The Cortez Conversions 'Classic Squidder' in 146 size is one of my favorite reels - thanks Tom! When Randy Pauly organised a couple of XN spools from Tiburon for me, my first thought was an XN Classic Squidder would be great. Tom has the side plates to fit Tiburon's frame on his to do list but I really like the profile of the classics so I decided to have a shot at making an XN classic frame. The first step was to bend a piece of 32 x 10mm 6061 aluminium to size - it's a bit tighter than the minimum bending radius recommended for bending 10mm sheet but I seem to have gotten away with bending the narrow flat bar.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/27/7995_19_03_19_4_54_50_273281797.jpeg)
10mm thick gave me room to allow for uneven bending and distortion of the bar - checking the piece is bent enough to cover the profile of Tom's frames;
(https://alantani.com/gallery/27/7995_19_03_19_4_55_07_273292293.jpeg)
Then square it up a bit on the belt sander;
(https://alantani.com/gallery/27/7995_19_03_19_4_55_32_273281004.jpeg)
Mark the inside diameter;
(https://alantani.com/gallery/27/7995_19_03_19_4_55_36_273311510.jpeg)
And start sanding with a 38mm dia sanding drum;
(https://alantani.com/gallery/27/7995_19_03_19_4_55_51_273321152.jpeg)
I checked how things were tracking as I went - still well inside the frame dia;
(https://alantani.com/gallery/27/7995_19_03_19_4_55_58_27333685.jpeg)
and still close to square;
(https://alantani.com/gallery/27/7995_19_03_19_4_56_20_273342302.jpeg)
I switched to a 50mm drum when I could fit it in the frame;
(https://alantani.com/gallery/27/7995_19_03_19_4_56_42_27335861.jpeg)
I'm not going to say this process was quick - it took hours. I kept the drums wet with RP7 to help keep the dust down - and building up on the drill table ;D
(https://alantani.com/gallery/27/7995_19_03_19_4_56_54_273361994.jpeg)
I'll post more photos soon and maybe try to focus on one project at at time ::) ;D
Mike
definitely following this :)
I've got my popcorn... ;D
Bring it on. Dominick
Yup I'll be watching,this looks good
Quotedefinitely following this :)
Yep, me too!
Thanks for the encouragement guys - it's still a fair way off being finished but it is a bit more advanced. When I made the drilling jig for the underhead surfmaster & squidder frame spacers and stands I included a template for the cortez squidder plate hole pattern at one end. Before drilling the side plate holes in the job, it was sanded to just under 1mm short of the final dia to allow for final sanding and finishing (the stops in the jig were located to allow for that);
(https://alantani.com/gallery/27/7995_20_03_19_1_06_40_27348605.jpeg)
And the jig assembled ready to drill the screw holes;
(https://alantani.com/gallery/27/7995_20_03_19_1_06_59_273491999.jpeg)
To help with shaping the outside of the frame, I made a couple of 2mm stainless templates of the Cortez frame to act as a filing / sanding guide for each end.
Marking the shape;
(https://alantani.com/gallery/27/7995_20_03_19_1_07_32_273501978.jpeg)
No project is complete without a bit of chain drilling :D
(https://alantani.com/gallery/27/7995_20_03_19_1_08_23_273522311.jpeg)
Checking the fit on Tom's frame as I went;
(https://alantani.com/gallery/27/7995_20_03_19_1_08_01_27351109.jpeg)
(https://alantani.com/gallery/27/7995_20_03_19_1_09_31_273542352.jpeg)
And screwed to the piece ready for filing and sanding;
(https://alantani.com/gallery/27/7995_20_03_19_1_09_03_273531635.jpeg)
(https://alantani.com/gallery/27/7995_20_03_19_1_10_20_273562107.jpeg)
And getting close to the final shape.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/27/7995_20_03_19_1_10_06_273552196.jpeg)
Next is to drill a few hole for the cut-out sections.
Mike
Next level work Mike!
Inspiring stuff Mike 8)
:o
QuoteQuote
definitely following this Smiley
Yep, me too!
Me three! This is too cool....
Bravo!
Thanks again guys. There has been a bit more progress with this - the next step was to mark the hole locations for the cut-out sections;
(https://alantani.com/gallery/27/7995_23_03_19_1_11_49_273651569.jpeg)
To 'mill' the slot for the foot, I tried using a 10 mm carbide burr in my drill press with the piece mounted on one of those cheap cross slide tables available on line. I didn't take photos of the process but the results were about as good as you would expect from a cheap press and cross-slide. I had drilled the bulk of the material in the middle before trying it - the bottom of the cuts were 'OK' but the edges wandered a fair bit;
(https://alantani.com/gallery/27/7995_23_03_19_1_12_12_273661543.jpeg)
The slot cleaned up with files and the holes to mount the foot tapped for 8-32 screws;
(https://alantani.com/gallery/27/7995_23_03_19_1_12_12_2736653.jpeg)
Test fitting with one of Tom's reel feet. Tom had sent me this foot to use on my underhead 501 stand but I ended up making a stainless one for that;
(https://alantani.com/gallery/27/7995_23_03_19_1_12_36_27368395.jpeg)
(https://alantani.com/gallery/27/7995_23_03_19_1_12_37_273691956.jpeg)
Trial assembly with the spool - after a bit more filing and sanding;
(https://alantani.com/gallery/27/7995_23_03_19_1_12_49_273701371.jpeg)
Another test fit after a bit more filing and sanding;
(https://alantani.com/gallery/27/7995_23_03_19_1_13_08_273712014.jpeg)
It's getting close but there is still a bit more fi....... never mind. :)
Looking forward to anodizing it soon - I'll probably stay with clear like the plates.
