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Home DVD & Classes Landing Net Building Class: April 26 & 27, 2025
Landing Net Building Class: April 26 & 27, 2025

Landing Net Building Class: April 26 & 27, 2025

$300.00

I am planning a net building class the Weekend of April 26 and 27, 2025 at my home shop, in Grand Rapids.    

I have demonstrated landing net building and construction methods at a variety of fly shows and programs over the the years.   I have also offer weekend classes which are designed for a student to complete a landing net frame over 2 days. The classes cover design, wood selection, wood bending, gluing and machining as well as finishing. Small group classes are at my home shop in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and are limited to 4 students.  I also provide individual instruction at $600/day. ( A private class is 2 days, as that is the minimum time needed to build a net frame.) (The date of a class(es) are flexible, depending on the student(s). Please contact me to schedule your date. 

I will teach a class for 4 students: new dates pending.   The 2-3 day class will cover the basic construction methods. For students wanting addition teaching, the class will continue for an extra day covering finishing as well as some decorative details.  The fee is $300 per student/day.  ($600/student for the 2 day class and $900 for the 3 day class)  You do not need to pay the entire tuition at the time of signing up, please contact me to pay a deposit and check on class dates.)

Start time daily: 8:30 AM, 4:00 clean up and 5:00 departure. Lunch is provided.

Day 1:  Introductions, Net design, selection of woods for handle and hoop, making wood strips, bending strips, designing net mold.  Preparing materials for glue up. Discussion of options for clamping and glues. Gluing up of landing net. 

Day 2: Machining, shaping and sanding of net frame.  Preparation of the net for finishing. There will be a discussion of net bags and attachment options. (There will be a demonstration and hands on application of finish for student(s) that are not able to attend the 3rd day of class.)

Day 3:  The day starts with a discussion of epoxy its chemistry, its use as a wood finish, epoxies pitfalls and methods of work. The students will apply the finish to their nets. The students have the option of exploring decorative details or building additional shop jigs and fixtures, as time permits.  The class last until late afternoon.  Because the epoxy finish is not hardened by the time the class is finished, I send the student their net the following week.  Each student will construct their own rotational head stock fixture.  (Without the wood platform,  the wood head stock would be small enough to pack in luggage but can not be a carrying-on.)
The class will wind down by 4:00 but you can leave easily by noon if you have travel plans.)

I hope to see you in my shop and teach some of what I have learned after 30 years of making nets.

Overview of landing net construction

Easy methods of design

Quick and easy wood bending (no steam box)

Preserving symmetry with center lines and registration marks

Successful clamping and gluing of complex parts

Don’t worry about mistakes, your instructor has already made them all.

Please contact me directly to reserve your spot in one of my classes.

Key Points:

  • History of landing nets
  • Construction over view
  • An easy methods of design
  • Quick and easy wood bending
  • Preserving symmetry with center lines and registration marks
  • Successful clamping and gluing of complex parts
  • Machine safety and set up
  • Machining and shaping
  • Customizing and finishing. 

Again,  I am planning for another net building class for April 26 and 27th,  2025.   If you are interested please contact me before I set the date, I am open to your input.  I am also planning a 2 day Decorative techniques class for May 3 and 4th, 2025.  I will cover both Scrimshaw and brass wire inlay techniques.  (That class will follow the net building class.)

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