Fishing Rods & Tackle - Making and Mending

[Dave F]

After treating myself to “Hooked on Floats” by Jeff Della Mura, I bought a copy of “Fishing Rods & Tackle - M and M” referred to in said book.
The book was published 100 years ago and covers near on all things rods, reels and accessories. I found the sections on floats of most interest.
What we call Naiad floats and Homers Floats are shown in detail and instructions for the making there of.

Inspired by the reading, I now have a winter project or two.

[Cane]

Yes, it’s a very interesting book. Good luck with the floats. I found that the moulds kept getting stuck.
I wonder how many rods and reels were successfully made since it was published. It’d be interesting to find a reel made to the specifications in the book. This is a photo of a reel from the book.

[Santiago]

It would be interesting to see the instructions for making Naiads! It's one thing to follow instructions and it's entirely a new business of successfully completing them. To make my Naiads I had to start from scratch and experiment over a year or so with washing soda before I created a float that could reasonably be called a Naiad. Hence my interest in seeing how they were actually made. Most float makers come unstuck getting the quills off of the formers. I have posted a detailed explanation of how to do this and it's somewhere in the bowels of the float making section. But the main secret for success it's not to put the quills too tightly on the formers in the first place; you want them just tight enough to take the desired shape! If you process lot's of quills in one go then your sure to find some quills that fit better than others. Choose them!

[Dave F]

It would be interesting to see the instructions for making Naiads! It's one thing to follow instructions and it's entirely a new business of successfully completing them. To make my Naiads I had to start from scratch and experiment over a year or so with washing soda before I created a float that could reasonably be called a Naiad. Hence my interest in seeing how they were actually made. Most float makers come unstuck getting the quills off of the formers. I have posted a detailed explanation of how to do this and it's somewhere in the bowels of the float making section. But the main secret for success it's not to put the quills too tightly on the formers in the first place; you want them just tight enough to take the desired shape! If you process lot's of quills in one go then your sure to find some quills that fit better than others. Choose them!

I’ve sent you a pm with a resume’ of the instructions. I hope you find them amusing to say the least. Making the floats would seem to be so very easy - I know that to be untrue.

[Santiago]

Cheers Dave. The method is interesting and differs to my own at a few steps. I might try adapting own method to see if the changes make any improvements.

[Watermole+]

Yes, it’s a very interesting book. Good luck with the floats. I found that the moulds kept getting stuck.
I wonder how many rods and reels were successfully made since it was published. It’d be interesting to find a reel made to the specifications in the book. This is a photo of a reel from the book.

At 5 3/8” diameter, that is a fair-sized reel!
Was this meant for all-round fishing or perhaps just sea angling..?

If you would be kind enough to either post or PM the directions and dimensions for it, it shouldn’t be too difficult to make a scaled down version..
A very interesting book though.

Wm+

[Cane]

For anyone who would find the process of interest, I attach the complete instructions from the book. Good luck.

[Cane]

Watermole, I’ll add the information for making the reel asap

[Cane]

As promised. I look forward to hearing how it fishes.
Cane

[Watermole+]

Many thanks for posting the drawings 'Cane'-
-also for the ones sent by PM.

I might have a go at this, but I think, scaled down from those sizes.

wm+