Laminated Crabtree net

[Hermit]

It's looking great – are you going to adjust it so both sides are a mirror image of each other?

I should correct it I suppose - but the problem is I didn't notice one side was a bit larger than the other before I drilled the bolt holes. And as they're not equidistant apart I might be left with a rogue hole in the frame. As it's a first attempt I'll leave it and finish it as it is...maybe in time it will settle down and find it's own symmetry.

[Loop Erimder]

I dont mind having a non symetrical landing net

[Gudgeon Jim]

Good work love the look of the mixed timbers
The steamer i used was a wall paper stripper i inserted the pipe from the steam,er into a cast iron tube blocked the ends of the tube with rags and left steaming away for 20 mins.
If the timber as not been cut along the grain no amount of steam will stop it breaking when bending begins.
I think if your steamer was creating enough steam then i think your rod tude would have collasped.
Look forward to seeing the end product.

[Hermit]

Many thanks Jim that paper stripper idea is ingenious!

[Nobby]

That is fantastic!

Don't change the shape....just say it's a left-handed net.

[The Sweetcorn Kid]

Superb sir, very impressive.

[Woodytia]

You are an inspiration, I've been thinking about trying to make one of these. I have a piece of aluminium tube to use as a steamer so I might just give it a go.

[Hermit]

Finally finished the net. Having tried various options for the net itself I sacrificed some tradition for a 'soft mesh' but wove it inside the frame for aesthetics. I used brass wire to tie it in - I'll wait to see how it resists corrosion - I suspect there's a lot of zinc in it as it was so bright and shiny but at just a couple of quid from Wilkinsons I thought it worth the experiment.

Nets purchased as follows;
Dinsmores softmesh - spoilt during the dying process (idye poly)
Dinsmores Shaken'dry - again didn't respond well to dying (boiling disfigured the mesh somewhat)
Snowbee traditional - wanted a thicker yarn in the mesh
Redport traditional -1.5" mesh was too large (but yarn was the perfect size - if only they did 3/4" mesh!!)

So I ended up using another Dinsmores softmesh but covered the makers logo with patches cut from an old pair of trousers.

I used the left over brown dye which I was using for the nets to colour a favoured fishing hat. It went pink.

[LuckyLuca]

Very nice Sir!

[Nobby]

That's come out looking very nice indeed......pleasing to the eye, all those different materials and mellow colours.


And fish-friendly too.

I like the idea of the wire...that never occured to me.


Shame about the hat.......at least you'll be easy to spot on the bankside.