On later Wizards Allcocks switched to using Aluminium fittings. Although these are not difficult to clean up if in good condition, its still possible to buy replacements for the sliding reel fittings, and I secured a good supply a while ago so I usually just replace them.
On the older Allcocks rods, brass fittings were used, and although I coul discard these and replace them with the newer aluminium ones, to retain the authenticity of the rod I prefer to spend some time cleaning up the originals.
Like the cork handle, these accumulate a lot of grime, but unless the rod has been very badly mistreated, its usually possible to restore them to approaching their original condition.
Before and after cleaning
Fittings that are fixed to the rod, such as those at either end of the handle can be removed with care, but if possible I prefer to clean them in place.
I do this in stages, the first stage being to clean the fitting with a strong detergent such as Cillit Bang.
I spray some of the detergent all over the fitting, leave it for a few seconds and then wipe with a cloth.
This usually removes a lot of the dirt, and I repeat as often as necessary until most of the surface appears relatively clean.
The second stage is to polish the fitting with some fine wire wool until it has a nice brassy sheen.
To clean the sliding reel fittings I remove them from the rod – they will usually slide over the top of the handle with gentle pressure, and as the butt ring has already been removed from the rod, they can be removed easily.
I prefer to soak these in detergent which loosens most of the dirt and after rinsing some wire wool completes the job.
Before and after cleaning
Having got the fittings to a nice shiny brass finish, some people like to leave them in that condition. The brass will become dull over time, but the finish can be preserved with a thin coat of lacquer. This is not the authentic finish, though, as when new, the fittings were ‘blued brass’ and as I like to return my rods to as close to their original specifications as possible, another stage is required.
Brass Black
To get the ‘blued’ finish I use a product called ‘Brass Black’ from a company called Birchwood Casey.
This is a liquid used by gunsmiths to blacken brass and I find it works well for the brass fittings of fishing rods.
If you’ve read my earlier posts, you’ll know that I like to use eBay for my supplies, so it will come as no surprise that I get this there too, although its not a common item and isn’t always available.
You can try an ebay search for it by clicking this link, or alternatively try a Google search as there are some companies that sell this and similar products online.
First make sure that the brass is clean by wiping it with cotton wool and a little white spirit. Next apply the Brass Black liquid using a cotton bud, taking care to apply it evenly. Wait for 1 minute, and then rinse the brass with cold water. If you want a darker effect, repeat as many times as necessary.
CAUTION: Brass Black is a dangerous substance, and poisonous if swallowed, so be careful to use it in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and store it safely out of the reach of children and animals.
You can see the results of the cleaning, polishing and blueing stages in the picture below. I have to admit that when I bought my first rod for restoration a few years ago I expected to have to replace all of the fittings as the condition appeared very poor, but as you can see, with care and a little effort, the originals can look like new.
Before and after
In the next post we’ll look at removing the corrosion from the butt ring, and we’ll soon be ready to start applying whippings to the cleaned up rod.
If you’re looking for an online source of the materials you’ll need for restoring a split cane rod, Tacklebargains.co.uk stock a wide range of rod building supplies including whipping thread, chrome guidesand cork handles.
Find Brass Black on Google:
