REW
02-12-2002, 05:58 PM
For those of you who might be interested in making your own fishing rods, I was given this idea which I worked through yesterday.
You can use your fingers to spin your rods, while wrapping the guides - or you can get a powered wrapping unit - to spin your rod for you. Many of these power wrapper units run about $100 or so - with mounts, stands etc.
It was suggested to me, that a sewing machine motor, would make a good rod turner - for guide wrapping.
I researched it, and found that most sewing machine motors are brush type universal motors, which are very controllable by varying voltage, current or both. Obviously all of our sewing partners can tell us that as well.
I went to the neighbor hood good will, and picked from a selection of several different sewing machines. I found one that had a good motor and purchaed it for $5.
Then I went home, tore it apart - salvaged the motor , casting, and main top shaft.
Then, I turned down one of the gears to mount on the outboard end of the output shaft - to which is attached the rod handle durning the turning of the rod - for guide wrapping.
In addition to the foot pedal - I have installed a $2 light dimmer - to allow about 2/3 power to the foot pedal. This limits top speed to about 1/2 of the sewing machine speed, and makes for a slower accleration and braking of the motor.
A fun hour long pjoject - that saves $100 and works fine for helping to make more rods more quickly.
Take care
REW
You can use your fingers to spin your rods, while wrapping the guides - or you can get a powered wrapping unit - to spin your rod for you. Many of these power wrapper units run about $100 or so - with mounts, stands etc.
It was suggested to me, that a sewing machine motor, would make a good rod turner - for guide wrapping.
I researched it, and found that most sewing machine motors are brush type universal motors, which are very controllable by varying voltage, current or both. Obviously all of our sewing partners can tell us that as well.
I went to the neighbor hood good will, and picked from a selection of several different sewing machines. I found one that had a good motor and purchaed it for $5.
Then I went home, tore it apart - salvaged the motor , casting, and main top shaft.
Then, I turned down one of the gears to mount on the outboard end of the output shaft - to which is attached the rod handle durning the turning of the rod - for guide wrapping.
In addition to the foot pedal - I have installed a $2 light dimmer - to allow about 2/3 power to the foot pedal. This limits top speed to about 1/2 of the sewing machine speed, and makes for a slower accleration and braking of the motor.
A fun hour long pjoject - that saves $100 and works fine for helping to make more rods more quickly.
Take care
REW