Make Your Own Floats: Tools and Supplies

[Keith Ritter]

This list will be the most basic tools needed to complete your floats. If you don't have these it will be cheap to find them and get started. If you have more advanced tools for other hobbies such a wood working you a adapt them to float making. The supplies are also everyday items that easy to find.

Hand drill: To make center hole for stick. Can be used to turn body to sand or shape.

Saw: Any thin blade small tooth saw such a hack saw will do for cutting bodies to length.

Knives: Hobby knives such Exacto are perfect. Utility knives or a good sharp pocket knife will work. Use these for rough shaping and trimming.

Rasp: Shaping

Sandpaper: 60 grit & 150 grit should be enough.

Glue: Water resistant carpenters glue and a super glue.

Finish: I use polyurethane because that's what I had when I started. Use can use what ever you like. Shellac or Varnish.

If I have forgotten something I will update list when I start the assembly instructions. Feel free to add to this discussion.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

I'd also add copper wire and thread for making eyes, and binding them to the float stem.
Wire can be stripped from cords, cable, etc. I've found solid electronic hookup wire to give the best size eyes. I like copper because it is malleable and easy obtained.
I use thread to bind the eye. For you fly tiers, use what you already have - tying thread and a bobbin. If you don't tie flies, sewing thread works.
Once the eye is formed and attached with super glue, use an overhand knot to attach the thread. Then strip off about one foot of thread and wrap a tight rubber band around the spool. All that's left now is to let the banded spool hang and twirl it around the wire and stem to create a whip wrapped eye!
You can get fancy and tuck the thread as you might when wrapping guides on a rod. But I never do... I just tie an overhand knot and clip off the thread.
To finish, I coat the whole thing in super glue and once that is cured, lay on a couple coats of urethane varnish.
Not fancy, but it works.

[Keith Ritter]

I use I small safety pin with the clasp cut off and I'm starting to use copper wire too. I hold the eye in place a whip it till I cover the legs the a drop of super glue to hold in place. I dip mine. I been using embroidery thread be cause it's thicker and takes less wraps. Thanks McSruff.

[jim cosgrove]

have not gotten around to making any new ones .i use brass wire sticks.many hardware or hobby stores have this.from very fine diameter to pretty heavy .the bigger rods can be used to paint eyes and dot patterns.my local menards now has a hobby section with balsa brass wire ,piano and stainless.i like brass as it is a little harder so less possibility of nicking the line as with plain steel or copper wire.my 20 year old floats have brass eyes and are still shiny.

[Keith Ritter]

I like the Idea of brass. I use brass rod in knifemaking. I'll have to check out the crafts stores. When I cleaned out my boat I found floats with safety pin eyes that still haven't rusted they are just plated steel. Brass and copper and stainless should last forever.

[jim cosgrove]

keith you should look into jewelry pliers that make loops.handy little things

[Lord of the Fly , Rods]

   Hey sounds like yall got this figured out, the only other thing  I do is make sure my eyelet is big enough to allow my fly line to go it when I want to really fish deep , even deeper than my leader, as for my coatings I use acrylic clear fingernail polish, it even comes with it's own brush.  LOFR

[Lord of the Fly , Rods]

 If yall want to see some floats that are pieces of Art check out , Mark Burninghams hand made floats, and  Handmade fishing floats by Andrew Field.    LOFR

[Keith Ritter]

Absolutely the are awesome. I wouldn't even compare mine to theirs.

[Papa Turner]

Thanks for starting this forum. I've been thinking about trying different floats/bobbers & been looking at the Rocket Bobber & The Thill Bobber they sell for around 3/4 bucks. Then I thought hell I could make these with a plastic straw and cork or piece of balsa.

[Keith Ritter]

Hey Papa, if you need help just ask. If you have any good ideas I can steal let me know. Check out my photos for some ideas.

[Papa Turner]

Thanks, here's a youtube video pretty clever. http://youtu.be/BUM303yF1Jw