|
Quote:
|
Swam the Conrad Jr (pine), very windy, choppy and dirty water. Couldn't see the plug until it was a rod lengths away. Couple feet at that distance. Tide was 3/4 down and didn't pursue anymore swims fearing losing the plug. Did this last year same tide loss a Conrad Sr. low water is around 6'. Hit the high tide next week hopefully the water clears. Spun a few maple and AYC Conrad Jr for eelskins. Stock for myself.
|
tested a new needle design today, 7.5" floater at 1.75oz, one big .5oz belly weight about 3/4 back from the nose, with two 3/0 vmcs.
slow retrieve it makes a massive v wake, bigger than a danny or surfster, faster retrieve with some twitches it spooks left to right and glides to a stop, was going to add more weight after my first float test but after fishing it today, i think ill leave it, i have plenty of other needles that sink. Dont have any that are TRUE floaters, but lots of slow sink ones. will be nice to have a longer profile needle/pencil for the back bays that will serve a dual purpose. finished sanding 40 more plugs on friday night, just need to prime and theyll be ready for paint, and then put together a large order for weights, lips, swivels, wire, etc. have a lot of random one off stuff from a few years ago and stuff that never got finished that I want to put to bed already. |
Spending the weekend cleaning the shop....then I have a few ideas I want to work on!!:uhuh:
|
Turned some ayc conrad jrs. and small 4 1/2" swimmers. Hoping to complete my duplicator this week, had to weld up some different sized washers to use as tnuts because I wasn't able to find t-nuts big enough and didn't want to drill and tap the lathe bed to hold the base of the dupe. Still have to make some modifications to the sled and then I'll be up and running. Hope to have some stuff finished for plugfest.
|
2 Attachment(s)
some stuff I'm working on for the Spring... ( I gave up airbrush paint-jobs awhile ago. now its rattle cans and the fish still bite just as well.)
some needlefish and small poppers. needles weigh 2-4 1/2 oz (some are notched for skins) the poppers are sugar pine and range 3/4 to 1.5 ounces |
...flags this week...
...been putting it off too long now to get ready for Plugfest...
...got a buncha boring whites done...now on to the colors... ...course I can use some direction between now and then so if you don't want to be bothered dressing tail hooks or flags ....I might be able to match your custom paint jobs... http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...dman/flags.jpg ...I know I got the Knipex around here somewhere !!!!! Old Man aka Bob |
1 Attachment(s)
Built some small darters this week. Had a lot of them so I fooled around a bit with pattern sawing. I liked the results and thought someone else might be interested.
First you need a decent band saw that can hold good tension on a blade, and a decent jig that will hold your plug steady and square. Next you set up a guide stick with a notch for the saw blade. I clamp this to the table then clamp a piece of scrap perpendicular and behind it to prevent the guide stick from being pushed backwards. |
2 Attachment(s)
Then you need your sled, which will hold the plug square over the pattern you want to cut. Mine has a top and bottom pattern, but you only need the bottom pattern. I use a tail pin to index the plug and a belly hole pin to hold it upright.
|
2 Attachment(s)
Then index the sled to the guide bar and cut.
|
2 Attachment(s)
The end result is a consistent quick curved cut. The plug shown was from a timid early try, but by shimming under the plug while in the sled I can cut much closer to the final line. I then clean up on a belt sander (although you can also pattern sand with a disc sander and that would be the way to go if you have one).
|
3 Attachment(s)
Nice, George. I must admit that I have just turned darter bodies and have not yet built anything to help with replicating the slope cut....
