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I have been super busy as of late and unable to post for a while, but this is one of my latest nets. I love this unique net!

This net handle is made from an Australian Banksia Pod. You can see pics of it below. It's much like our native pine cones here in North America, but denser. In recent years, the pod crop coming out of Australia has been comparatively small, and the size of the pods are small as well. This pod was purchased a few years back and was just barely large enough to make a net from. I vacuum stabilized this handle blank with an acrylic resin before gluing it up. This ensures a better water resistance and a stronger handle. The handle is inlaid in copper and Kingman Turquoise. The hoop is black Walnut & Curly Maple. All holes were left open per the client. The lanyard hole has a pressed in copper ferrule. All writing on the net is inlaid in copper to a depth of around 1/16".

The female who commissioned this net, well, who told her fly fishing hubby she wanted it, is an avid fly fisher.

Cutting the pod on the bandsaw to get to the center.

Here is what the inside looks like….Just like the outside only flat!

Cutting away the riff raff. The seed pod is made up of tiny c 3/32" clumps of compressed straight-fiber balls. These Little tiny compressed fuzz balls get EVERYWHERE while sawing! They get tighter, and harder, the closer you get to the center. Near the center, it is as hard as oak.

The finished blank ready for stabilization.

The completed net with after 10 coats of a proprietary hand-mixed Danish Oil mixture. Seen at the peak of the hoop is a Latigo Leather magnetic net release I make. More close-ups of that below.

Here you can see the inlaid Kingman Turquoise & copper in the wood's natural inclusions.

Since this is an heirloom net, I carve the writing into the hoop using a .020" spiral carbide router bit (which are VERY prone to breaking w/o a steady hand by the way) Then, the writing is inlaid with copper to provide permanent markings. Wenda happens to be the owner's name.

Here you can see the hand-tied lanyard and the pressed-in copper ferrule.

You can see the "stem" of the pod here. It runs the length of the handle.

Hope ya'll enjoyed.

Greg

Gallery

Comments

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work of art!!! that inlay make it look like it came from different planet :)
 

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Excellent work, thanks for sharing…you are an inspiration to all of us.
 

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This is amazing stuff. The pics were great visuals! I was thinking heirloom before I even read you calling it that. Good stuff right there.
 

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Fantastic piece of work! Too nice to dip in the water, no matter how big the trout is!!
Jim
 

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Beautiful work!
 

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Awesome! What kind of acrylic resin do you use to stabilize?
 

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Nice work for a beautiful looking fish net. I have seen Banksia pods used for so many different things in woodwork in Australia. You have made something a lot of people here take for granted as just a flower on a tree and then it dies. Woodworkers see the potential beauty in it's after life.
 

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Sure is a Wendaful Net.
 

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Greg as usual a beautiful net, I still could not bring myself to use it though. The fishing here is getting great. Spring run off is over and it Salmon fly time.
 

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Absolutely stunning! As an avid fly fisherman myself I can really appreciate a fine net.
 

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Beautiful work, thanks for posting the great pictures as well.
 

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Wonderfully done.

I have never worked with Banksia pods before. Where do you get them and how much do they cost?

Arlin
 

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I like working with Banksia Pods as it's quite strong and unique. Nice job with this one!
 

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That is a true museum piece. Thanks for sharing.
 

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WOW Awesome job. Very impressive
 

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very nice, I like the use of the pod. I am impressed with your work.
 

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Beautiful result on this. I just happen to have one of those Banksia pods I bought about 17 years ago. That Banksia is really getting old! Your net handle sure gives me some great inspiration of how to use it. I bought it for turning, but after seeing your fine project, I see a lot more can be done with it.

I sure would appreciate it if you can tell me who you sourced the netting from?
 

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Like "TheWoodenOyster" quered yesterday, I like to know more about your stabilization process. Thanks!
 

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Amazing ! I could look at that all day.
two questions if you don't mind?
1. Whose net bag are you using? BRODIN?
2. What would a similar net cost ? One of yours of course!
thanks
 
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