2018 Rod Comparison Project

The aim of this (first) project, was to take two base tapers (both 7'6"), and make variations on them. The tapers chosen were both classic American rods:
- the Paul Young Perfectionist
- and a Dickerson 7613
As our first project of this type, the goal was to keep things open for people to experiment and be creative and see where we would get to, and if this sort of exercise would be something that be a worthwhile ongoing theme for Cressy Cane.

When we gathered for the 2018 Cressy Cane, we realised pretty quickly that we had been pretty ambitious.

To have 25 rods made for the project was initially a bit mind boggling. Whilst we could have managed this better, in the end we were able to try some amazing rods with some intricate differences to compare and contrast. 

Some of the differences included, Bamboo ferrules. Fibreglass ferrules. Spliced ferrules, Hollow built. 1 x piece, 2 x piece, 3x piece, 4 x piece, Heat treatment variations and Tonkin and Madake cane.  The Madake cane was a revelation for many and we are all keen to explore this lower modulus material further. 

One of the favourite rods ( and there were many) was a Dickerson 7613 with spliced ferrules made in Madake cane. This "softer" material appears to smooth and soften the predictable action of the Dickerson which makes it very pleasant to cast and fish.

By and large, the Perfectionists cast like a Perfectionist and a Dickerson like a Dickerson but it was the the subtle differences that made the project so worthwhile. For the Rod Makers  these  differences provide an enormous amount of knowledge to raise the standard of understanding the material and how it works. 
As Boris said, these gatherings and in particular the Project cram 20 years of experience into one long weekend. 

There was much discussion around future projects comparing rods which we are still digesting and will request some further input from everyone at some stage. This years comparison was so interesting on so many levels that it will become the backbone of future gatherings. 

2018 Rod Project Build Summary

Rod 1
Maker: Boris Gaspar
Taper: PHY Perfectionist
Details
: Oven Tempered, 3 piece, scarf ferrules

Rod 2
Maker: Boris Gaspar
Taper: Dickerson 7613
Details
: Flamed and Oven Tempered, 2 piece, NS ferrules ("Classic Build")

Rod 3
Maker: Boris Gaspar
Taper: Dickerson 7613
Details
: Flamed and Oven Tempered, 3 piece, NS ferrules

Rod 4
Maker: Boris Gaspar
Taper: Dickerson 7613
Details
: Oven Tempered, 3 piece, scarf ferrules, 2" short (7'4")

Rod 5
Maker: Justin Ansell
Taper: Dickerson 7613
Details
: Lightly Flamed, 2 piece, NS ferrules ("Classic Build")

Rod 6
Maker: Jim Morris
Taper: PHY Perfectionist
Details
: Medium Flamed, 3 piece, S-Glass Spigot Ferrules, taper Hexrod adjusted for "3 piece truncated ferrules

Rod 7
Maker: Rob Morwood
Taper: PHY Perfectionist
Details
: Flamed, 4 piece, NS truncated ferrules

Rod 8
Maker: Ken Bradbrook
Taper: Dickerson 7613
Details
: Flamed (external), 2 piece, NS ferrules, swelled over 25" to 60 thou over std taper, tapered under handle and reelseat

Rod 9
Maker: Ken Bradbrook
Taper: Dickerson 7613
Details
: Flamed (external), 2 piece, NS ferrules ("Classic Build")

Rod 10
Maker: Ken Bradbrook
Taper: PHY Perfectionist
Details
: Flamed (external), 2 piece, NS ferrules, swelled over 25" to 15 thou over std taper, constant taper under handle and reelseat

Rod 11
Maker: Hamish Murray
Taper: Dickerson 7613
Details
: Flamed and oven treated, L139 glue, 3 piece, NS ferrules, wipe-on gorilla glue finish

Rod 12
Maker: David Hemmings
Taper: PHY Perfectionist
Details
: Oven tempered, resorcinol glue, 2 piece, NS ferrules, varnish finished ("Classic Build")

