FLAMING

Flaming culm to dark brown colour.  Flaming can also be lighter if required.  Also a mottled effect is pleasing to look at.  If a rod is to be blonde in colour no flaming is required.

SPLITTING

Once the culm has been flamed it is time to start splitting into strips.  In this case 12 as it is a two piece rod with a single tip. Once split, the strips are squared off with the plane before roughing. This is to help them sit level in the roughing form.

NODES

The nodes are spaced out into order, in this case Garrison 3X3 stagger, and then heated and flattened so the top of the enamel side is flat against the planing form. This is a time consuming job as I want the nodes as small

and neat as possible.