FrenchieBoy
Well-Known Member
As some of you will know I am trying my hand at tying purse nets. Now that I have stopped shooting all together I wanted a "hobby" that would help me to keep in touch with "Fieldsports" and give me something to occupy my spare time (Which I have quite a lot of) and maybe be able to sell the finished product to at least cover the costs of the materials used. There is a fair possibility that I will (In time) start ferreting again myself and will obviously be using my own nets!
OK, so how did I start to get into Purse Net making?
I bought the needles (5 x 8" needles for £6.00 delivered) and I made the spacer "bods" from an old plastic number plate from the scrap yard which cost me nothing - I now have a set of 2", 2&1/8", 2&1/4 inch and 2&1/2 inch - I seem to be using the two and one eight inch needle all the time for my 4 foot purse nets.
Knives were simply no problem as I still have half a dozen left from when I was shooting, all of which are shaving sharp - My favourite to use while net making is my Opinel.
To tie the nets I use a small modelers vice fixed on to a work surface with a large hook eye fixed into it, and of course a gas lighter to seal and stop the ends of the thread and paracord from fraying.
I started with a pack of 50 x 1" welded rings, a couple of spools of Spun Polyester (In what I believe is s10 thickness @ £12.50 each and a dream to work with) one in Burned Orange and one in Fluro Yellow (I have now found a supplier in China that sells what looks like the exact same spun poly that I am using for the coloured nets at about a quarter of the price including delivery - I have ordered a couple of spools and will say what it is like once it arrives) and a spool of 3mm Paracord in Bright Orange @ £7.95 for a 100 meter spool.
My first couple of nets left a "little to be desired" as I was not getting the knots quite right all of the time and some of them were slipping and making a total mess of the net, all too often too late once I realised, but then I got the hang of it by using tho old "More haste less speed" and found that I was able to turn out a 4 foot purse net that was of good quality in just over an hour.
To try to keep the costs down I came across some Spun Polyester (In grey, the only colour available) which was advertised as 8s for £14.95 for 3,200 meters. I ordered a spool of it but was a bit disappointed when it arrived as it looked more like 6s and a little too thin for my liking. However I tied some nets with it and they turned out looking quite good, even if they did look a little "flimsy". However I sent one of these nets to Aaron (A SD member who is relatively local to me and knows his ferreting) and asked him if he would give an honest and (If need be) harsh appraisal of it. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised at the appraisal he gave, part of which I am sure he will not mind me posting here which reads:
"Good evening frenchie,, your net got delivered today ,and I must say hand on heart it was very well made , cant believe you have just started !!! All knots tight and in line ,,,,very tidy I must say , I can honestly say I had nets made from nylon that thin i had no issues with them , true heavier nylon would be a preference, but i would be happy to use those "
The only thing that I would say about using the thinner spun poly is that because it is finer than what I usually use I have to slow down a bit or it is very easy to pass the needle through the wrong part of the mesh that you are tying - I guess that's something to do with the years catching up and the etes not as good as they used to be!
Anyway, I will not waffle on any longer, here are a few photos of the nets that I am turning out:
First is the spool of what is supposed to be 8s - To help put the size into perspective it is my wife's hand that is holding it, it really is quite a large spool!
Next is one of the purse nets made from this spun poly (Which is complete and just waiting for me to fit the draw cord and peg.
The following photo is of one of the "Dual Colour" nets that I really love making and like the look of
Finally, again to help put things into perspective the last photo is of the Dual Coloured net and one of the "thinner" material nets slightly overlaid to show the thread size difference.
I ought to add that I have a load of plastic 6" pegs to fit onto the nets to complete them.
I would welcome members thoughts on what they think about the different diameter spun poly I have used, and of course any other thoughts or comments they might also like to add. I am more than happy to throw this thread wide open for all talk about net making and for any thoughts or observations members have! Please feel free to contribute guys!
