Boo rods

Ebay is a crap shoot. Many of those rods are cut down from old classics. Also, what one considers a 4wt may be a 6wt to someone else. Another word of caution. Make sure the rod comes with at least a 3 day, no questions asked return policy. Most respectable sellers offer this.
And, some of the new cheaper imported rods have been coming up with issues. Mainly glue and fit related.
 
To answer your other questions, bamboo, hex, split bamboo, split cane. All the same.
 
 And, "Impregnated rods" use a process that bakes in resins to make it permanently water proof so they don't rely on varnish to seal out moisture. Most older Orvis rods are impregnated. Some (dull) impregnated rods are still varnished for looks.
 
What length are you looking for? For a 4wt, I wouldn't go over 7 1/2 foot.
 
Price range?
 
Some of the refinished pre 50's production rods have tiny guides because the silk lines that they were made to handle has a much smaller diameter than todays plastic lines. You can still cast modern lines with those guides but you won't be able to shoot as much line.
 
If you haven't yet fished a bamboo rod, Stay away from full working designs. Find something in a medium to medium fast taper.
 
If you're interested in a particular rod, let me know. I'd be willing to give you my thoughts on it.
 

"This i what i saw that got my attention I guess that it is a zhus rod never heard of it"
 
 
Yes, Zhu's rods are made in China and some in the States. They seemed to have resolved some of the issues from sloppiness of planing and gluing up the 6 strips to curved tips.  Of course, you never know when that particular rod you are looking at was made.
There are other companies that sell or distribute Zhu's rods and blanks.
They go by the names of
Headwaters
Duluth
Tea Stick
Elkhorn
Highland Mills
 
When I see new boo rods at such cheap prices, I wonder about craftsmanship. Do the builders have to put quantity over quality to make a decent buck? Can they afford to scrap a finished rod that has a flaw or do they try to mask the mistake with hopes that the boo newbie (that's whom their market is aimed at) is not experienced enough to detect it?
 
 If you don't already have a nice trout rod that you are happy with, I'd stick to graphite or glass. But that's my opinion.
If you are curious about boo, see me at Jacks "One Fly" I can bring some rods.
If you can't wait, look for a guy who buys and modernizes those old H-I Tonka Prince and Tonka Princess. He sells mostly one-tippers on Ebay at a reasonable price.  
 
 

Oh,,,,Lake Erie Ultimate Angler has some boo rods in stock from a local builder. Not sure of the price.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Oil creek is only fishing early in the morning unless we get some cool weather.
 
Keep an eye on the "classified" section on this forum. Once in a while there is a great deal and a return policy on everything listed.
http://clarksclassicflyrodforum.yuku.com/
 
Here's a couple short H-I rods on the market. Tonka prince and tonka queen. Both are very good starter rods.
 
http://www.fdlyons.com/other1.html
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze1wz7o/bamboomike1.html 

Razz,
That 6 dollar rod may (or may not) be something worthwhile. I bought an old bamboo rod at a yard sale a few years ago that looked like a piece of crap. But it turned out to be a rod by a very famous builder. I restored it and donated it to the PSA and I believe Glenn won it. It was about an 1897 model. Are there any markings or writing on your $6 rod?

Monteague made rods that ranged from the really bad (blue sky); to the Red Wing which is actually a pretty fine rod. The Rapidans are nice in the lighter weights, And even a mt Tom in a light weight can be nice. The biggest problem with the Monteagues were the ferrules and the guides, both need replaced before the rod can be used. And sometimes the reel seat and the cork is bummed too. but they can be re-built and improved.

indy the rod you built me is a great midge rod & I can not wait for the tricos to start, it throws a 3 weight a lot better than a 4 weight for me. I would post a picture for every one to see it but have never got that part to work so no pics.