Mike
Quote from: mhc on March 23, 2019, 10:05:33 AM
It's getting close but there is still a bit more fi....... never mind
:D :D :D
Actually I shouldn't laugh, but that is one sentiment I can relate to.
Is going to be a work of art when finished!
Quote from: Rothmar2 on March 23, 2019, 12:01:24 PM
Actually I shouldn't laugh, but that is one sentiment I can relate to.
HaHa - yeah, I'm blaming you for showing me how it can be done if you take your time. As you said the other day - at least aluminium sands easier than stainless!
What a transformation Mike! I have a feeling you could make anything you want, just by using hand tools.
This is crazy talent.
Sal
Mike, Do you practice wizardry on the weekends? You're a sorcerer with metal and probably any other material too.
Really nice, precise work!
I can't help but wonder what you would come up with if you started from scratch and built your own reel. It's very difficult to sorta reverse engineer like your doing in making the parts match up with Tom's plates.
I love Tom's plates, so don't think I'm knocking them for a second, just wondering.
Thanks for showing how things are done,
Dom
MCH; You got that right. Stainless is hard to work with as far as tooling goes. If and when I get the time I'm going to setup my work shop in the basement with my son so I can start milling things. I have a two piece Gaff I am working on fabricating as a flying gaff. Some other gun work with my son Anthony witch is wanting to get into some gun smith fab work.
eventually Anthony is going to work the shop, I'm getting to old and crippled up anymore to do the heavy work.
Joe
Quote from: Alto Mare on March 23, 2019, 12:53:08 PM
I have a feeling you could make anything you want, just by using hand tools.
Quote from: broadway on March 23, 2019, 07:44:17 PM
I can't help but wonder what you would come up with if you started from scratch and built your own reel.
Thanks Sal & Dom, It would be nice to be able to make a complete reel and while it's true a lot of the basic parts can be made with simple tools, making precise components like side plates and spools need precision and control that is way beyond my crude capabilities, unfortunately! :(
I'll need to leave that to grown-up professionals with the expertise and machining equipment needed, people here like Tom H, Alan C and of course Robert Janssen, who have all made complete reels.
Quote from: Reel 224 on March 23, 2019, 08:40:06 PM
If and when I get the time I'm going to setup my work shop in the basement with my son so I can start milling things.
Sounds good Joe, I would love a lathe and milling machine but can't seem to justify buying them (and the tooling) to experiment on a couple of reels a year. :-\
Mike
Yes the expense is high if you don't have work for it.
Joe
The latest results of the DIY anodizing process I'm using has given me enough confidence to give this frame a 1 MIL thick clear coat to match the siver side plates that 'were' on my Cortez Conversions Classic Squidder 146;
(https://alantani.com/gallery/28/7995_19_05_19_3_59_14_280191703.jpeg)
(https://alantani.com/gallery/28/7995_19_05_19_3_59_00_280181691.jpeg)
These plates have the 'one piece dog and post' double dogs and Bryan Young five stack carbon drags installed;
(https://alantani.com/gallery/28/7995_19_05_19_3_57_36_280171022.jpeg)
And the finished reel ready to spool;
(https://alantani.com/gallery/28/7995_19_05_19_4_03_17_280222358.jpeg)
(https://alantani.com/gallery/28/7995_19_05_19_4_03_14_28021248.jpeg)
(https://alantani.com/gallery/28/7995_19_05_19_4_02_27_280201273.jpeg)
That just about wraps up this project for now - unless I think of a way to use the CC 146 frame.
Mike
Mike - mucho applause - fantastic work 8)
It looks spot on! Matches the plates to a TEE. What a collection of one-off reels you've built,waiting for the next episode! Thanks
Nice clean work and you showed us all that you can do this without expensive equipment.
Bravo!
Joe/Off the Hook Rod & Reel
Great work Mike, thanks for sharing it with us, cheers Don.
Congrats on your anodizing success Mike !!
Love the extra narrow cortez squidder. It's a home run !!
Ted
Beautiful work, Mike. I'm looking for a flaw, but can't seem to find one.
Like Sal has mentioned... Sure would love to see you build one from scratch. You certainly have the skills.
Sure can't wait to see a fish on the other end.
Super impressive,
Dom
Nice work Mike. You've created a beauty. Dominick
I have almost all of the colors of Tom' Squidders, yours will be hard to beat.
Amazing talent Mike!
Sal
Fantastic result Mike, I found this really interesting.
Thanks for sharing.
Col
That's a real (reel ;D ) beauty , silver color enhance the quality of your work , bravo !
Fantastic result for your efforts Mike, stunning!
Thanks guys, and thanks to Randy P for organising the XN spools with Tiburon and thanks to Tom for designing his Cotez Classic series in the first place - it's a lot easier to follow a proven design. It still took a fair bit of time though, as Chris has hinted at but I think it was worth the effort and I can't wait to try it - it has jumped the queue ahead of the other reels to test.
Mike
This is amazing! Great job!
Thanks, and welcome to the forum.
Mike
I am so jealous. ;D Fantastic work! Really stunning!
Santa's workshop! ;D