Bamboo Rod Builders...Anal-Retentive?

Are Bamboo rod builders Anal-Retentive?  And I don't mean the builder who buys a pre-made bamboo blank  and calls themselves a "Bamboo Rod Builder".  I'm talking about the split their own cane and plane it builder.  Check out just one tiny portion of a builder's life. 

When we final plane the Bamboo strip to get the final measurements, and no we don't sand the strip, we are looking at removing approximately .003 to .005" for the initial planing.  Just to give you dimensionally challenged readers a comparision....... a piece of binder paper is approximately .003". A cardboard business card is around .010" thick.

I am a little embarassed to say I got slightly carried away with these shavings pictured above.  As you can see they are at the .oo5" mark.

Then we get to the final planing.  This is where we are planing off extremely thin shavings to nail our final dimensions.  They average approximately .0005" thick.  Yep that's three zeros and a 5.  The human hair is about .001" thick.  At least in my thinning hair.  That's twice as thick as our shavings.  I am happy to say I reached the .0005" for the final planing on these shavings.  Now I won't be shunned by my fellow Bamboo rod builders.

Why do we fret over a couple of thousandths of an inch?  Because when we hit the nodes on a strip, there is a good chance of a chip out.  Keeping a razor sharp plane and keeping the shaving extremely thin helps us avoid the dreaded chip out.  Chip a strip and its time to start the whole process over.

So are we Anal-Retentive?  When it comes to Bamboo rod building .... you bet ya.  Being an Anal-Retentive nerd is what drives your builder to strive for perfection.

Until next time my friends,
Pete