You don't necessarily have to have the instrument in the rain for the adhesive to collect moisture. Imperfections or dings in the finish will allow moisture from humidity to get into the wood, and from the wood, to the glue. The biggest reason, other than aesthetics for a finish on most anything wood, is to keep the wood's moisture content stabilized. That's why you'll see many old rods that have delaminated usually have poor finishes. Places where the finish has worn through, hook strikes, rock strikes, or even the finish just going to goo.
The reason you don't see too many rods today using intermediates is primarily the use of heat treating, along with better adhesives. Heat treating the cane both forces moisture out of the cane, and causes a chemical change in the lignins of the fibers, which in effect stiffens the section of cane. A side effect of the heat treating, is the chemical change also closes off cells in the cane that held moisture before, and keeps them from re-absorbing the moisture. There is a noticeable difference in weight of the strips pre and post heat treating, because of the moisture that has been driven from the cane.
Hide glue, as long as moisture is kept from it, will be a very long lasting, and strong, adhesive. The adhesives of today are just much more moisture resistant. Not necessarily stronger though.
Mark
At 11:24 PM 10/4/2003, you wrote:
Mark I wonder how many Stradivarius violins were used in the rain ? I think if they were used in the same manner as a fishing rod there would be a lot fewer old violins in the world. I am also curious why we don't see the modern cane rod builders using intermediate wraps to stiffen the bamboo rods today? Mel
