Turning Your Own Floats/Making the 75%’er
Okay, here goes. Items you’ll need:
- 3/4” diameter backer foam (Grey, preferably, as it is least visible in any water condition. Millions of Navy research dollars were spent long ago proving this fact.)
- razor knife
- 6” x 3/16” screw
- bodkin, ice pick or cut length of coat hanger (long poking tool)
- epoxy (5 minute Flex Coat rod building epoxy works great as it remains somewhat flexible for the life of the float)
- 1/8” O.D. plastic tube (The large diameter tube fly tubes are perfect as they’re fairly rigid and get a quick slide to target depth. The softer vinyl tubes that come in
dinks are slower to slip through with lighter offerings.)
- dip or spray Rubberize It or Plastic Dip (clear)
- white and fl. hot pink vinyl lure and jig paint
- horizontal mounted drill (with trigger lock) or lathe
Start by cutting foam to desired length with razor knife
Center hole with poker
Insert screw keeping centered
Put threaded end of screw in drill chuck or slide float onto lathe mounted rod.
Fire up drill and lock trigger or turn on lathe and begin shaping with coarse paper, switching to the finer to smooth finish.
Remove from turning unit, pull screw or rod from center. Cut plastic tube to length with razor knife and epoxy in place. (1/4” to ½” sticking out at top works best)
After epoxy is dry this is where option comes in. The shaped float if having a hairy or coarser finish than desired can be sprayed or dipped in the clear Plasti Dip or Rubberize It. This will also prevent the Vinyl Paint from reacting with the foam. If this step is done in cold conditions allow adequate dry time before hi-vis top paint is applied. (This step was not done in pics.) Note: Do all painting and dipping outdoors with plenty of ventilation!
Insert tooth pick in top of tube to prevent paint clogging. In photo float was dipped directly in white vinyl with 10 minute dry time then dipped in fl. Hot pink and allowed to dry 10 more minutes before tooth pick was removed. (This prevents paint from entering tube.)
Float is ready to fish, I use this 4” center slider with an in-line 3/8 oz. egg sinker the majority of the time, hence the name 75%’er.
Once you get going on this you’ll be amazed at how custom and inexpensive your floats will become. Cork and balsa floats can also be made on this same make shift setup with little extra effort. Hope this is a helpful tip.
Experiment is where it’s at, Joe
