split cane

I've been building a splitcane fishing rod or rather restoring an old rod I bought from Ebay (the handle is made from recycled cork salvaged from some rather enjoyable bottles of wine I have consumed over the last twelve months) it's been an interesting little project.  These days there is a clamour for new, lighter materials - carbon fibre IM6 etc, but there is something magical about six pieces of bamboo, flamed, split and shaped into triangular sections that are glued and bound so they are heaxagonal in section.  I find the material fantastic to use and look at.  We are constantly striving to make better materials with improved properties, which I'm in favour of, but there is something about many man made materials and I can't explain why, but they lack warmth.