Makeing my own

[lozza]

I am starting to think that making my own stick floats is good idea seeing that my local tackle shop has a woefull collection and I have pretty much gone through that. I am in the process of getting a small wood lathe to experiment with and see how it goes. Does any member on here make there own floats etc and if so any hints and tips for the beginner. I done a lot of research on different wood and finishes etc and I seems that you can make a lot of tackle if you have the tools can any body help.

[Andy Macfarlane]

A lathe....for making stick floats? Are you serious?

[lozza]

Yes and no I am mainly going to use it for lures but that’s why I asked the question it seems that you could use one but I don’t know. Don’t really fancy whittling down pieces of wood but if that’s the way it is done than then I shall have to do that.

[Mark Wintle]

I've made stick floats in the past using an electric drill to hold the balsa for shaping with sandpaper which gets hot quickly, also plenty of dust and I have to use a dust mask. For the base - I trust you are talking about proper stick floats with a different material base - I've used cane, solid carbon fibre rod in 3mm, fibre glass rod and alloy (welding rods). The bases should be tapered as well, and you need to form a spigot of about 1/2" at the top to fit into the balsa. When a stick float is balanced correctly you can throw them like a dart base first and they will flight perfectly through the air. If the base is too heavy or light they won't flight properly. That's Ivan Marks' test and it is as true as when he said it 40 years ago as now.

[tony tinca]

I've made stick floats in the past using an electric drill to hold the balsa for shaping with sandpaper which gets hot quickly, also plenty of dust and I have to use a dust mask. For the base - I trust you are talking about proper stick floats with a different material base - I've used cane, solid carbon fibre rod in 3mm, fibre glass rod and alloy (welding rods). The bases should be tapered as well, and you need to form a spigot of about 1/2" at the top to fit into the balsa. When a stick float is balanced correctly you can throw them like a dart base first and they will flight perfectly through the air. If the base is too heavy or light they won't flight properly. That's Ivan Marks' test and it is as true as when he said it 40 years ago as now.

 

yes me and my dad used to make floats using a small electric motor to spin the balsa to sandpaper out fairly simple floats with the larger body at bottom tapering up to fine tops , then we used to dip them in black leaded paint then use the flourescent paint for the tops

They used to work a treat and were no worse than floats you bought ,and you could make them to any size but they had to be pretty much the same shape which was ok

It worked 20 yrs ago and was good fun anyway making something that still caught u fish

[chesters1]

you used to get float kits donkeys years ago even better you could buy a bag of assembled ones already painted for little more.

[George387]

I make stick floats from balsa/cane it is quite easy once you get used to working with the materials. One thing I learned from another float maker is always use a spigot joint to join the 2 together. I use a unimat lathe to shape all the floats I make. Here is a picture of some sticks I made.

[Tigger]

I make stick floats from balsa/cane it is quite easy once you get used to working with the materials. One thing I learned from another float maker is always use a spigot joint to join the 2 together. I use a unimat lathe to shape all the floats I make. Here is a picture of some sticks I made.

 

 

Those floats look brilliant George !

[George387]

Those floats look brilliant George !

 

cheers tigger always nice to know other anglers think there are ok.

[Sportsman]

cheers tigger always nice to know other anglers think there are ok.

 

George, do you make these available for sale, I would love a set.