This morning I have eyes and belly grommets to epoxy in. Hope to wire this first run in the afternoon, along with turning some more bodies. Still working with the color shift paint, but cannot get the brilliance of the green to show up in the photos. Same plug in all three shots. Constantly changes with the angle and light. |
George your wealth of knowledge and willingness to share it, is a priceless tool we all end up borrowing from you. Thanks for everything you post.
|
Willingness my eye. He never showed me that yesterday. I think I did scope it out but he wasn't revealing about it and it was hard to tell inthat mess he calls a basement
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device |
3 Attachment(s)
Well, spent some time painting and sealing this weekend while not working on the bathroom. Here are some pics of the Eddie needles, 7" Danny, Small 4 3/4" swimmers, and Small Musso swimmers. I have another 5 with paint drying
|
3 Attachment(s)
more pics
|
2 Attachment(s)
and a few more
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
Agreed. I second The Greek as I've burrowed a million of George's techniques/ideas. I built a similar sled the first time I looked at a photo of it, although I didn't use a guide and I think I put flashing on it which caused sparks. genius |
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
Working on some bottles and bottle darters. A little of everything. I will put up pics when done
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device |
1 Attachment(s)
Couple upgrades to the spinner box. Fender washers on plexi doors with magnetic catch. Handles on sides to carry more easily. First round in the box for the year!
|
great looking spinner. I was having problems with my epoxy so I went back and rebuilt a storage bin spinner as I've had better luck with that then anything I came up with after.
|
That is beautiful, I still spend two hours hand turning, gotta get moving on a spinner project
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device |
Thanks. But it is far from perfect....
The motor came out of a microwave carousel and is perfect for this. Need to add an in-line on/off switch for carousel. Currently it requires me to plug/unplug from power strip, which can be tricky when you have a wet epoxied plug to load.... The design of the box also limits me to being able to touch up a plug during the front third of its rotation. But it is for drying, not applying.... |
I have a motor in the shed from one of those George Forman type rotisserie. Just need to start putting together the plan and get to it.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device |
Building a jig to hold a plug while applying epoxy before transferring to spinner. Want to be able to rotate it while applying as well.
Then applying second coat to 20 plugs, since the first coat hasn't hardened enough and is just a little tacky to the touch. Not enough to leave fingerprints, but ..... Got a couple syringes to make a better measurement. Been off the building as I have been stripping and refinishing a not quite antique pine table that is going to be an office desk for the better half. Was a wax finish that I stripped with mineral spirits and 0000 steel wool. Took a lot of time and gave off a smell like BO...... Two coats of Spar satin on the legs and stretchers. Flip later today to get second of four coat on the top. |
3 Attachment(s)
I've been trying to finish up my dupe the last week or so, haven't turned anything new in a while. It's finished for the most part just have to add the handles. Thanks to everyone that helped me out, professor m and mojo7 and I borrowed some ideas from fishbumwannabe. The whole project cost me $5 and a few plugs.
|
1 Attachment(s)
One last picture, I made it so you can adjust the follower without removing the base of the sled
|
excellent. well done. now get to turning.
Just a note when you do stuff like pine, ayc, port orford, red and white cedar, cherry you can fly thru the stuff. When you go onto maples, birch, locust and apple:), hardwoods you will need to really go slow with your stock removal. You will probably rip a few out from between the centers :uhuh:. Cutting the edges off the pieces, making an octagon out of it will help immeasurably. I suggest that be your next creation. I like to use a band saw with a long 45 degree block others use table saw tilted at 45. I did a how to show my way several years ago but have no idea where it is now |
Thanks for the tips Paul, I have that thread you mentioned bookmarked. I was thinking of making a similar jig for the tablesaw so I could use the same jig for different sized stock. For now I just rounded up some blanks with the roughing gouge before mounting the base to the lathe.
|
I'm cursing my duplicator right now. I'm getting like Paul, I've got dozens of everything turned but nothing anywhere near finished. :1poke:
|
that would work too. Just don't want to hear about you whacking your knuckles off and breaking some fingers trying to get the stock down to a round shape.
|
lol that was the old Paul. The new Paul is even slower and has even more stuff half done. I think I need to start making a list of what I got so when I die my wife will know what to tell anyone who comes over to get that wooden crap out of the cellar was intended to be when finished. She may just call it kindling.
|
Ryan 560 enjoyed meeting you yesterday. Thats a sweet looking needle you have there.
|
Nice meeting you too Billy, Your club put on a great show I learned alot. Thanks for the compliment and the good deal on the redfins and plug lips.
|
Quote:
|
Ross , them Mac's look nice !
Nice work |
Quote:
|
| All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:43 PM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 1998-20012 Striped-Bass.com