STEP 1: Ripping lumber into bendable strips. I start by ripping selected pieces of wood into strips. Thinner strips enable me to use as many as 7 layers to form the wood frame, which makes a markedly stronger net than what is typically found on the market.

STEP 2: Making the handle. Selecting from amongst the nicest figured wood I can find, I carefully choose the handle wood for its outstanding visual characteristics. Highly figured wood such as curly walnut (Shown Below), birds-eye maple, and ribbon mahogany make stunning handles. I may or may not make the handle from glued up components. This is where the artist in me gets to play! Handles can be long, short, round, square, whatever! I rough out the handle with planes and the band saw, and then smooth out on a belt sander.

 

  

STEP 3: Glue Up. Gluing up is probably the most critical (and often most stressful) time of making a landing net. Time is not on my side as I paint on a water-proof glue onto both sides of six or seven 5-6'strips, and onto the sides of the handle. Beginning at the top of the net, I begin bending and clamping until it is completely clamped around its form. It is an exercise in clamp-em-all-ogy! This is where you need clamps, and a lot of them!

 

STEP 4: Forming the net to final shape. I let the net dry a solid 24 hours. I plane off any excess wood and glue, remove from the jig, and then begin the sanding process. I first sand on the belt sander at 120 grit to get it flat and to remove any excess glue. After rough sanding, I begin the handle shaping process.   This may involve, scraping, rasps, files, and sandpaper, but every net is shaped to be ergonomic and aesthetically pleasing. I route a groove for retaining cord to be inset on the outside of the hoop. This keeps it from getting abraded during use. One by one, holes are hand-drilled to accommodate the net. Finally, the net is hand sanded to 150 grit, 180 grit, 220 grit, 320 grit, finally to 400 grit for an extremely smooth feel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STEP5: Finishing. I use a proprietary mix of oils that are hand rubbed onto each net. First 3-6 coats of a penetrating oil mixture are put on over a day’s time.  This makes the grain really pop.  After it thoroughly dries, I add a small amount of spar varnish with UV inhibitors to this oil mix. The net again gets 3-5 coats to help build a film. Finally, that blend receives carnuba wax into the finish. Carnuba wax is a very hard wax and can be buffed to produce an amazing, silky smooth finish. After a few coats of this over a couple of days, the frame is ready for a net, or bag as we call them.

 

 

 

Some clients request custom inlays of Copper, Brass, Aluminum, or Wood. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STEP 6: Sewing on a net and tying the lanyard. Each net is secured to its hoop using very strong and rot resistant string. After that, I hand tie a lanyard onto the handle and we are done!