Showing posts with label Avons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Avons. Show all posts

Thursday, 26 August 2021

New set of Avons

One cannot fail to be impressed by the standard of work and attention to detail exhibited by some of the better known names of float making in the UK, irrespective of whether the design or style in question is to your liking, as such things are somewhat subjective.

It struck the other day however, amongst the feathers and multi-coloured whippings (even those can be in a multitude of thread types/materials) that the classic floats which surely provide at least a modicum of inspiration had no such extravagance.

Looking at a previous post entitled 'Genuine vintage floats' with some samples from the better known commercial makers, such as those shown below from Auger, any small lines used to delineate between different colours or possibly just for the ability to see a sensitive bite more clearly were painted on.

Auger selection

...albeit neither straight nor consistent in width in some cases. The only whipping on these and others of the time were to secure the eye at the end of the stem.

So I thought I'd see what i could do to replicate the design and feel without the plethora of whipping, and to be honest I don't think they came out too bad (straighter than some of the vintage examples at least)...

Cork Avons


Not 100% sure about the choice of colours, and they're as yet untested, but I thought the lack of luminous tips was a bit more in keeping with what I was trying to do, and recreating the classic Harcock red bands on yellow is a bit cliche nowadays...


Cork Avons up close


True to form, the only whipping on each float is to secure the stainless eye, albeit diverging from the plan slightly by being subtly tipped with a little gold.




So, they'll be up for sale shortly in the Etsy shop in case anyone wants them, with more to come soon as I think it suits some of the more functional designs. No doubt there'll still be a selection with fancy whippings, incorporating porcupine quill sections and so on to cater for all tastes. Surprisingly these don't seem to take any less time to make, except for maybe less time taking decisions on the design...

Sunday, 3 May 2020

Batch number three

The next batch to emerge from the workshop, predominantly grayling floats following Reg Righyni's timeless formula, with a couple of minor modifications. These are fitted with hardwood tips for a little extra strength for the float caps, and the recommended 20swg (0.91mm) piano wire, basically spring steel, has been replaced with 1mm stainless steel.

Where the magic begins in 'Fishing Reflections'



And in addition a couple of simple balsa on cane Avon's with colour scheme inspired by the county flag..


Tuesday, 14 April 2020

New floats

Seems like the most frequent here is going to become the one where I try and justify the break in blogging. So usual stuff going on, changing priorities, other hobbies, blah.

Needless to say I shall do my best to keep updates as regular as possible. In the meantime, I've decided to try and finish the nearly sixty floats (some of which can be seen in the earlier photo below) that I've started but not yet finished, in a state from nothing more than a body and stem to just requiring the whipping and varnish.


So first up is the five floats in the following picture, a balsa on cane gudgeon float, two cork on cane grayling bobbers, a cork on cane Avon and a cork-bodied alloy-stemmed Avon (not a combination I recall seeing a large number of I admit...)




More to follow shortly


hopefully

Friday, 15 June 2018

Avons ready for the new season

Some Avons prepared for the new season, completed 36 hours before the rivers re-open (in England anyway, for international readers. Not sure Scotland for example has a closed season....)


On the left, balsa on crow quill, and on the right balsa on pheasant tail, both in Dorset county flag colours


Three balsa on birchwood Avons, the colouring came out particularly nicely on the stems after the first coat of dye, so much so I didn't bother with any subsequent coats

Best of luck to all venturing out for the new season tomorrow...

Sunday, 17 December 2017

A few more Avons

Another 3 pairs ready to go.
All balsa body on crow quill, with a slightly longer tip for long-trotting, and with and without wire eyes.





A minor development using another quill type is on the cards, which will give a straighter stem. Pics will be posted as soon as they're ready

Sunday, 19 November 2017

More Quill Avons


Harcork style paint




and using the primary wing quill from Columba palumbus, the humble Wood Pigeon

Crow Quill Avons

Crow quill Avons