Please note that I am not a "Trade Member" and as such I will not be selling any of the nets I make on The Stalking Directory as I do not want to fall foul of the rules nor do I wish to upset anyone who might think that if I did I should take up "Trade Membership". This is nothing more than a hobby for me which if I did sell any it would not be to make my first million, just to recover the costs of the materials involved. All I am doing is tying two or three nets a day to keep myself occupied!
OK, so how did I start to get into Purse Net making?
I bought the needles (5 x 8" needles for £6.00 delivered) and I made the spacer "bods" from an old plastic number plate from the scrap yard which cost me nothing - I now have a set of 2", 2&1/8", 2&1/4 inch and 2&1/2 inch - I seem to be using the two and one eight inch needle all the time for my 4 foot purse nets.
Knives were simply no problem as I still have half a dozen left from when I was shooting, all of which are shaving sharp - My favourite to use while net making is my Opinel.
To tie the nets I use a small modelers vice fixed on to a work surface with a large hook eye fixed into it, and of course a gas lighter to seal and stop the ends of the thread and paracord from fraying.
I started with a pack of 50 x 1" welded rings, a couple of spools of Spun Polyester (In what I believe is s10 thickness @ £12.50 each and a dream to work with) one in Burned Orange and one in Fluro Yellow (I have now found a supplier in China that sells what looks like the exact same spun poly that I am using for the coloured nets at about a quarter of the price including delivery - I have ordered a couple of spools and will say what it is like once it arrives) and a spool of 3mm Paracord in Bright Orange @ £7.95 for a 100 meter spool.
My first couple of nets left a "little to be desired" as I was not getting the knots quite right all of the time and some of them were slipping and making a total mess of the net, all too often too late once I realised, but then I got the hang of it by using tho old "More haste less speed" and found that I was able to turn out a 4 foot purse net that was of good quality in just over an hour.
To try to keep the costs down I came across some Spun Polyester (In grey, the only colour available) which was advertised as 8s for £14.95 for 3,200 meters. I ordered a spool of it but was a bit disappointed when it arrived as it looked more like 6s and a little too thin for my liking. However I tied some nets with it and they turned out looking quite good, even if they did look a little "flimsy". However I sent one of these nets to Aaron (A SD member who is relatively local to me and knows his ferreting) and asked him if he would give an honest and (If need be) harsh appraisal of it. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised at the appraisal he gave, part of which I am sure he will not mind me posting here which reads:
"Good evening frenchie,, your net got delivered today ,and I must say hand on heart it was very well made , cant believe you have just started !!! All knots tight and in line ,,,,very tidy I must say , I can honestly say I had nets made from nylon that thin i had no issues with them , true heavier nylon would be a preference, but i would be happy to use those "
The only thing that I would say about using the thinner spun poly is that because it is finer than what I usually use I have to slow down a bit or it is very easy to pass the needle through the wrong part of the mesh that you are tying - I guess that's something to do with the years catching up and the etes not as good as they used to be!
Anyway, I will not waffle on any longer, here are a few photos of the nets that I am turning out:
First is the spool of what is supposed to be 8s - To help put the size into perspective it is my wife's hand that is holding it, it really is quite a large spool!
Next is one of the purse nets made from this spun poly (Which is complete and just waiting for me to fit the draw cord and peg.
The following photo is of one of the "Dual Colour" nets that I really love making and like the look of
Finally, again to help put things into perspective the last photo is of the Dual Coloured net and one of the "thinner" material nets slightly overlaid to show the thread size difference.
I ought to add that I have a load of plastic 6" pegs to fit onto the nets to complete them.
I would welcome members thoughts on what they think about the different diameter spun poly I have used, and of course any other thoughts or comments they might also like to add. I am more than happy to throw this thread wide open for all talk about net making and for any thoughts or observations members have! Please feel free to contribute guys!
Please note that I am not a "Trade Member" and as such I will not be selling any of the nets I make on The Stalking Directory as I do not want to fall foul of the rules nor do I wish to upset anyone who might think that if I did I should take up "Trade Membership". This is nothing more than a hobby for me which if I did sell any it would not be to make my first million, just to recover the costs of the materials involved. All I am doing is tying two or three nets a day to keep myself occupied!
