GungasUncle
I haven't had a chance to buy anymore balsa lately, so I don't have many in-process pix -but I do have a number of pix of some floats I've made in the last few months. I started making them as a way to "save" money - because purchasing Beau Mac floats and Thill floats was getting expensive, especially if I lost a few each trip. The Salmon Stalker floats are also pretty expensive.
Then I discovered that making floats is an entirely new tackle craft hobby that is mucho fun.
Most of the floats I've made are balsa bodied slip floats. Some are slip/fixed combos, and some of my latest creations are balsa bodied fixed floats, or cork bodied fixed floats.
The balsa floats are made by turning a hunk of balsa on a micro lathe, then pressing a graphite tube through the center. The balsa fixed floats are made similarly, but instead of a hollow graphite tube, I press through a stainless steel spinner shaft wire through.
The cork fixed floats I made are super simple - I bought a package of wine corks from a crafts store, and pushed through spinner shafts, cut to the appropriate lengths.
Some floats I finish with clear coats - and only paint the tops, others are painted black with colored tops - green, orange, or yellow.
Then I discovered that making floats is an entirely new tackle craft hobby that is mucho fun.
Most of the floats I've made are balsa bodied slip floats. Some are slip/fixed combos, and some of my latest creations are balsa bodied fixed floats, or cork bodied fixed floats.
The balsa floats are made by turning a hunk of balsa on a micro lathe, then pressing a graphite tube through the center. The balsa fixed floats are made similarly, but instead of a hollow graphite tube, I press through a stainless steel spinner shaft wire through.
The cork fixed floats I made are super simple - I bought a package of wine corks from a crafts store, and pushed through spinner shafts, cut to the appropriate lengths.
Some floats I finish with clear coats - and only paint the tops, others are painted black with colored tops - green, orange, or yellow.