Landing net making form

[easterngray]

Got a couple hours in the shop today and made this form for making landing nets. The form itself is two pieces of 3/4" MDF, with slots cut for clamps. At the bottom of the form you can see a walnut handle blank. I will rip three or four 1/8" strips of ash for the hoop, steam them, and then glue them to each other and the handle blank as I bend and clamp them to the form. There are a couple cauls as well that are mirror images of the handle blank - they sit of either side of the handle blank and get clamped horizontally, thus applying pressure to the ash strips against the handle blank.

Next step is to make a small steam box - I may just use galvanized pipe.

Hope you all remembered Mom today!

Alec

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j209/flytackle/IMG_1021.jpg
NET FORM

[dusty]

Interesting. Very interesting. I'll be watching to see what tricks I can pickup.

These "How To" session are becominh very valuable learning experiences. Thank you for sharing your skills and ideas.

[easterngray]

Here's the first go around with the landing net project. I didn't steam the ash, but simply laminated the hoop from thin strips cut on the MK. V. I let them sit clamped on the form for two days, then unclamped, glued up and re-clamped. I need to get some longer stock so I can have the ash strips run the full length of the handle, then shape the handle. This handle is quarter sawn sycamore - I am going to wrap it with some rattan. Next step is to route a groove along the outside of the hoop, drill equidistant holes around the hoop and stitch in the net. The small piece of sycamore that you see glued to the top of the net hoop will have a small magnet inlaid in it so that the net can be hung from the back of an anglers vest. Good fishing!

Alec

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j209/flytackle/net1.jpg
Net #1

[charlese]

ATTA BOY! ALEC!:D This is some real exciting innovation. Your photos show some excellent thought and craftsmanship.

When reading your first post, I wondered if you would have to steam the ash to make it bent around your form. I recently made a couple of curved table edges for our motorhome without steaming. Replaced plastic ones that had cracked from heat and sun. I used oak and 1/16" strips went around a 3" radius bend. Had to use 5 strips. One half day per strip.

I marvel at your bending jig! You did good!:D

[easterngray]

I got some longer stock so the hoop strips could continue all the way down the edge of the handle in order to have more glueing surface for strength. Here's my daughter with landing net #2, oak and sycamore, at a local pond - hey it works! I'm going to make a larger net form next. I have also been turning some large salt water plugs from cedar and smaller plugs from locust. Cheers - Alec

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j209/flytackle/vivfish014.jpg
Nice bass!