All Akimaru Rods are HEXA Bamboo ferrule rod
◎All rods are of a semi-hollow build which is a dam type internal taper, designed from butt to tip with a HEXA bamboo ferrule.
・What is HEXA bamboo ferrule?
A typical bamboo rod ferrule is a short, rigid metal pipe that does not bend with the rest of the rod. Even when the blank is bent, the joint is always rigid.
The action of a fly rod can be smoother if this joint flexes in conjunction with the entire length of the rod.
The HEXA rod joint developed by Akimaru is unique in that it bends in conjunction with the entire blank in one long, smooth, continuous action.
・HEXA Bamboo Ferrule joint is a Spigot style
Just insert a regular hexagonal male (tip side) of the same size into the regular hexagonal hole (butt side) designed in the hollow structure.
The male end has a regular hexagonal carbon PIN built in, assuring an exact alignment when the rod is assembled. The surface of this appears like a bamboo hexagonal bar. At the tip of the female end, a thin 12mm ~ 15mm wide hexagonal metal check is added to strengthen the joint. A special light weight metal line is then wrapped to a width of 25mm to 30mm below the tip check. The metal wrapping is Unicode (twice the strength of Kevlar).
To complete the ferrule it is wrapped with silk thread and coated.
The silk wrapped area is then polished and painted to create a sharp hexagonal edge. This revolutionary new ferrule is as strong as the rest of the rod, it is light weight, and it does not impede the action of the rod.
The Akimaru HEXA, a light and sharp new axis bamboo fly rod.
・HEXA Action
The Akimaru HEXA rod has a progressive action. A progressive action, like a spring, consistently adds or subtracts resistance as the rod is loaded and unloaded. From a beginner to an advanced caster, it is an action that can be easily cast by anyone.
Rod Speed is the speed of return of rod = speed of swing = thing of casting tempo.
Example: A TROUT 7'9" #4 is set to Medium, and how much difference is given to the action, plus and minus.
When ordering, we will do a fine adjustment of action with this table as a guide.
・The bamboo used in a HEXA rod
The Bamboo material of HEXA rod is super fine Japanese bamboo "WATAKE", also known as Japanese timber bamboo. In the Kyushu area of Japan, this bamboo grows wildly in mountainous areas where temperature differences are severe. These natural growing conditions make Watake bamboo extremely powerful with an amazing ability to flex. Akimaru works closely with bamboo craftsmen to individually select each piece used.
WATAKE has a skin that is much more beautiful and harder than the other MADAKE or Tonkin bamboos used to construct flyrods. It is lighter, more supple, and a stronger medium to use when constructing a fly rod.
Bamboo is graded from AAAA = 4 stars to 5 stars (standard is Tonkin bamboo standard), and Super Grade 6 and 7 star WATAKE.
In ordering, Akimaru recommends the optimum material according to the rod design and budget.
・Finished by F-Oil for HEXA
The edges of the hexagonal bamboo rod blank is very sharp, and because it is a hexagonal shape, the edges should be simple and clean. Adding thick coatings to this undermines the integrity of the rod.
The finish on a HEXA rod is a hand rubbed oil, done repeatedly many times over several weeks until the rod achieves a strong protective coating that is very thin and strong. A sharp hexagonal edge stands from the butt to the tip top, creating the supple HEXA action as the tapered design.
