Posted: 9/26/2012 8:57:34 AM EDT
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If any of you have wondered how some of those nice fishing nets get made, I make them and usually give them to friends and occasionally sell them.
This took about 5 days, I built it really quickly because I had a fishing trip planned and had given or sold all my nets. I had one, but didn't like the handle so I wanted to make one really quickly. The end result was a bunch of cobbled together processes and a few gaps in the handle that I didn't like. But my fault for doing it so quickly. [font=Arial]Here is a pic of my wood.... he he, I initially chose bloodwood and maple but my planer isn't the best and the maple kept chipping out. Common with maple but I tried it anyways. So my accent color was ash. Planed down to 3/4" which started out at 15/16". I cut the wood into 3/8 inch strips and then plane to around 1/8" or smaller, as small as my planer can go. I could cut the strips smaller on my table saw but if it moves at all then the strips won't be consistent, planing makes them consistent for me 
Here is the net I am using, transparent molded rubber netting. 
This is the template I use. The net is 2' overall, 1'5" inside length and 12" width. 
Then I make a form to wrap the strips around. I put tape all over the form because I want to use this form again. So I taped the sheet of plywood and the form to make it easier to clean the glue, plus you need to tape the form because the strips will glue to it otherwise. 
The ash wrap around the form nicely without breaking. The bloodwood needed to be steamed so I rednecked a little steamer together, it worked well. 
First strip wrapped and drying in place from the steamer. 
First strip of ash in place, all test fitting at this point. 
First glue up 
All 5 strips in place and glued, I could have used a few more clamps. 
Handle shaped and glued in, I did use the maple on the handle though. I like the contrast of the colors. 
So again, I was in a hurry so I missed a few steps in the process so no pictures. I sanded all the sides and handle. I used a satin poly from minwax to finish it. 
Dried 
Finished shot of the handle 
Holes drilled. I drilled 15 holes for the straps and threaded a piece of leather around the net. 
Payoff 
Thanks, hope you enjoyed it. |
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I have sold them from $80 - $130 depending on materials of wood. That seems to be the going rate of most stuff you can find online anymore ( the nice ones atleast). I am in the process of changing how I make them to get the handles a lot more precise, this will actually give me a way to have some really cool designs in the handles in the future. I am hoping atleast. We'll see in the next few months. I am on vacation for 2 weeks next week and I need to get some parts made so it will be a bit of time before I make another one.
trade secrets you know.... |
