home made floats

This topic has 13 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 3 months ago by TF_Fred Davis.

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- 07/03/2011 at 3:59 pm #45162
  TF_Fred Davis
  You just can’t beat making your own floats, attention to detail is all down to your good self and although these floats have been made from balsa the new materials like rohacell means floats made from this closed cell material are completly indistructable.
  
  after making some margin floats and chianti type floats for a mate I think I have this pattern almost sorted.
  
  what do you think?
  
  I wonder if rohacell will be the float making material of the future as floats made in rohacell can be literally jumped up and down on and still take the same shot due to the closed cell design of the material, In addition the density of the material never varies unlike balsa, it is also stronger and impervious to vertually anything,here is a side eyed diamond made in rohacell
- 07/03/2011 at 4:13 pm #134477
  TF_Sharp Hook
  Fred
  What paint do you use for the finished product?
- 07/03/2011 at 4:17 pm #134479
  TF_Fred Davis
  I use a variety of paints but any model paints I find suitable, bearing in mind a good coat or two of varnish matt or gloss will make the float have a better finish mind you if floats are made of rohacell the finish is only cosmetic
- 07/03/2011 at 4:53 pm #134483
  TF_Bingo Wings
  Participant
  Look nice them Fred you wanna start selling em’ lol :-))
- 07/03/2011 at 5:05 pm #134485
  TF_chubby chubber
  Participant
  they look spot on mate did you buy all the materials of e bay then just took it from there fancy having a go to make a few up for myself but i aint got a clue where to start if am been honest just be nice too see catching a few off something that i have made myself would be great~think
- 07/03/2011 at 5:38 pm #134489
  TF_proper tidal boy
  well fred are those four floats up for grabs ???????
- 07/03/2011 at 5:43 pm #134490
  TF_Fred Davis
  I know a few of the local float makers buy bodies already made, in fact it’s more a case of float assembly than making floats imo, I machine all the float bodies up myself, that way I can select the right grade of balsa, I also drill out my bodies which I think is important I know then that if I want to fit the float on an 0.8 mm fiberglass stem the body is drilled accordingly, what I don’t want is an 08 stem sitting in a 1mm hole, thats why I make them myself, also the fun part is making the float from start to finish, not making a lot to make a fast profit out of other anglers, also I don’t see the joy of having to make floats to order that really switches me off.No thankfully for me it’s first and foremost purely a hobby.
- 07/03/2011 at 5:47 pm #134491
  TF_Fred Davis
  PTB I made various sizes of chiantis and margin floats for a very close friend, I havern’t thought about what to do with the spares as they were made in matt black to his requirements however havern’t decided as yet what do do with them. don’t want to go down the road of taking orders as it’s a hobby, I have had a few requests but the trouble is motivating myself to get on the bl**dy lathe, when I could be out enjoying myself.It’s bad enough doing floats for mates as it’s a question of when I get around to making them, however they are easy to make although time consuming.
- 07/03/2011 at 5:59 pm #134495
  TF_chubby chubber
  Participant
  so do you make the bodys to sell to not on about to makei t in to full time production line just fancy having a go at making a few for my own use bit of a hobby like your self
- 07/03/2011 at 9:43 pm #134544
  TF_Oggy
  Nice work Fred.
  
  I dont think the Rohacell will catch on commercially as the big companies want to keep selling floats that get smashed up after a few carp rather than the type you only have to replace when you lose one.
- 07/03/2011 at 9:48 pm #134546
  TF_total12
  Them looks awesome.
- 07/03/2011 at 11:16 pm #134564
  TF_Fred Davis
  lump, you can buy rohacell at around Â£25 a sheet depending on the thickness of the sheet required the thicker the sheet the more costly, also they do it in various grades 30 50 & 70 the 70 grade is fine for carp floats the next grade up is mega pricey and not cost effective, if you google it there is a place in peterborough that sells the stuff.
  
  chubby chubber if you want float bodies they sell them on ebay I make all my own from balsa using various tools including a lathe
- 08/03/2011 at 10:27 am #134585
  TF_chubby chubber
  Participant
  cheers fred but i like the way of your thinking about the hole in the base been the right diameter would you not be interested in selling a few kits as you say where as you have all the components then its just a matter of a bit of sanding and putting them together to be honest mate ihave not got a clue where to start plus e bay its all large amounts you have to buy where as i just fancy having a few for myself thats all been honest as yours look spoton i thought i would ask so if your interested i would be really greatful not alot just enough to say make five of each design you have in thepics that you posted earlier in your thread cheers for any reply mate ~clap
- 08/03/2011 at 1:27 pm #134594
  TF_Fred Davis
  Thanks for the offer chubby but to be honest I prefer my time, rather than a few bob as I also play a lot of table tennis so time on the lathe is really limited to just making floats for a few mates and myself, as I said it’s not even enjoyable work, but a time filler when I feel the urge to make some.I have a lot of mates ask me for floats and they all understand the key factor they have to wait and wait and wait until I eventually knock some out.
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