Floats.
- Thread starter dicky123
- Start date
Oh boy, here we go, again. .
Lol
Might be easier to list your detailed questions
Lol
Might be easier to list your detailed questions
chrissh
Well-known member
robtherake
Well-known member
Plenty of floatmakers on here, bud, all with their own way of doing things. Fire away.
nogoodboyo
Well-known member
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Is this a MI5 recruitment advert?
Probably not. I'll get me coat.
Probably not. I'll get me coat.
Tee-Cee
Senior Member
****y123......
Many float makers on FM as a quick search will show!
For example, Lord Paul of Sheffield ran a thread (Float making) back in June last year which may go some way to answering some of your questions as many amateur float makers contributed, including myself. On the same page as this thread, another titled 'Binka's Bobbers' also appeared, and this covered Binka's attempt to start making his own floats and this again may well answer some of your questions.
Over the many years I have been involved with FM, float making in all its forms, including materials, design, paints , varnishes etc. have been discussed in depth, so a comprehensive search would offer lots of help..............The advice freely offered by some folk has been invaluable to me!
Anyway, ask your specific questions, and those of us who enjoy the labour of love which is float making will be unable to resist the opportunity of offering lots of advice!!
ps I make at least a dozen every month, many of which are to suit given situations on the waters I fish and with the materials I have to hand or easily available, but that doesn't mean I don't buy some that are outside my own DIY skills.....
Okay, next question........................................
Many float makers on FM as a quick search will show!
For example, Lord Paul of Sheffield ran a thread (Float making) back in June last year which may go some way to answering some of your questions as many amateur float makers contributed, including myself. On the same page as this thread, another titled 'Binka's Bobbers' also appeared, and this covered Binka's attempt to start making his own floats and this again may well answer some of your questions.
Over the many years I have been involved with FM, float making in all its forms, including materials, design, paints , varnishes etc. have been discussed in depth, so a comprehensive search would offer lots of help..............The advice freely offered by some folk has been invaluable to me!
Anyway, ask your specific questions, and those of us who enjoy the labour of love which is float making will be unable to resist the opportunity of offering lots of advice!!
ps I make at least a dozen every month, many of which are to suit given situations on the waters I fish and with the materials I have to hand or easily available, but that doesn't mean I don't buy some that are outside my own DIY skills.....
Okay, next question........................................
Hi Richard,
There are a few sites that specialise in Float Making - sometimes good for inspiration or ideas and tips and techniques - some of which are on Facebook - One of my mates PurplePeanut007 runs one https://www.facebook.com/groups/513528872130319/.
Some of the floats are so beautiful that I would be afraid of using them in case I lost them
The only time that I get into the float-making mode nowadays is to repair/restore floats that have been savaged by a tree or by my incompetence when packing-up in the dark!
Have fun!
There are a few sites that specialise in Float Making - sometimes good for inspiration or ideas and tips and techniques - some of which are on Facebook - One of my mates PurplePeanut007 runs one https://www.facebook.com/groups/513528872130319/.
Some of the floats are so beautiful that I would be afraid of using them in case I lost them
The only time that I get into the float-making mode nowadays is to repair/restore floats that have been savaged by a tree or by my incompetence when packing-up in the dark!
Have fun!
Well Ive made a start and have a few floats finished. Not good enough to show, but good enough for the fish.
I'm buying a small lathe in May, and should be on the road then. I've got plenty of nice cork, and a very kind person has given me some cane for the stems. Balsa from EBay I expect? Yes, is the quality good enough?
But can you use any other materials? Like plants, Teasels, other stuff? I'd like to try some natural wood I could collect, just for experience and fun.
Tools. Someone told me they use old screwdrivers and such ground down rather than buying such specialised tools, any thoughts'?
Finally what the best paint for the tips, yellow and orange.
Thanks all.
I'm buying a small lathe in May, and should be on the road then. I've got plenty of nice cork, and a very kind person has given me some cane for the stems. Balsa from EBay I expect? Yes, is the quality good enough?
But can you use any other materials? Like plants, Teasels, other stuff? I'd like to try some natural wood I could collect, just for experience and fun.
Tools. Someone told me they use old screwdrivers and such ground down rather than buying such specialised tools, any thoughts'?
Finally what the best paint for the tips, yellow and orange.
Thanks all.
chrissh
Well-known member
These are the 2 paints I use there’s no preference buy them from eBay but other on here may prefer different paints
I always dip the float tips rather than painting with a brush
I always dip the float tips rather than painting with a brush
robtherake
Well-known member
Most of my cane is salvaged from bamboo blinds and table mats, although they need sorting to separate out the straightest canes. Barbecue skewers provide a thicker alternative.
Dried elder pith is useful for float bodies and is very easy to work, like a very light grade of balsa. In late autumn and winter, look at the lower branches of an elder tree and leafless vertical shoots can be seen growing from the upper side of some of these branches. The bark on these shoots is thin and comes off with a fingernail in most cases, leaving cylindrical lengths of pith of various diameters up to 2cm or so. It carries a surprising amount of shot for its size - I've used it for driftbeaters of up to 5 SSG. It's relatively fragile, but this can be offset by using a tough finish.
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