Eden Bromfield

Detachable fighting butt showing detail of the ebony butt cap consisting of a solid silver coin (three penny piece from Britain dated 1921) inlaid in recessed mammoth ivory. After the photo had been taken I realized that I had put the detachable butt the wrong way around so that the coin appears upside down in the photo! I suppose the photo could be redone, although I am certain that the general idea will be conveyed without the need for this!

Ebony and cork handle with inlays. Checkerboard inlays were made without a jig and consist of composite and regular cork. The handle is installed on a 10ft Orvis fly rod blank for Atlantic salmon.

....... a fresh run Atlantic salmon. Despite the fact that I have built several rods, still prefer to use this beat up old fly rod that was picked up in a sale at a local tackle shop. May not look pretty, but hey, it performs like a champ!

New green heart fly rod blank (3 piece - 2 tips) with ferrules ready to be installed. The blank has been treated with tung oil sealer only. The green heart wood is quite beautiful and will be complimented with an all wood handle, feather inlay, silk wraps and single foot ceramic guides.

More of the same, different materials. The twelve (single layer) and twenty-four piece (double layer) inlays are made from redwood burl, ebony and synthetic ivory. The synthetic ivory works quite easily (low speed on the lathe) and cannot be readily distinguished from the real thing. Individual wedges are about 1/8 inch thick. All inlay pieces were made without any jig. They are shown in the rough and will be sanded and polished when installed in various fly rod handles. G-2 epoxy was used for all glueing.

.....lunch break right in the middle of the prime fishing spot!

........ an inquisitive friend

Finished padauk and mammoth ivory handle installed on a cane blank. All inlay pieces were made with simple hand tools. The padauk was treated with tung oil sealer, followed by several coats of tung oil. When dry, wax was applied. Padauk is a coarse textured hard wood from Africa, but in the sun it positively glows with the colour changing from deep reds to orange browns. Almost like a chameleon! The flamed bamboo fly rod blank is 9.5 ft (8-10 wt) for Atlantic salmon and was made by Dewey Hildebrand. The taper is unique and was designed by Dewey specifically for Atlantics.

This is my first attempt at turning a handle on the lathe. At this stage the handle is fitted loosely on the cane blank and includes PADAUK wood and mammoth ivory checker inlays. Question: The padauk is extremely porous and needs some sort of protection. I do not want to use a plastic finish which leaves tung oil or walnut oil as possible finishing choices. If an oil finish is used how do I prevent the oil soaking into the cork, particularly when applied to the thin padauk rings? Any suggestions/help appreciated. Note: The grip has been sanded to 600X grit only.

A rough cylinder of red wood burl turned from a 12" block. Next, the cylinder will be center drilled and used for making fly rod handles and other components.

My first attempt at making checkered inlay rings (1/8") for use on handles of various fly rods. The twenty-four and forty-eight piece inlays are made from Padauk wood plus mammoth ivory and composite cork plus regular cork, respectively. They have not been sanded smooth or polished yet. This will be done when the grips are glued up. All inlay rings were made by hand without a jig.

Ferrule alignment markers: jungle cock on the GUSA and red lacquer dots on the Hexagraph.

Hook keeper consisting of a 2/0 single foot wire guide inserted into the cork at the top of a fighting butt so as to avoid interference while fly fishing. Simple but effective.

Another view of my first two fly rods built on Hexagraph and GUSA blanks. The fish was caught 50 million years ago. NOTE: This photo has been uploaded again because the first version was too dark.

These were my first two fly rods built about a year ago on Hexagraph and GUSA blanks respectively. NOTE: I have uploaded this photo again because the last version was too dark.

Quickie pic of a stained cork handle on an unfinished fly rod. Briefly the procedure used is as follows: Apply HOT (at least 90 Celsius) tea solution in several coats until the desired shade is achieved. When dry apply a single coat of shellac in absolute alcohol and allow to soak in. This seals and drives the stain (tannins) into the cork. Next, apply polymerized tung oil sealer followed by at least six very thin coats (i.e wipe on then wipe off) polymerized tung oil. Allow to cure and then rub down with rottenstone in mineral oil. Apply a coat of paste wax and buff. It should be noted that the staining is superficial and I have no idea how well it will withstand heavy use, although the tung oil should give good durability. The cork handle is fully waterproof.

Atlantic salmon river with arctic flowers in foreground. River is in Ungava.

Photo taken on 11 April 03

Antique book and completed signature feather inlay

Feathers and inscription in silver water based ink (Windsor and Newton). Fly rod blank is fiberglass.

Feather Inlay, antique reel, stained and polished cork grip. The cork is stained with tea followed by unrefined shellac and tung oil. Reel is the "Aerial" made by Allcocks, England; early 20th century.

Feather ferrule alignment markers

Feather inlay, stained cork. Centre-pin reel is an Allcocks Aerial made in England, early 20th century. Makes an excellent fly reel.

Fresh run Atlantic salmon.

Trout stream in winter