The Elf Rod   The Elfin Rod

In 1937 Bill Phillipson first experimented with impregnation of bamboo fly rod blanks. The available impregnation at the time was Bakelite under pressure. His initial idea was he could turn poor quality cane into good cane by impregnation. This of course was not a fact and poor quality cane even after impregnation was still poor quality cane, but what it did do was put the finish completely through the rod. It became impervious to water and almost anything else you could subject the cane to, therefore you did not need to varnish the rods, a great savings in time. In 1939 or 1940 he shared this information with amateur rod builder and friend Everett Garrison and Wes Jordan. In the mean time World War II started and all rod building came to a halt until 1946. Everett Garrison did not care for the impregnation. He thought it made the rods heavy and logy. Wes Jordan embraced the idea and used it the rest of his life. Bill Phillipson used it for all of his rods.

Early Impregnation

Early Bakelite impregnation added substantially to the weight of the rod. It also made the cane rather logy, ponderous and somewhat brittle.

Current Impregnation

About eight years ago after reading an article in a scientific magazine about new impregnation processes for wood I became interested and in 1993 started to experiment. I obtained fourteen different types of impregnation and glued up fifty sets of blanks three feet long, not tapered blanks, just three foot blanks to be used for experimentation. Within one year I had discarded all impregnation fluids except five suitable for bamboo rods. I cut and glued up another 100 three-foot blanks for experimentation. These were impregnated after learning the various immersion and drying times needed for the impregnation fluids I was using. Then I subjected the blanks to vigorous torture tests. They were frozen, immersed in water and then various solvents and were subjected to 120 degrees heat for two weeks. They were tested for recovery, oscillation rates, and brittleness. At that time all but two impregnation fluids were eliminated. I then made up six sets of fly rod blanks and treated three sets in one fluid and three sets in the other. These six sets of blanks were vigorously tested to see which batch would meet my criteria for the first of my impregnated fly rods. They were close to one another except that one weighed a few more grains than the blanks from the other impregnation fluid tested. The one that added the least amount of weight was the one I chose, all other criteria was equal. It is interesting to note that the impregnated blanks weighed the same as the unimpregnated blanks of the same size with three coats of varnish. It is also interesting to note that the oscillation rates were the same for the unimpregnated blanks and the impregnated blanks.

The First ELFINS

All of the tapers on all of my rods are my own, however, there are two rods I always admired, the Paul Young Midge and The Paul Young Perfectionist. I obtained five original Paul Young Midges and miked them every three inches and made an average of the five tapers which were close but not exact. The only thing that could have improved this rod was the addition of a swell to keep the energy from going out the back of the rod, so I added an .120 graceful swell from one inch in front of the grip to the back of the rod which effectively keeps the energy from becoming equalized and exiting the real seat portion of the rod. Experienced casters at the American Casting Association Registered Tournament held in July 2001 at the Delaware River Club called it the improved Paul Young Midge taper and was heralded as, "the best small rod they had ever cast."

Specifications

The Elf Rod

7 feet 6 inches

Length: 7 foot 6 inches.
Weight: 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 ounces.
Two Piece with extra mirror tip.
Line: Five weight line.
Finish: Open flamed to a rich brown with amber nodes.
Guides: Stainless steel industrial black chrome.
Winds: A dark cinnamon.
Ferrules and Hardware: Are blued.
Reel Seat: Cap and Band - Stamped into the nickel silver butt cap 'Ron Kusse Maker' and on the other side is stamped 'The ELF.' Your choice of many full figured hardwoods.
Cane Finish: The finish is a warm gloss, much like a rod that has been slightly pumiced to take the high shine off.
Rod Sack: Sailcloth with support stick.
Linen Tag: Attached to rod sack with specifications.
Case: Aluminum with 'Ron Kusse' logo.
Black and Gold 'Ron Kusse' lapel pin included.

The Elfin Rod

6 feet 3 inches

Length: 6 foot 3 inches.
Weight: 1 7/8 to 2 ounces.
Two Piece with extra mirror tip.
Line: Four weight line.
Finish: Open flamed to a rich brown with amber nodes.
Guides: Stainless steel industrial black chrome.
Winds: A dark cinnamon.
Ferrules and Hardware: Are blued.
Reel Seat: Cap and Band - Stamped into the nickel silver butt cap 'Ron Kusse Maker' and on the other side is stamped 'The ELFIN.' Your choice of many full figured hardwoods.
Cane Finish: The finish is a warm gloss, much like a rod that has been slightly pumiced to take the high shine off.
Rod Sack: Sailcloth with support stick.
Linen Tag: Attached to rod sack with specifications.
Case: Aluminum with 'Ron Kusse' logo.
Black and Gold 'Ron Kusse' lapel pin included.

Contact: Ron Kusse, 845-496-7187

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Entire Website Copyright©1999-2006 by Ron Kusse. All Rights Reserved.

Entire Website Copyright©1999-2001 by Ron Kusse. All Rights Reserved.