Because around the world bamboo fishing rods, gravitate so many ideas, crafts and tools which I felt I needed to create this particular section of my website as a kind of , yes,"artisan club" where people could find something new, unique or collateral to bamboo rodmaking.

For instance, a very important point in working with bamboo is how to sharpen blades. As a matter of fact, how to sharpen a knife and so also a plane's blade is of paramount importance for all bamboo rodmakers.

So, here are some collateral notes on

Sharpening

Documentary Film

A cameraman? As you can see, I am not the only one fascinated by the world of bamboo rodmaking.

A popular private TV network filmed a documentary on the scene at the recent First European Bamboo Rodmakers Gathering held in Sansepolcro, Tuscany (Italy).

The art of making documentary is also part of this website, in the end, isn't it?

Andy Royer also made a very interesting documentary on bamboo plantations. Check it out!

Scrimshaw

Scrimshaw is the art of drawing on bone, ivory or similar surfaces (e.g. fossil ivory, Corian TM, Plexiglas, etc..) with a needle. It definetely belongs to our artisan club.

Below is a Tim Anderson scrimshaw on a bone and is used as an original reel seat (picture taken at the First Euroepan Bamboo Rodmakers Gathering.

(October 2009). Meanwhile, Tim has progressed to become a good bamboo rodmaker...In Sarnen he gave us also a demonstration on how to varnish a bamboo rod.

This is recent bok about Contemporary Scrimshaw which gives a nice global view of the craft and the best craftmen around the world today:

Rod and reels repair business

Never thought about it? Wanna start a Rod and Reel repair business but don't know how?

Calendars - a fly fishing art

In Waischenfeld, I met with German Fly Fishing calendar artist and passionate fly angler Thomas Kubitz. You can check his website about fly fishing calendars and more.

Fish Carving

An art such as fish carving and painting can be very rewarding.

Ellen McCaleb is a very good wood carver, who continue an old tradition of artists like John B. Russell, John and Dhuie Tully, P.B. Malloch and the... Hardy Brothers!

PHOTOGRAPHY!

My "artisan cub" can't afford missing photography of course!

This topic is so important and fascinating that I created a special subsection about digital photography which I intend to fill up with tips for taking digital photography shots.

RAKU Ceramic

IBRA, the Italian Bamboo Rodmakers Association gave us this beautiful pendant in RAku ceramic during our last gathering.

This particular object was made by Id Arte, an Italian bottega in Cavate Brianza, near Milan

Engraving

While in Sarnen, I had the opportunity to see Jaroslav Vecko engraving a silver-nickel ferrule.

Engraving is the art of manually drawing and chiseling in metal to make either prints or stand-alone masterpieces like those “carvings” or “drawings” you can see on knife handles, guns,  rifles...and, yes, even ferrules and reel holders

The task is daunting since no mistake is allowed. Many years of practice are necessary to master this magnificent fine craft.

Today, the best schools are in Belgium (Liège) and Italy (Val Trompia, near Brescia). Jaroslav demonstrated us how to engrave a ferrule by using a special turning vise and a hand graver.

Probably the best book or the most sought after one is the reprinted (it was unavailable only two years ago and reprinted for the high demand) Meek' s book Art of Engraving: A Book of Instructions . The late James B. Meek is very famous in the engraving community.

Engraving, another MUST for my "artisan club".

Knives!

Greger Forselius and Lars Herik Hagström (hand-made knives) are knife-makers from Sweden and hosted on this beautiful website managed by rod maker Mats Öberg.

I am very fond of knife making. It's a superb craft and it deserves more pages. I also made my own knife from a Do-It-Yourself kit as a start. But then I realized I simply don't have the right space to continue this craft at the moment: I live in a flat and knife-making is a very noisy occupation and it also produces lot's of difficult dust. You must have a proper workshop....

Fly Boxes

Lars Anderson (fine hardwood fly boxes) is a fine maker of fly boxes in Burled Birch, American Walnut and Burled Elm root.

The art of making boxes is well illustrated in this book that I had the chance to look at. It's a nice book for those starting up:

From the Artisan club to the homepage