Float making.

[Aknib]

Finally completed the set of vari-tip fixed/slider Avons I posted about earlier.

Three bodied carrier sections with interchangeable tips...

This will make changing the tip colour to suit the swim a doddle when roving...

Three floats in all with 4, 6 & 8grm...

I've even got a choice of tip length to suit different baits, species and they will take a starlight if I fancy a bit of after dark chubbing...

I didn't get overly carried away on the finish with these, they're likely to be spending the vast majority of their time on gravel runs and rocky banks so just finished to a level that I was still happy to enjoy using

 

[108831]

Blimey,comes to something when you have a specific box for a float Steve...

 

[Aknib]

Blimey,comes to something when you have a specific box for a float Steve...

It's an old one Alan, it's been hanging around and moved from pillar to post for a few years now and by luck it was just the right size.

Problem is i've still got another one which i've had as long and is waiting to be filled!

 

[Aknib]

Just adding a bit of provenance following a few hours this morning, I used the same float fished slider against a bead and stop knot as opposed to float rubbers and alternated between black and yellow tips whilst roving a few swims and the whole set up worked a treat.

I used the 11' 6" Specimen Avon rod and this was the first fish of the day just running it through a sixteen foot deep swim which was carrying a little extra water...

These were from a four foot deep swim...

Finished the session on eight Barbel with a couple of unweighed but safe doubles and four Chub.

Really pleased the floats are working out as I wanted them to over a variety of different swims, it's just a pity I trod on one of them and snapped the stem clean off which means i'll be having to make a replacement.

Clumsy git!

 

[purplepeanut007]

Mustard Yellow Inserted Wagglers With Vibrant Red Whippings

fishing,float fishing,float making,hand crafted floats,traditional floats,purplepeanut007,mike cootes,float making,PP007,peanuts fishing adventures

purplepeanut007.blogspot.com

I was tidying up one of my many storage boxes when I came across three un-finished
"Mustard Inserted Wagglers" & a single straight version.

I vaguely remember preparing......
For more pics & full write up read the rest on the blog.
?

 

[INearlyCaughtOne]

Some bloke online uses an old wine cork with a small cocktail stick pushed through. Next, he dips in some sort of varnish to seal it all and cut a safety pin in half which is then bound with cotton for attaching to the line. I might try this.

 

[peytr]

You will not regret starting making floats.

However, I wouldn't start with cork. It is one of the stronger materials but a bit heavy, at least for finesse floats. It can be a bit stubborn to work on as well. I tend to use alder pith, wich I cannot recommend to start with as well, because it needs something to overcome the softness of it (I use cellulose dope or thinned epoxy for this).

If you want to give float making a try go for balsa or Rohacell. Rohacell you can actually buy from specialist on line retailers and is probably the best in buoyancy and mechanical properties but I prefer natural materials in a float.

I made a table to compare materials, just for the weight of the body (not the bristle, not the stem, no paint) and what the effect would be on lead carrying capacity of a given body, using data found on the internet. Rohacell and elder pith are superior in lead carrying capacity.

I could't find data on elder pith but assume it to be at least as light as Rohacell 31 or XPS - I think it is even a bit lighter- if anyone has data, that would be interesting!

The total weight of a float also comprises stem, antenna and paint. Of course balsa, as well as elder pith absorb some paint, which will in the end leave Rohacell superior.

 

[purplepeanut007]

New Stone Grey Inserted Wagglers

fishing,float fishing,float making,hand crafted floats,traditional floats,purplepeanut007,mike cootes,float making,PP007,peanuts fishing adventures

purplepeanut007.blogspot.com

I decided to make some new Inserted wagglers.
I hope you like them
Click the blog link for all the pics and a short write up.

 

[no-one in particular]

Deleted post, sorry purple I couldn't get your link to work but it does when I click the main one. Really nice floats...

 

[purplepeanut007]

Managed to add the pics.....im getting old......lol

 

[Ray Roberts]

I made some like that earlier in the year. When I say like that, I of course mean roughly similar, lol. You do make an exceedingly nice float sir.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[purplepeanut007]

A few more additions ?

 

[purplepeanut007]

Two Tone Inserted Wagglers - Paint & Stain

fishing,float fishing,float making,hand crafted floats,traditional floats,purplepeanut007,mike cootes,float making,PP007,peanuts fishing adventures

purplepeanut007.blogspot.com

Sticking with the inserted waggler theme here are the latest additions to the family.

"Paint & Stain Two Tone Inserted Wagglers" in red.

For more pics click the blog link. ?

 

[peytr]

In the meantime, I was actually able to weigh elder pith. It did indeed turn out to be in the order of the specific gravity of Rohacell. I included the updated table.


Although I have fished almost exclusively with elder pit floats for the last 25 years, I never got around to thoroughly examining the cellular structure of the material. Under the microscope it appears to be a perfectly closed cell. At least, this corresponds to my experience: I have never had a leaking float with my home-made floats, which does happen with some regularity with balsa. In the meantime, I have done some experiments with putting untreated elder pit in water and it seems to absorb very little water indeed. I will repeat and do a more 'scientific' approach by weighing the wood before and after.


Again: I emphasise that this is the untreated material and that paint and other materials have a great influence on the final result. However, the influence of the material of the float does not change.

 

[mikench]

Some lovely floats in this thread and all beautifully made. Floats are addictive imo. I echo Kev's comments on the floats made by Mr Kipling aka Wetthrough aka Gordon. ?

 

[purplepeanut007]

Hardwood stemmed Stick Floats

fishing,float fishing,float making,hand crafted floats,traditional floats,purplepeanut007,mike cootes,float making,PP007,peanuts fishing adventures

purplepeanut007.blogspot.com

Hi all,
Below are two floats I have had on the go for a while. Both floats are turned from balsa fitted with a ferruled hard wood stem.....

For more pictures and a full write up click on the link above.?

 

[wetthrough]

What do you mean by ferruled?

 

[flightliner]

These Senses blobs with a half toothpick insert are my go too choice for my upper river Don Greyling fishing in very shallow (9" to 24") and fast water.

 

[108831]

I wonder sometimes if floats are made to look nice,to spec,instead of to a design,or thoughts as to usage,just saying lads...

 

[flightliner]

I wonder sometimes if floats are made to look nice,to spec,instead of to a design,or thoughts as to usage,just saying lads...

Maybe you're correct in the first instance Alan. ?