[Sandy Nelson]

Hi guys

I'm currently re-doing a scottie rod for someone.
I noticed that on the whippings at the ferrules they were covered in copper wire and then varnished.
i wondered ,was this standard practice to strengthen the ferrule tabs or is it a Somersism? as this was originally an Aberdeen rod (i have one similar thats the same).
The whippings under the wire seemed not to be varnished, so my guess was it was factory done.

Does anyone know for sure.?

Sandy

[Mike Barrio]

Hi Sandy

I will ask Horace from Somers, he will know  :idea:

Best wishes
Mike

[Sandy Nelson]

Cheers Mike


I forgot to ask when i was out on Saturday.
Hopefully Horace will remember.

Sandy

[Mike Barrio]

Hi Sandy

Yes, Horace says this was the factory build and he thinks it was maybe to add strength?

When the rods came in to the shop for repair, if they had the wire type whipping ..... they were restored with the same. Those that came with thread were restored with thread.

Best wishes
Mike

[Rob Brownfield]

Sandy,
It was put on to the lower whipping of the butt ring as well. My Sharpes "The Carp" has it on the ferrules as well.

Jim Somers told me it was done to help stop wear from silk lines. As the ferrules bulge out a little, the silk line could rub against the whipping, thus cutting the thread in time. The wire naturally would not do this. Same with the butt ring as the line can bunch up as it flows through.

I think..but am not too sure, that i may have some of the original wire left from when I helped build/repair rods for Jim all those years ago.

[Sandy Nelson]

Rob

Cheers, but the butt ring didn't have any wire on it.
Interesting theory about the silk lines, i would have worried about the wire wearing away the silk though, they were expensive too (the lines)

Sandy

[Rob Brownfield]

I know..seems a bit strange to me..but hey ho.

Been doing some further research, seems the lower whipping of the butt ring was wire on only spinning rods/carp rods..strange.

As for the wire, I was wrong..it was standard copper thread I have..sorry.

[Sandy Nelson]

That would figure.

The sharpes spinning rod i have has the copper wire on the butt ring.

Cheers Rob

We'll have to organise a pike trip sometime, Daniel keeps asking.
Its a bit late now though, isn't it?

Sandy

[Rob Brownfield]

Nope, not late at all. I was out on Saturday infact

Still comming to the fly too!!