Flyfishing rod tube No2

[TomSwede]

Tom, you did it again! WOW! Super awesome. I'm in with the others, just loooove the braided handle and the overall design. Keep up the great work, Tom, you're an inspiration to us all

Thank you Myriam, that's a very nice thing to hear, ya' know!

I just love to work with leather so I will definetly keep doing it.

Beautiful job Tom. I really like all the braiding, that main seam is amazing. I have done very little braiding myself but I would like to learn. Any resources you can suggest? Keep up the good work. -Matt

Thank you MJ!

The mainseam is quite a job, labourwise and a mexican basketweave/roundbraid is always nice but takes some time. 7-8 hours roughly, could be a bit more, just depends on how good a movie I'm watching while braiding. The orange braid is the same but laid out flat and I skipped the crossing under when the lace comes around it's second pass thus creating this fishbone effect (with a little help from antiquing after colouring).

http://www.btinternet.com/~kingsmerecrafts/page100.html

is where I learned the mexican BW, study this and practice and then go back to read about the orange braid and you'll get the idea.

The start is tricky with braids but double loop, triple loop and this one is really easy to perform once the start is done, cornering is also hard and I've been ducking for that, gotta practice more with it when the time comes.

You'll find the other types I mentioned on kingsmere site aswell.

Good luck!

Tom

[mjhayesleather]

Thanks for the help Tom. Thats a great site. -Matt

[MadTailor]

So finally got this tube together.

Black and orange theme inspired from the old videogame Ataris logotype with an added thingy on the cap. Just wanted a design with clean lines, center one is extrovert and the sides are introvert beveling.

The cap is built around the vinyl liner (I'd rather call it innertube, but it's a liner in the cap) to act as a friction lock and a simple cord on the back. It won't come off in normal use since the vinyl is lots of friction.

Basic idea with a friction lock is to rid those sometimes bold looking topstrap and buckles that can really mess up a neat design.

It houses a 3 split 10 ft rod.

Tom

The whole piece is very nice, I lke how pretty the handle is. Really stands out. Any time you want to pick it up you will be happy looking at the intricate lace. Sweet dude.

[Kevin King]

that is very very nice Tom. I am very impressed

KK

[TomSwede]

The whole piece is very nice, I lke how pretty the handle is. Really stands out. Any time you want to pick it up you will be happy looking at the intricate lace. Sweet dude.

that is very very nice Tom. I am very impressed

KK

Thank you Madtailor and Kevin!

Just got word that it has reached the final owner as his birthday gift and he totally loved it. Phew..He's been dabbling a bit with various crafts and some with leathers but is really is a great painter. Extra nervous wich such guys since they got a good eye for the details.

Now I gotta catchup with all the must do's in ordinary life that got put on hold lest two weeks and Friday I head off to Scotland for a week. Lots of whiskydrinking, explicit environment and I'm sure my sketchbook has some new influences for the next one.

Big thanks to all who commented on the tubes, you really have made my rod tube makings a journey that will continue into the future!

Tom