SirCranksalot Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 Awhile back I had asked a few questions about making floats. With the price of these things today, I decided to make some of my own. These are my firsts, and know the top colors need to be more vibrant, but ones got to start some where. You will notice I have the top pegs taller then norm. My thinking is to keep the line out of the water more at the float. is this good or bad as far as setting the hook? Your comments on anything I need to improve or change, would be helpful. floats 011f.jpg floats 002f.jpg The total cost on material was $14 and change. That is including the paint and stain and satin varnish. I still have enough of that to make another 100 if need be. Looks good. How do you attach them to your line? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SirCranksalot Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 Ok, that's why I will show one of my craziest floats... but, trust me it can work very sensitive! Where would you use a float like that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloatnFly Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 Where would you use a float like that? carp fishing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wormdunker Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 Very nice work. I love the colors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lew Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 Your a handy guy bud, nice work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluegill Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 Where would you use a float like that? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR1tICro_pg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
super dave Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 Looks great Brian. I've made some as well but with a dremel. I prefer shorter stems as i find the line wraps around it at times. Try a paint called Createx sold at michaels. its very bright. I just dip in primer first, then a few coats of the paint then varnish. I'm no expert but it works for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misfish Posted April 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 (edited) Are you using one piece for the stem, which can sometimes be hard to drill through both centers, at the top and bottom or using 2 pieces, which is much easier to drill into both centers, drilling halfway or almost to the halfway point and gluing both pieces into the float body. The latter is much easier, and centers well I started out trying to make them with one stem, but found the bit was going off center. So now Im going in from both ends. Quick and easy. Thats a sweet set up. Mind if I try making one like that? I am looking for some kind of decal I can put on mine as well. Nice job there. No slip tube necessary. Just one ring at the end of the float. Way better than through the whole float. You can easy make the ring and secure with a bit of shrink tube. This float I made from eastern cedar, always use it as slip float. Edited April 13, 2015 by Brian B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misfish Posted April 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 Looks great Brian. I've made some as well but with a dremel. I prefer shorter stems as i find the line wraps around it at times. Try a paint called Createx sold at michaels. its very bright. I just dip in primer first, then a few coats of the paint then varnish. I'm no expert but it works for me. Sorry missed this. Thanks for the tip Dave. Found it on line. Will be stopping by to pick some up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluegill Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 (edited) ... Thats a sweet set up. Mind if I try making one like that? I am looking for some kind of decal I can put on mine as well. Nice job there. Just googled for the fish image I was searching for. Printed it out on paper the size I needed and varnished it Edited April 13, 2015 by Bluegill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernie Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 Nice work Brian! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misfish Posted April 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2015 Thanks again all This I would of never thought. Thanks BG Just googled for the fish image I was searching for. Printed it out on paper the size I needed and varnished it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJL Posted April 14, 2015 Report Share Posted April 14, 2015 NIcely done Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PUMP KNOWS Posted April 14, 2015 Report Share Posted April 14, 2015 That's awesome! Thanks for sharing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misfish Posted April 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2015 Well I put 3 - #3 shot on a line and attached to the floats. All the balsa floats passed with flying colors. The others,well,they will be used for crappies and perch jigs.LOL Lesson learned here. So looks like I need to get me some balsa and restock.LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinker Posted April 14, 2015 Report Share Posted April 14, 2015 Can't beat balsa for buoyancy, but it also dents, then leaks easiest. Where are you getting the balsa from? S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misfish Posted April 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2015 Hobby shop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillM Posted April 15, 2015 Report Share Posted April 15, 2015 (edited) Make sure you wear a mask when turning balsa, the dust is extremely bad for you. I need the old man to make me a few on his ShopSmith! Edited April 15, 2015 by BillM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishnsled Posted April 15, 2015 Report Share Posted April 15, 2015 Well I put 3 - #3 shot on a line and attached to the floats. All the balsa floats passed with flying colors. The others,well,they will be used for crappies and perch jigs.LOL Lesson learned here. So looks like I need to get me some balsa and restock.LOL Nothing wrong with learning Brian, we have all now learned from yourmistake...lol! It's no mistake though, it's just a different model. Great looking floats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spooner_jr Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 i've always turned mine on a drill press. As for colour, I use fluorescent spray paint; just mask around the diameter of the float. If you use a white primer first you can really get the colours to pop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SirCranksalot Posted April 21, 2015 Report Share Posted April 21, 2015 with wine corks you are limited with the size also the surface is not as nice to turn like wood What tools do you to shape the cork/ thx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRIFTER_016 Posted April 21, 2015 Report Share Posted April 21, 2015 I use a home made lathe to turn my floats. I also turn my rod handle cork on it. The lathe is made from 2 old Makita battery drills. The head stock has the motor in it. It is cooled by 2 computer fans as I am running it @ 12 volts and it's a 7.2 volt motor. The tail stock is just chuck and support bearings, no motor. I run it off either a 12 volt power supply or one of my 12 volt batteries. Shaping floats is done with various grades of sandpaper glued to pieces of MDF or aluminium. Shaping my rod handles is done first with chisels and finished using the sandpaper. I turn my floats on a mandrel made of 6-32 threaded rod with threaded sleeves to hold in the chucks. My real seat inserts are done on this bad boy!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluegill Posted April 22, 2015 Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 (edited) What tools do you to shape the cork/ thx Well, as I wrote I don't really like cork. For my floats I use local eastern white cedar. Whatever, I have an old small lathe and for shaping cork or cedar I use sanding blocks with different sanding papers. I build these sanding blocks, each fits 1/4 sanding sheet. Edited April 22, 2015 by Bluegill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moosebunk Posted April 22, 2015 Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 Some great craftsmanship in this post.... Just wanna say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highdrifter Posted April 22, 2015 Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 Got some chrome to go with those bad boys bawd?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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