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Post by Simon on Dec 12, 2011 11:19:41 GMT
After many years of making rods; lines; flies and leaders, it's now the right time to attempt to make my first Tenkara net. There is loads information about how to produce a net on the web, but the hardest part is finding the the right branch to use! It has taken me many weeks of walking around the woods with the dog before finding the right one. I settled on a branch from a Yew tree. Sonia found the episode extremely entertaining! I was so pleased to have found the perfect shape! Retreating to the summer house I started the process of stripping the bark off the branch, in all that took around 1hr.Again, back into the house to show Sonia the results of my past hour, next tie wrap the arms into the correct position. Now the net is starting to look the part, but a bit of shaping is required. I decided to use a old hand net and tie wrap my new net to it while it dry out. Not sure how many weeks before the next step of joining the two arms. Check back in a few weeks / months for the next instalment. Hope the photos give you an idea of how things are going.  The start of the process.  Accessing the work.  Starting the long process.  Nearly there.  One stripped branch.  Branch arms held with Tie wraps.  Not the right shape yet!  Held in shape to dry out. Simon. |
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Post by leckie on Dec 12, 2011 12:32:54 GMT
Simon, Is there no end to your talents  The project looks as though it's going to have a happy outcome looking at the progress you have made already. What diameter is the net that you are making as all the tenkara nets appear to be quite small  Look forward to future posts. leckie |
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Post by Simon on Dec 12, 2011 12:50:16 GMT
Morning Leckie.
The net is 12 * 12 in, decided on this size as I had an old net that I could use without the need of buying a new one. The hard bit is yet to come, the joining of the arms! Watch this space.
Simon
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Post by leckie on Dec 14, 2011 22:17:33 GMT
Simon, I find I'm looking at every tree I pass to see if I can find the perfect branch that would make a suitable tenkara net. The only problem is I'm not very practical but the process so far looks at though it might be a fun project to work on over the long winter months. I'm interested to see how you cope with the scarf joint and how your net progresses. It's a good idea to make a frame that fits an existing net for all these big grayling and trout that inhabit the Alyn.  I'm sure that it's one of these projects that once you learn how to make one net, and the first one will always be the hardest, then you will make other sizes as well.  |
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Post by Simon on Dec 15, 2011 11:01:48 GMT
I know what you mean Leckie! The dog walk every day now takes twice as long, trees will never look the same again!
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Post by leckie on Dec 21, 2011 21:16:06 GMT
Simon, When do harvest the branches to make the net The couple of branches that I have collected that look as though they might do the job just snap at the slightest bend. I assume it's because there is no sap in the wood and winter is not the time to collect material for net making leckie |
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Post by Simon on Dec 22, 2011 11:01:21 GMT
Morning Leckie.
Remember your not talking with an expert here! I think it depends on the type of tree the branch comes from. Before deciding on the yew for mine others faced the bend test still attached to their tree. Grab the arms that are going the be the net support and bend, if they break, leave alone. That's the way I decided. But the other option is to steam the arms before trying to bend them, that's about my knowledge up to this point.
Simon
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Post by sakasakebariuk on Jan 1, 2012 20:45:54 GMT
Simon,
This post has now got me looking at trees in a different way. It's defiantly something I would like to make.
I currently make my own fly boxes so making my own net would add to my tenkara approach.
Kind regards
SKUK
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Post by Simon on Jan 20, 2012 12:12:29 GMT
After Sonia (Grayling) saw mine, she had to have one also, so start looking for another branch! 3 weeks later, this is the branch and start of net number two. Net number one is now just ready for the splice! Just trying to pluck up courage to make the first cut! Watch this space. Simon.    |
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Post by Simon on Jan 22, 2012 14:31:52 GMT
First net has now been spliced and glued! Not an easy job. Photos to follow.
Simon.
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Post by Simon on Jan 24, 2012 16:25:49 GMT
Not the best splice, I think I should have drilled and pegged before glueing? anyway it's now done! I used two part epoxy for the joint and cocktail sticks for the pegs, going to leave it untill the weekend before the next stage, sanding. Simon.  |
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Post by leckie on Jan 24, 2012 18:36:37 GMT
Simon, Thanks for posting your progress....it's a very interesting project that you have undertaken there. The splice was always going to be the tricky part and it looks to me as though you've made a pretty good stab at it for a first attempt. Of course the pressure is on when you come to splice Sonia's net ;D ....continuous improvement and all that...I even think that's a Japanese philosophy. It will be interesting to see what the final product looks like after sanding and staining. Look forward to seeing it in due course. leckie |
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Post by Simon on Jan 29, 2012 16:13:43 GMT
Bad news, the joint did not hold with the glue I used! So I have had to cut away the joint and start again making the net a bit smaller. Will have to decide on a better glue next time, any ideas out there?
Simon.
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Post by custheyder on Jan 30, 2012 11:26:40 GMT
Have you considered whipping the joint to add strength?
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Post by leckie on Jan 30, 2012 17:49:04 GMT
Simon,
Is there any reason why you didn't just use superglue? The Gorilla superglue bonds wood and apparently bonding success is guaranteed when you use that stuff!!!
leckie
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