I tried posting a few days ago with pics but it didn't work.
I picked up a 349/49 neptuna cradle not too long ago.
I picked up a reel (actually a few), slow speed gears, yokes and washers from Lee, high speed drags washers from Dawn (for a high speed gear-another reel), a reel with a newell spool from Randy, gear sleeve from Alan, a rainshadow forecast blank and fuji guides. Getting 2 349 frames from Tom for the extra reels. Thanks everyone....
Did not use the ferrules. I cut it out and epoxied the butt section and the rod section. For those doing the same, wrap and flex coat and then epoxy the rod. The offset was tough to accomodate on the drying motor.
The newell spool is a night and day difference from the stock heavy spool. I have 65 braid on it and I hope to use it for deepwater wreck fishing.
I will try to add pics separately in the reply to this.
Eugene
Getting the Newell spool is the trick, makes it a whole different reel almost
Eugene just sent me a few photos to post, let's take a look...
(https://alantani.com/gallery/36/7588_06_02_22_4_46_30.jpeg)
(https://alantani.com/gallery/36/7588_06_02_22_4_46_16.jpeg)
And a close-up of both the Neptuna 349 Cradle build AND Eugene!!!!
(https://alantani.com/gallery/36/7588_06_02_22_4_45_46_362862090.jpeg)
Tell us more of what we are viewing!!!!
Wayne
Thanks Wayne for posting these.
You will see I use epoxied cord for all my grips. I like these way more than hypalon or Eva. If you are not using a gimble, the butt needs to be very long. Leave it long and cut it back. Trust me..lol As you see the first guide is very low because the center of the reel is very low. Swami, the Newell spool is night and day and more so in the cradle. Previous posts discuss slippery hands on the cradle so I used shrink tubing below the reel to help control that. I went with a non NCP thread for more strength on the wraps. I kept it simple and if I can get some weather, I will give it a test drive...
Hope this is helpful.. BTW, I shot that buck..
Eugene
Looks great ! Can you go into more detail on how you did the "cord" grips ?
Sure.
I wrap Atwood rope company 1/4 inch poly (non-rotting) cord on the rod and tie my knots to the way I like it. I take the cord off and mix 30 or 60 min epoxy. I coat the blank where the grip will be and wrap it in with pressure and I keep the cord wraps tight together. Helps to have an extra person spin the rod. When you get to the knots, lay extra epoxy on the the surfaces to knot and tie it wet. Trim the end and hit it with a lighter to shrink in a bit. Then coat all holes with epoxy and wipe off the excess with an acetone rag. For the butts, I like to put a butt cap over the cord if the rod is not to thick. Very durable and doesn't slip.
For those who don't like knots on the grip, cut a piece of shrink tubing and slide it over the end of the cord and heat it. It will be smoother if you like that.
Eugene
Eugene:
1) Sweet cradle rig! Would love to see close-ups.
2) Sweet buck!
3) Love to see pics on your rigs in the stand. I do the same, with various cord- epoxy and spin it on. I might even put shrink over all of it on occasion, grippiest grip out there.
John
Quote from: jigmaster501 on February 07, 2022, 05:40:33 PM
Sure.
I wrap Atwood rope company 1/4 inch poly (non-rotting) cord on the rod and tie my knots to the way I like it. I take the cord off and mix 30 or 60 min epoxy. I coat the blank where the grip will be and wrap it in with pressure and I keep the cord wraps tight together. Helps to have an extra person spin the rod. When you get to the knots, lay extra epoxy on the the surfaces to knot and tie it wet. Trim the end and hit it with a lighter to shrink in a bit. Then coat all holes with epoxy and wipe off the excess with an acetone rag. For the butts, I like to put a butt cap over the cord if the rod is not to thick. Very durable and doesn't slip.
For those who don't like knots on the grip, cut a piece of shrink tubing and slide it over the end of the cord and heat it. It will be smoother if you like that.
Eugene
I just wrap the cord on the blank and then saturate it with either epoxy or varnish. It soaks down to the core and will not be going anywhere.
Good job on build....love the Nep-Tunas....Bill
I will finally be using my cradle on jeffries ledge for haddock on the eastmans fleet. Finally....
NICE!!!!
Quote from: jigmaster501 on July 16, 2022, 11:44:15 PMI will finally be using my cradle on jeffries ledge for haddock on the eastmans fleet. Finally....
Nep Tuna cradle.jpg
Here I am on Eastman's boat The Merrilee with a couple Cod that had to go back. Fishing with a Nep-Tuna cradle with a 4/0 Senator in it. Good luck on the Haddock and tell Phill John Taylor said Hi !!! John