Homemade

[Nobby]

Nice job, and rather remeniscent of a Delrin spreader block at first sight, too.

I don't know how much smaller you dare go MGs.......I'd think you were about there?

[MGs]

It is hard to tell from that picture but the block itself is 1" deep. I originally cut it to just over 1.5" to make sure I had some leeway when sinking the female ferrules in (previous narrower attempts split). It looks a bit over gunned with the 21" arms but I think when I taper some 30" ones it will look more balanced.

I quite like the look of the stripes, it looks quite nice in the sunlight

[Mark]

Very nice Mgs

[DontKnowMuch]

Loving this thread, most interesting to see the development from scratch :hat:

[MGs]

Next stage is the long arms for my carp net. I might try and source some dowel for them later in the week.

Then I'll give you all a good laugh when I try to bend some hazel to make a hoop

[MGs]

Work is almost complete on the carp net




Just a couple more coats of varnish to go.

Having done some tests, with the Elasticane handle it is unbalanced (I'm not sure it is up to the job).

I have therefore purchased some whole cane £3.99 for 10 x 8', at least two of which will make good handles.

Not knowing much about whole cane, I have some questions.
1. Can the nodes be filed down to be level/almost level with the cane and then whipped?
2. Should I remove the outer lacquer of the cane and varnish it?
3. How long should I leave the handle? 8' could be handy in some situations but normally will be too long. From memory the one piece cane handles I remember from the 60s were about 5' long

[MGs]

I have managed to bond a threaded sleeve inside the largest piece of cane. I used Araldite for strength and bound it tightly just in case of splits. I will whip over the top of it when I'm sure it is dry.

One final question. How easy is it to bend whole cane? Depending on how long I leave the handle it may have a bit of a bend at the extreme handle end. I'm wondering if I can steam/heat bend it?

[Nobby]

Sorry MGs bending whole cane I know nothing about...the one time I tried it, with heat, a node snapped without warning.

It was on a fifty year old rod, mind.

[GloucesterOldSpot]

You can straighten it OK - use steam, not dry heat, and bend it over the bullnose corner of the kitchen worktop, or make a 'horse' with a hole drilled in a plank of wood fixed to a Black and Decker workmate and put the cane through that to get some leverage.

[MGs]

Thanks GOS