Ultimate bobbin

[Anderoo]

I'm bumping this up because it's a great topic, and I have just re-read it.

 

The Mk II Anderoo Swingers are in production

[Anderoo]

I did some work on the MK II swingers today, and they're almost finished

 

The ones I used last year had arms made from 6mm ali tube and no counterbalance. Despite this they worked really well. But once you start tinkering, that's it, so I thought I'd see if I could make some with a thinner arm material and a counterbalance.

 

These are what I bought off ebay to chop up: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-x-Drop-off-Bite-In...=item45f7f758a2

 

The useful bit is the black plastic rod rest attachment, as it allows 2mm steel rod to pass through it, and it looked like an easy job to get long lengths of that, bend it to shape, add weights and bobbin heads, and that would be it. As it turned out, it actually was that simple. Like with the MK I swingers, they attach to the rod rests with a pair of tool clips, held in place with little brass nuts and bolts.

 

 

There are 2 sliding weights, a big one behind the rod rest and a smaller one in front, so it's easy to finely balance the weight you want. The arms are the same length as the MK Is, about 18".

 

The bobbin heads are not yet attached and are the same ones from the MK I swingers.

 

 

 

 

Last job - aralditing short lengths of 4mm steel tube to the end of the swingers so the bobbin heads can be pushed tightly on:

 

 

 

It's very windy outside today, but they wobble far less than my old ones despite the bendy nature of the thin steel rod. I think it's because there's hardly anything for the wind to catch. Once the bobbin heads are on and they are clipped onto the line, I think they'll work well. The biggest problem will probably be transporting them and not bending them out of shape

[Dick Dastardly]

Get a length of pipe from B&Q mate you can get ends and even screw on caps. Looking good by the way.

[Anderoo]

I forgot to say, the smaller sliding weights on the actual swinger arm are the ones that came with the ebay cheapies, and they have a rubber grip inside that grips the steel rod nicely, but can be moved up and down easily. The larger weights were ones from another butchered set from eby that were used in the MK Is and have a wider bore, so those are held in place with a couple of tight fitting rubber beads.

[Tigger]

Looking good by the way.

 

 

 

Arn't they just.

[Anderoo]

Get a length of pipe from B&Q mate you can get ends and even screw on caps. Looking good by the way.

 

Sorry Budgie, what would the ends and screw on caps be for? Having a blonde moment!

[poledark]

I think your time would be better spent doing something about all those weeds on the lawn

 

Great fun all that fiddling and making, ennit

 

I,ve just spent another pleasant hour or ten making attachments for my new cameras and scope...................but my lawn looks better than yours :)

 

Den

[Dick Dastardly]

To put on the ends of the pipe (plastic pipe of the right diameter to keep/transport your swingers in)

[Anderoo]

To put on the ends of the pipe (plastic pipe of the right diameter to keep/transport your swingers in)

 

Oh I see, yes good idea!

 

Den, the lawn is so far down my list you wouldn't believe it

[Anderoo]

Finished now, the bobbin heads fit perfectly onto the 4mm steel tube I araldited on to the end of the arms. Now I just need something to transport them in, and I'm ready for next season