to get the taper uniform? Would you like to be able to do that process with the router too?

Ed

[easterngray]

Hi Ed -
I apologize for the delay in responding to your questions, I've been fishing in New Hampshire!

Bamboo rods are made with a specific type of bamboo, tonkin cane, inported from China. The stalks are called culms or poles, and for the rod maker, the poles 2.5 to 3.5 inches in diameter are best. Bamboo is a grass, and is very tough. You do have to worry about defects - mostly insect damage or man made cuts. The culms are split or sawed into long strips and the outer nodal ridges are sanded off, resulting in a generally rectangular strip. These are the strips that I would then rout into 60 degree shape. These untapered strips are then placed in what is called a planing form - an adjustble set of steel bars that have a 60 degree groove cut in it and push/pull screws or bolts every 6 inches, allowing one to set the proper taper with a dial indicator. The strips are then hand planed with a block plane down to the top of the planing form. The final thousandths are usually scraped off with a small scraper plane. The completed six strips are then glued together.
There are of course lots of other little details, but thats the general idea. You do build the rods in multi piece configurations and fit them with nickle silver ferrules - usually two or three pieces. Cheers! Alec

http://www.wagnerrods.com/formc.jpg
60 degree strip in a planing form

Here's an interesting bit of history... http://www.explorepahistory.com/hmarker.php?markerId=530

[reible]

Thanks for the extra information! Hope the fishing was fun enought.

Ed