I"m looking for a fly turner for drying flies but really don't want to spend the money they go for. Any good ideas for a home made one and where did you get the parts :D :D
Thanks
Ken
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I"m looking for a fly turner for drying flies but really don't want to spend the money they go for. Any good ideas for a home made one and where did you get the parts :D :D
Thanks
Ken
Start with a BBQ motor from the thrift stores....I'll let others tell you the rest...and of course other ideas:cool:
I used a Mirrored ball motor I picked up at Spencer's Gifts for about $13 then just built a stand for it out of plywood and a piece of foam. Used epoxy to attach a bolt to the motor , to use for the foam to mount on. Heres a link to the motor. I picked one up at the store to save the postage.
Mirrored Ball
I'm an electronics nut, so this solution may not work for you.
Many hobby stores in metro areas (Radio Shack is a possibility) sell motor kits with gear reduction systems for under $10. Really, all you need is a DC motor (with an appropriate AC adapter) and a gear set that will give you a nice and slow (300-ish) revolutions per minute. I've seen kits that do this in kid-oriented science stores. Stuff a block of foam onto the drive shaft of the motor, and it's the same thing as a $60 plus drying system.
If you want to "tinker" go to the local Goodwill or Salvation Army store and pickup a child's motoroized car or truck. (They will look at you funny just as when you go into Michael's for fly tying things).
After striping down to the motor, gear box and axle; you will have all the parts to build a portable motorized dryer.
I used one wheel to hold a foam wheel and cut off the second wheel. By varying the number of batteries you can slow down or speed up the motor. You can get as fancy as you want with your design.
Mine cost $3.00 and a little time in the workshop..
I haven't used one myself but have been told that Microwave plate turner moters work well.
Eric
Gees, Normand, you never fail to amaze me with your knowledge of this FAOL website. WOW!
Bruce