DIY Ledger Stems

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Andrew
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DIY Ledger Stems

Post by Andrew »

Simple, cheap, strong and quick to make. This was passed down to me by my old pal Poachmiester.

Using john roberts "rigid rig tube" you get 3 x 20inch lengths for Β£2.60 I made two stems from one length or 3 small, what ever takes your fancy.

Dont need pics to describe this but Im bored so here we go.

what you need:

rigid rig tube
popup ball/foam
curtain rings
knife/hacksaw
pliers
nail varnish (optional)

1. needed.JPG

Cut tube to required length and get a shallow mug of boiling water. place one end of the tube in to the boiling water for 1-2 minutes. we dont want to melt the plastic, just soften it. thats why I wouldnt use a lighter.
2. heat plastic.JPG
Take your tube out and gently grip it with your pliers near the heated end and screw in your curtain ring by hand as far as it will go. by not using pliers you cant really get a good grip. try not to damage the tube with pliers. if its

hard to screw in put it back in the boiling water.

Important(im certain): cool the plastic down running it under a cold tap. I cant explain it but im sure this makes it shrink faster making a better mating :shrug: I never asked I just asumed.
3. screw in eye.JPG
slide on a popup of your choice, before pusing it to the top I blob on a little bit of nail varnish just to keep it at the top and push the popup far enough that it masks the bottom of the curtain ring (keeps line away from it, probably overkill)
4. slide on popup.JPG
take it out and secure the last curtian ring the same as before
5. heat the other end.JPG
Job done, total cost about a quid each.........or less :scratch:
6. job done.JPG
I tested them just to check when they would actually break.

I attached split rings to either end and incremenetally increasing the weight and each time I would slowly lift weight, shake weight, jerk up, and yank up of the floor quickly.

doing the above with each weight

11lb
16lb
22lb
30lb

As I lifted 30lb it held, so I shook it, jerked it up and down and it still held together so sat it down on the floor yanked it hard up of the floor and thats when it broke at the top of the ledger but not before actaully getting 30lb of weight up off the deck.
7. the break.JPG
No big deal though ill just reheat and screw back in the curtain ring :grin:

When I mentioned these a while ago I got a pm from someone who tried it but the curtain rings were too big and even the JRbeads would pass through it. must be pretty big rings them. the ones I got were off those wooden curtain pole hoop thingies. ive accumulated a carrier bag full oif them over the years and are an ideal size and havnt had a problem with beads.
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Nige Johns
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Re: DIY Ledger Stems

Post by Nige Johns »

Andrew been making my own for 25yrs
Same stems,just glue a large sea swivel in the top of the polyball
And a really small one into the other end if the stem,re-enforce it with a piece if shrink tube and bobs yer furkin
I also attach a long weak link to the bottom swivel and use as a paternoster,it works a treat
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Jason Skilton
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Re: DIY Ledger Stems

Post by Jason Skilton »

Great idea Andy, I tend to use a mono weak link running though the middle, normally only lose the lead
Pikemonkey
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Re: DIY Ledger Stems

Post by Pikemonkey »

Thanks Andy for that. Great idea.
Made one the other day out of 1.5mm stainless steel welding rod, bent double at both ends and finished with trace sleeves.
But much prefer what you've described.
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Rab Russell
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Re: DIY Ledger Stems

Post by Rab Russell »

Nice job andy i like them mate
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The predator
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Re: DIY Ledger Stems

Post by The predator »

Good post Andy.
What colour nail varnish do you use? :coat:
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Andrew
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Re: DIY Ledger Stems

Post by Andrew »

The predator wrote: ↑Fri Jan 15 2016 18:00 -
Good post Andy.
What colour nail varnish do you use? :coat:
pink to make the big girls wink :wink:
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Re: DIY Ledger Stems

Post by RAB-HENDO »

Just a tad late wae the reply. FfsπŸ™„πŸ™„πŸ™„πŸ‘πŸ»
DANCES WAE PIKE
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Andrew
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Re: DIY Ledger Stems

Post by Andrew »

RAB-HENDO wrote: ↑Thu Nov 02 2017 19:20 -
Just a tad late wae the reply. FfsπŸ™„πŸ™„πŸ™„πŸ‘πŸ»
I know :giggle:

Only seen it when looking for the link to this topic :red:
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