Rod 13
Maker: Callum Ross
Taper: Dickerson 7613
Details
: Oven tempered, 2 piece, CSE Step Down NS ferrules, Gorilla Glue finish

Rod 14
Maker: David Hemmings
Taper: Dickerson 7613
Details
: Madake bamboo, Internal flaming, L139 glue, 2 piece, scarf ferrules, varnish finished

Rod 14
Maker: David Hemmings
Taper: Dickerson 7613
Details
: Madake bamboo, Internal flaming, L139 glue, 2 piece, scarf ferrules, varnish finished

Rod 15
Maker: Nick Taransky
Taper: PHY Perfectionist
Details
: Madake bamboo, Internal flaming, L139 glue, 2 piece, bamboo sleeve ferrules, Gorilla Glue Finish

Rod 16
Maker: Nick Taransky
Taper: PHY Perfectionist**
Details
: Madake bamboo, Internal flaming, L139 glue, 2 piece, bamboo sleeve ferrules, Gorilla Glue Finish, taper scaled down 12/13 (from 13 to 12 ferrule) - Madake "Imp"

Rod 17
Maker: Nick Taransky
Taper: PHY Perfectionist**
Details
: Tonkin Cane, Internal flaming, L139 glue, 2 piece, Hariki short NS super swiss ferrules, Gorilla Glue Finish, taper scaled down 12/13 (from 13 to 12 ferrule) - Tonkin "Imp"

Rod 18
Maker: John Herriot
Taper: PHY Perfectionist
Details
: Blonde (Internal flaming), 2 piece, integral bamboo ferrules

Rod 19
Maker: John Herriot
Taper: PHY Perfectionist
Details
: Blonde (Internal flaming), 1 piece

Rod 20
Maker: Peter Austin
Taper: PHY Perfectionist
Details
: Flamed, glue - Epoxy, 3 piece, Hariki step down extra short ferrules, all sections take from one short 4' culm, 2x2x2 node stagger, finish - 2 coats poured Epicraft thick (thinned 50:40:10)

Rod 21
Maker: Peter Austin
Taper: PHY Perfectionist
Details
: Flamed, glue - Epoxy, 3 piece, scarf ferrules, 2x2x2 node stagger, finish - 2 coats poured Epicraft thick (thinned 50:40:10)

Rod 22
Maker: Bill Lark
Taper: PHY Perfectionist
Details
: Oven tempered (15 min @ 170C), glue - L139 Epoxy, 2 piece, NS Super Swiss #14 ferrules, Gorilla Glue Finish

Rod 23
Maker: Mark Rampant
Taper: PHY Perfectionist
Details
: Oven tempered (10 min @ 200C), 3 piece, NS Haruki Ferrules ferrules, Hollow built with taper adjusted (increased) for hollowing

Rod 24
Maker: Mark Rampant
Taper: PHY Perfectionist
Details
: Oven tempered (10 min @ 200C), 2 piece, NS Haruki Ferrules ferrules, Hollow built with taper adjusted (increased) for hollowing

Rod 25
Maker: Mark Rampant
Taper: Dickerson 7613
Details
: Oven tempered (10 min @ 200C), 2 piece, NS Haruki Ferrules #14 ferrule, Hollow built with taper adjusted (increased) for hollowing

Rod 26
Maker: David Anderson
Taper: PHY Perfectionist
Details
: Flame tempered, quadrate, 2 piece, scarf ferrules, butt made from Bunnings Cane (non Tonkin), tip made from Tonkin Cane

Rod 27
Maker: David Anderson
Taper: PHY Perfectionist
Details
: Flame tempered, quadrate, 2 piece, scarf ferrules, tip made from Bunnings Cane (non Tonkin), butt made from Tonkin Cane

Rod 28
Maker: David Anderson
Taper: PHY Perfectionist
Details
: Flame tempered, quadrate, 2 piece, scarf ferrules, 12" short

Rod 29
Maker: David Anderson
Taper: PHY Perfectionist
Details
: Flame tempered, quadrate, 2 piece, swelled butt