FLY OF THE WEEK - flyslinger's Foil Pencil Popper

Re: FLY OF THE WEEK - flyslinger's Foil Pencil Popper

feeds@yuku.com (flyslinger) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 07:00:31 GMT

Actually tiptop, in one block of balsa you will find many different densities. They all float well though. Much better than their plastic counterparts. I had soft, medium and hard balsa in the first dozen plugs I cut from the block. The soft ones do float higher, but will crush in a redfish jaws more easily. They still bite after the popper get ratty looking though. As a matter of fact, you can still catch fish after all the finish is worn off.

Re: FLY OF THE WEEK - flyslinger's Foil Pencil Popper

feeds@yuku.com (CrustyBugger) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:16:43 GMT

Holy Crap, with that process they should cost $50 apiece. Very nice. Very, very nice. Those are family heirlooms in and of themselves.

CrustyBugger

Re: FLY OF THE WEEK - flyslinger's Foil Pencil Popper

feeds@yuku.com (tiptop) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 06:42:31 GMT

Don't know if it would make a difference in durability or floatability, but I found out years ago that the balsa in the racks at the hobbly store varies a lot in density. I guess where in the tree it comes from or maybe growing conditions make a difference. The lightest balsa can weigh as little as 1/3 of what the heavier balsa weighs. The heavier material is way stronger and less crushable. Don't know which would be best for the poppers -- maybe wood of average density so you get...

Re: FLY OF THE WEEK - flyslinger's Foil Pencil Popper

feeds@yuku.com (flyslinger) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:24:39 GMT

Gentlemen, it was my pleasure.

Dirk

Re: FLY OF THE WEEK - flyslinger's Foil Pencil Popper

feeds@yuku.com (jgestar) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 17:58:41 GMT

Rocky,

Welcome to the Fiberglass Flyrodders! You are right, this is a sweet thread. These poppers remind me of my favorite ultralite spinning lure, the Rebel Teeny Pop-R.

By the way, that's a nice looking fly you have for an avatar.

Tom

Re: FLY OF THE WEEK - flyslinger's Foil Pencil Popper

feeds@yuku.com (Rockthief) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 17:09:14 GMT

completely impressive tutorial and product. Major kudos to you and thank you. I was fascinated frm beginning to end

Re: FLY OF THE WEEK - flyslinger's Foil Pencil Popper

feeds@yuku.com (Maley) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:56:36 GMT

That is SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks

Rocky

Re: FLY OF THE WEEK - flyslinger's Foil Pencil Popper

feeds@yuku.com (dave potts) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 08:26:04 GMT

Those are truly impressive poppers and also an excellent tutorial. Thanks for the time and effort in posting it.

Dave

Re: FLY OF THE WEEK - flyslinger's Foil Pencil Popper

feeds@yuku.com (rvreclus) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 10:28:30 GMT

Flyslinger,
Outstanding tutorial, a great look at your creative process, the result is a great popper. Thank you rvreclus

Re: FLY OF THE WEEK - flyslinger's Foil Pencil Popper

feeds@yuku.com (flyslinger) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:39:03 GMT

You can either mix your 30 minute epoxy in a plastic cup or you can make your own cup from foil by pressing a small doubled square around the bottom of a pill bottle as I did here. Mix about fifteen drops of resin with the equal amount of hardener. If you would like, and can find some very fine pearl colored glitter, you can mix it in now. I use a metal or plastic rod to stir the two parts until the resulting mixture turns clear. I don't thin my epoxy because I like a thicker shell...

Re: FLY OF THE WEEK - flyslinger's Foil Pencil Popper

feeds@yuku.com (scud dog) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:08:17 GMT

That's slick! I'm impressed with your techniques and the tutorial.

Re: FLY OF THE WEEK - flyslinger's Foil Pencil Popper

feeds@yuku.com (flyslinger) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:16:51 GMT

Using the waterproof craft pens lay a base coat of color on the foil. Use a darker color to shade the top section, then use a black one on the very top. If you want you can use a small section of wet sponge and some acrylic paint in different colors for different effects.

Paint the...

Re: FLY OF THE WEEK - flyslinger's Foil Pencil Popper

feeds@yuku.com (flyslinger) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:51:38 GMT

If you still have a deep groove in the bottom of the popper body, you could either apply more glue or use wood putty to fill it in. It doesn't have to be perfect, but a deep groove may show in the finished product.

Make a cardboard template to use as a guide for cutting your foil to cover the balsa. It should look something like this.

Re: FLY OF THE WEEK - flyslinger's Foil Pencil Popper

feeds@yuku.com (flyslinger) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:22:23 GMT

Using light strokes with the sandpaper, smooth off ragged edges at the face. Be careful not to change the angle or take off too much material.

Hold the body in one hand and the grinding attachment in the other, make a concave shape in the face.

Re: FLY OF THE WEEK - flyslinger's Foil Pencil Popper

feeds@yuku.com (flyslinger) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:06:01 GMT

Put the blank in the carpenters pencil sharperner and turn until the balsa is almost too short to grasp. Make 3 final turns in the opposite direction to smooth out some of the roughness.

Sanding with the grain, smooth out the blanks into a bullet...

Re: FLY OF THE WEEK - flyslinger's Foil Pencil Popper

feeds@yuku.com (flyslinger) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:24:35 GMT

I like a 15 degree slant on the front of my poppers. To make this cut consistently I make a form from hardwood to make things go faster. Take a piece of hardwood that measures 1 x 1 x 6 inches, wrap it in a rag and clamp it in a vise or other device to hold it steady. Mark the center of the end of the wood and drill a small pilot hole about 1/8" in diameter and about 3 " deep.

...

Re: FLY OF THE WEEK - flyslinger's Foil Pencil Popper

feeds@yuku.com (flyslinger) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:48:57 GMT

In this first installment, I will go over the tools and materials needed to make these poppers. There are several items you will need to make that will go into your "kit" that you can use each time you assemble a batch. You will also need to have some sort of motorized device to turn your flies after you epoxy them. I use a rod building jig with a motor. If you don't have something to keep turning the epoxy while it is curing, it will sag and become a mess and all your hard...

Re: FLY OF THE WEEK - flyslinger's Foil Pencil Popper

feeds@yuku.com (flyslinger) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 18:32:59 GMT

Sure. What I'll do is post in a series. I want to say from the outset that there are several methods that can be used to get the same results. I will show the methods I use. I just got some of the last materials together this afternoon to make a new batch. The first post will be materials and tools needed. You have to make one tool and I'll tell how.

Dirk

Re: FLY OF THE WEEK - flyslinger's Foil Pencil Popper

feeds@yuku.com (thousandstar) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 12:51:27 GMT

could you post a few "how to" picks?

Re: FLY OF THE WEEK - flyslinger's Foil Pencil Popper

feeds@yuku.com (flyslinger) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 08:56:56 GMT

Thanks for the kind words. I am currently using Mustad 34011.

FLY OF THE WEEK - flyslinger's Foil Pencil Popper

feeds@yuku.com (flyslinger) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:13:15 GMT

These are great for redfish and bass. They are carved and shaped from a solid piece of balsa, covered with foil and epoxied. They are lighter than they look and cast easily with a 7 or 8 wt. rod. I tie them in batches of a dozen. Getting ready to do some more for redfishing and speckled trout in the surf.