The bamboo forest of the prototypes.
A8F Tonkin (Dark Finish)
A6F Tonkin (Standard Finish)
Beautiful varnishing
Deformed octagonal blank
Bum rod is definitely one of the most popular bamboo rod makers in our shop, and the maker gave us a big deal. Here is the spring special deal until the end of March. If you are interested in, give us an e-mail at owengary63@gmail.com, please.
The shipping would be in August. If you need extra tip, you will add $350. A8F are both improved version of 2023 which is hollowed up to the tip section. (Older model was hollowed only butt and mid section).
Bum's rod takes very unique constructions, which are represented on his rod shape. The hex rod seems like a triangle rod, and the octagonal rod is not octagonal, but deformed octagonal shape. "Power is always my greatest concern. It is the caster who bends the rod, not the rod itself. The job of the rod is to repel the power once it is given by the caster. The solid rod has more weight than a hollow rod and the weight always slows down the repulsion. But the problem with the hollow structure is that when a hollow rod is cast, there is less power left in the flattened tube than there is in a solid rod. Some builders solve this problem by leaving inner walls, using the scallop method first done by E.C. Powell. But inner walls add weight. Besides, I don't like to copy someone else's idea," he explained.
His answer to this obstacle was the hollow triangle. His deformed hexagonal rod has deformed hexagonal tunnels inside. Hidenobu must love to complicate the world.
"The triangle is the ideal shape for storing energy. You can see it in bicycles. Many have triangular frames. This is because the triangle shape can absorb forces from many different directions. You can also see it in some bridges, called truss bridges.
*This article is excerpted from "Mostly Bamboo" by Yuki Bando by courtesy of the author.