Manufacture

As mentioned before, my rods are entirely manufactured. It takes 40 to 60 hours to build a split cane rod, depending on the model and custom finishes.

The raw Tonkin cane is split, then straightened, planed and glued, all done by hand.

The guide wraps and the lacquer finish are also done by hand. I use natural silk thread in different colors which becomes slightly translucent when applying the lacquer. Every guide wrap is covered with at least 7 layers of lacquer.

I have started to machine my own metal ferrules. I had the enormous luck to get in touch with Robert Braimbaut, a jeweler located in the French city of Sedan, whom I have met through an advertisement in 'Plaisirs de la Pêche'. About 40 years ago, he has converted the ferrules of his Pezon & Michel cane rods to a system devised by himself.

This system consists of snapping together the two parts of the ferrule using a piston, not unlike the one found on old-day bayonets. The ferrules will not slip nor twist. The metal used to manufacture these ferrules is called maillefort, the very same used by Pezon & Michel, the noted French rodmakers. I also use conventional metal ferrule systems made of nickel silver.

One very important aspect of my work is the personal touches a customer wishes to see on or in his rod, i.e: the color of the thread wraps, the wood spacer used in the reel seat among others. I can also add custom modifications to the overall length of the rod or the appropriate action.