Replies

1. 
   SCFrankland | Nov 25, 2003 08:10am | #1

   Wood Mag had a set of plans in the last two years. I will see if I can dig it up for you and let you know what issue.

   Scott C. Frankland

   "This all could have been prevented if their parents had just used birth control"

2. 
   Upraiser | Nov 25, 2003 05:45pm | #2

   I used to make them.  I would highly recommend that you purchase the net bag before you make the frame.

   You can purchase the new soft bags from Cabela's.

   If you want the soft cotton type bag, let me know I will send you one.  I have several left over.  Same with the french clips with brass screw eyes.

   You can enlarge the photo in a catalog, use the size to adjust the frame to fit the net. 

   Helps to study those in the fly shop. They were more than glad to let me study it.  Even took a few to sell. All fly fishermen are potential customers, even those that want to build a landing net.

   If you need additional help or ideas let me know.

   BTW, it is just as easy to make a lot of them.  nice gifts. easy to sell to wives at craft sales.

   I can probably dig up the name of my net bag supplier, if you decide to go big time.

   Good Luck

   Curt

1. 
   ChippingWood | Nov 26, 2003 12:50am | #3

   Oh, that is brilliant! My father just retired early and bought a place right on the river... even gave me his first self tied flies for my birthday- too bad they are only going to get wet once a year. Though honestly they might just as well scare the fish...

   Anyway- is the frame just bent laminations? Perhaps I could persuade you to part with one of those bags? And some advice? White oak a good one to use? Did you use a form?

   Hehehe, I finally came across the perfect Xmas gift!

2. 
   tucsonreddog | Nov 26, 2003 01:33am | #4

   Thanks. I already have a couple of the nets from Cabelas and your suggestion that I simply blow up a catalog photograph is helpful. Did you steam the laminations or bend them dry? I am planning to steam them as my first steam project.

1. 
   Upraiser | Nov 26, 2003 02:04am | #5

   I soaked them in hot water, used English Walnut, from local wood, pre bent them, let them dry.  I ran hot tap water over them, then a tea kettle worth.  I found it easier than doing all the steaming.

   I did the same with black walnut and oak.

   I also precut the center groove.

   Curt

1. 
   tucsonreddog | Nov 26, 2003 06:30pm | #6

   What center groove?

1. 
   Upraiser | Nov 26, 2003 07:58pm | #7

   If you look at landing nets you will find that the hoop part has a shallow grove on the outside.  Holes are drilled in it to hold the net.  You thread a matching cord through the holes to pick up the end loops in the net, when it is pulled tight, the cord lies in the shallow grove, the net loops extend through the hoop holes and are held by the cord. 

   I made it with an 1/8" veining bit in my router.  Just make sure its on the outside, I speak from experience, turned one upside down once.

   Study how they connect and are done at the handle on a completed net, it is somewhat difficult.  Make sure the holes are the same as the net loops.  I made a simple jig to mark the holes, drilled them on a drill press with a wood anvil under the net hoop.

   I have seen a few with the cord looped around the hoop and through the end loops on the net, just not as neat looking. Some of the low cost metal tube nets are simply threaded through the net. 

   I made sure that the finish was soaked into the holes, used thinned polyureathane in a hypodermic needle.  My friend simply soaked the whole net frame.

   I have not used the newer fine mesh bags, nor have I made any, so the connection process may be different. but I am guessing it is the same.

   I have also put the grove in after the hoop is formed, however due to the shape of the typical catch and release net it is difficult to do, and I had to to use a small coved carving chisel.  I learned it was easier to do it while the strip of wood was flat.

   The grove also protects the cord/net connection from excess abrasion.

   How many strips are you planning?  I used 3, most of the time, but found 4 thin ones would bend easier, soften faster.

   I used a two part resourcenol (sp) glue, dark for dark woods, light for lighter.  My friend used a typical yellow glue, felt the finish over it would protect the glue line, but I have had it creap over time and I did not want that to happen to a landing net that I built for a life time or two.

   I hope that helps, forgive my rambling, but I learned from experience, had a few for firewood along the way.

   Curt

2. 
   tucsonreddog | Nov 26, 2003 08:34pm | #8

   Thanks for all the tips. I'm going to Orvis today to look at finished nets. I used your tip about enlarging a photo to get a pattern, but I'm also going to ask to trace one of their nets. I plan to make mine out of mesquite and walnut strips and a mesquite handle. I haven't decided how many stips. I have a Perfomax Drum Sander, so I think I can make them quite thin by attaching them to a plywood carrier strip. I was thinking about four strips at 1/16" or five strips at 3/64". Having the inside of the hoop be walnut might be a dramatic look, so that argues for four strips.

   I was thinking about using System 3 Epoxy as both an adhesive and a finish. I haven't yet read the System 3 instruction book to see if this would work, but it seems promising inasmuch as the epoxy is intended for boatbuilding.

   This is starting to have the look and feel of one of those $500 projects to produce a $50 product that I regularly do. It reminds me of the video in which the guy rants about how his family should be grateful to him for bringing home venison that costs him $165 a pound (not including poker money) because he wants them to have the best. http://www.punchbaby.com/media/gitfakt/clips/TV/Sacrifices.mpg

3. 
   Upraiser | Nov 26, 2003 09:19pm | #9

   Never tried epoxy. Don't use the short drying time stuff.  The reason I liked the resoursenol glue is that it is easy to clean up while wet, has a reasonable open time and it keeps a long time, it is a two part mix, one wet, one dry.

   I found the process a bit messy. Clamping the stuff all together with wet slippery glue makes for some interesting momemts. Used lots of plastic bags under, over. Lots of wax on the molds.

   I understand about the expense, but that is what hobby woodworking is all about.  Trying to justify why I need one more tool.

   Thinner is easier to bend into tighter curves on the typical catch and release net. 

   Curt

4. 
   Elcoholic | Nov 27, 2003 12:39am | #10

   See FWW #92 pp 84-86John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking

   Life is tough.  It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne