Leader Furling Update

[rrhyne56]

I have found a tool that has sped up my leader furling greatly as well as turning out, in my opinion, a superior quality product.

I got it at Wal-Mart on a whim, as it was just under $25.00 including tax. "What the heck?" I thought, "I can always use it around the house for other things if its bogus for leader furling". Turns out its a killer appliance!

[url=http://www.blackanddecker.com/ProductGuide/Product-Details.aspx?ProductID=10951#:76980]Its the Black and Decker RTX-B rotary tool[/url:76980]

The lowest speed is 11,00 rpm (website says 12,000, oh well) and if I pay attention to what I am doing it cuts way down on the time to get a leader turned out.

Just thought I'd share.

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RRhyne56
[url=http://www.robinscustomleadersandflies.com:76980]http://www.robinscustomleadersandflies.com[/url:76980]
IM = robinrhyne@hotmail.com

[RG/AR]

My tool for twisting furled leaders is a small battery-operated electric fan, available in the camping dept. of Wal-Mart for about $1.50. Pull the fan blades straight off the shaft, it's just a friction fit. Then epoxy on a small section of brass tubing from an ink pen refill. Epoxy a small brass cup hook into that, and you're set to go. Total cost, less than $2.

[Kathy Scott]

Thanks for posting, both of you... I'm always searching for the best compromise. The personal fan I tried (probably not the one mentioned here) had so little power that it stalled out before achieveing a good tension/ frequency of twists, and the resulting leader was furled too loosely. Same for the hair-briader I tried. The drill I presently use is great, but I can get "tennis elbow" if I use it too much in one day.

Kat

[rrhyne56]

hi John

Sometimes I am in the process of making ten or twenty or more leaders and have found that battery-powered devices run down somewhere in the middle. I even tried using my wife's cordless power drill. it too ran down in the middle and I had to wait while the power pack re-charged.

So that is where I am coming from, there and having the motors burn out on me.

I suppose I am one of those folks who searches for the "bullet proof" solution. That and not being too good with rigging up devices such as you described. All thumbs here

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RRhyne56
[url=http://www.robinscustomleadersandflies.com:72d86]http://www.robinscustomleadersandflies.com[/url:72d86]
IM = robinrhyne@hotmail.com

[rrhyne56]

hey Kathy

I had never looked at it from that viewpoint but those drills can be a bit heavy can't they?

It couldn't hurt to buy one and save the receipt, give it a whirl (pun intended!)

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RRhyne56
[url=http://www.robinscustomleadersandflies.com:73e7f]http://www.robinscustomleadersandflies.com[/url:73e7f]
IM = robinrhyne@hotmail.com

[ducksterman]

So is that basically a Dremel tool?...differences?

Seems to me I saw in a picture someone had the handpiece [or whatever you call it] attachment set up to do the twisting?

[rrhyne56]

hey Ducksterman

the big difference is that this one cost me $25.00 and a Dremel starts out at $70 or $80

All I need is a reliable motor that will spin fast and not burn up on me. Those were the criteria I worked from. I was looking at Dremel tools in the hardware section of Wal Mart and whistling softly to myself regarding the cost. Then I saw this rascal and decided I'd give it a chance.

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RRhyne56
[url=http://www.robinscustomleadersandflies.com:c49f1]http://www.robinscustomleadersandflies.com[/url:c49f1]
IM = robinrhyne@hotmail.com

[lthrnk]

Kathy

I use an older Makita cordless drill and it is also pretty heavy but I found that if I just lay it down on its' side at the bottom of my board it works quite well. I also use a small spring on my hook in the drill to the leader. This takes up the slack and saves a lot of breakage.

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[flyDology]

heck, Ive always just used a variable speed drill. Never broke one and they always turn out perfect.

[rrhyne56]

flyDology

You are absolutely correct that the tried and true variable speed drill does the job just fine. I agree totally. But I was looking for a faster furl, that is my main thrust here, not taking so long to whip one out.

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RRhyne56
[url=http://www.robinscustomleadersandflies.com:fb7ae]http://www.robinscustomleadersandflies.com[/url:fb7ae]
IM = robinrhyne@hotmail.com