Author Archives: dave49

The Angler

Posted on August 13, 2013 by dave49

This sheet metal and scrap sculpture was recently placed on the river bank downstream from where I live. It is placed so that only a fly fisherman is likely to see it. I hope that keeps it safe from vandalism.

Posted in Fishing | 2 Comments

Thrust Bearing Test

Posted on August 12, 2013 by dave49

If we were perfect fishermen, our reels would not need any provision for thrust loads on the spool (i.e., loads in the direction of the spindle axis). A fish on the line creates a torque on the spool, which we … Continue reading →

Posted in Testing, Thrust Bearing | 3 Comments

Maker Unknown

Posted on July 14, 2013 by dave49

I met Chris of Shenandoah Rods at the recent Grayrock gathering. After he saw pictures of the 1 weight reel that I recently made, he sent me these photos of a small reel in his possession. Unfortunately, we don’t know … Continue reading →

Posted in Classic Reels | 5 Comments

Spindle Crank

Posted on July 5, 2013 by dave49

I keep a shaft collar clamped on the rear spindle extension of my lathe. It provides a grip for a small “gear puller” that I use to unlock MT1 fixtures from the spindle. The only time that I remove the … Continue reading →

Posted in Screw, Threading | Leave a comment

Lathe Bit Grinding

Posted on July 1, 2013 by dave49

I find that high speed steel (HSS) lathe bits cut more smoothly than any carbide bits, brazed or insert. HSS bits cut best when freshly sharpened, a task that I have dreaded. My grinder is typical of the “home improvement … Continue reading →

Posted in Cutting, Fixtures, Turning | Leave a comment

Small Reel

Posted on June 28, 2013 by dave49

This reel is for a friend who is making a 1 weight rod. The reel is 2.3 inch diameter and weighs 2.6 oz. It uses the one piece spool and one piece frame from recent posts. In a post of … Continue reading →

Posted in My Reels | 3 Comments

Bogdan Trout

Posted on June 24, 2013 by dave49

This reel belongs to a friend who has long had a cabin in the North Branch, but well downstream of where I live. He put it in my hands because the click had become weak. I found that the spring … Continue reading →

Posted in Classic Reels | Leave a comment

Grayrock 2013

Posted on June 23, 2013 by dave49

The Grayrock meeting of bamboo rod makers was held in Lovells last year, and again this year. So I attended even though I am not making rods. Wes Cooper Wayne Cattanach Judging tapers Outdoor session My interest in making a … Continue reading →

Posted in Rods | Leave a comment

One Piece Frame

Posted on June 10, 2013 by dave49

To go with the one piece spool, I have also made a one piece frame. This is a record of the steps. Face the material on both ends and cut a “grip”, a projection for holding the work in many … Continue reading →

Posted in Frame | 6 Comments

Pentagonal Rod Gauge

Posted on June 5, 2013 by dave49

Lovells rodmaker RKP decided to make bamboo rods with pentagonal cross section, rather than the usual hexagonal. And now that he has started, he says that it takes less time to plane 5 strips than to plane 6 (!). The … Continue reading →

Posted in Rods | Leave a comment