The Net Building Process

Rogue Nets

Custom hand made wood landing nets made by Master Craftsmen Todd Inman.

My nets are made out of domestic and imported hardwoods, steamed and bent around a form. The hoops are then glued using waterproof glues, after drying for 72 hours they are planed or sanded flat and grooved for the netting. As the process of gluing a run of nets goes on I pick woods and layout handles for glue up. Ones handles have been glued and allowed to dry, they are planed smooth before being matched up with a hoop. Once I have paired a hoop to a handle the handle is cut and shaped to fit the hoop. When the joints are perfect with no air they are glue and clamped to complete the frame of the net. When they have been allowed to dry for a few days then it is time to shape them to the finished size. When they are sanded to a 120 grit finish it is time to drill holes in the hoop to attach the net be it nylon netting or the new fish friendly rubber netting that I prefer. After the hole are finished then the final sanding is done. I sand all the nets to 320 grit, then apply 5 coats of special oils that I have formulated to protect the wood by penetrating the wood, instead of being on the surface. This also allows for easy refinishing, if the net gets a little weathered from the elements. A light sanding and an application of teak, boiled linseed oil will bring the net back to new condition.