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Stripping basket cones

7K views 34 replies 10 participants last post by  John Desjardins 
#1 ·
For those in the northeast coastal scene who rely on stripping baskets, it's always a balancing act between good ol' yankee frugality in a $2 dishpan and the $30+ "O" model. Of course for simplicity there's nothing like the molded version at a cost, but for a few dollars per basket it's worth considering making ones own cone system.

The problem is finding the cones. My most recent experiment is to Marine Goop the glass portion of plastic martini glasses, which come in two parts, to the bottom of the inside of the basket. The total cost not including the belt (which I got free with waders) is about $4-5 or 6-7 for the price of one O basket.

I am starting with the cheapest plastic glasses but if the design performs well there are unbreakable martini glasses or plastic funnels available at higher cost.

I have no idea if this will pass muster but I will report on performance after a few days on the water and if it does not fall apart I will post the instructions for the $4 cone basket.

Problems I forsee are:

- shape of bottom contour not being completely flat
- brittle nature of cheap glasses verses more expensive plastics
- glue not holding plastic to plastic
- less durable

Strengths I expect:

- incredibly low cost, thus I can make up spares in a few minutes
- larger cone shape appears to work better than spikes
- much lighter weight

I am sure with some searching there are tupperware type durable cones out there. If so, then it's simply a matter of the fastening technique.

I have lost two of the "O" brand baskets over the last 2 years due to various circumstances and am resolute not to invest another $90-100 (I need three).

The screw-in or stick-in cones made for this purpose have not performed very well for me and I would like a better solution that is comparable or superior to the O cones.

If anyone's already come up with a frugal yet effective solution chime in!

 
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#2 ·
Or, if your company/organization has a Graphic Arts/Visual (whatever) department that uses adhesive back photobase, heavy coated paper, transparent sheet or what have you like the stuff Charrette sells, then you can scrounge the plastic tube ends, which are molded like an Atlas rocket nosecone, with a .250 flat flange. Cone measures 3.00" long X 1.875" dia. Flange is 2.50" dia. Cone shoulders off at 1.750 to a blunt tip of .5
 
#4 ·
Thanks for the suggestions!

I've got the inserts in another basket. The two-sided tape they provide should be discarded; I've since bought nylon screws with rubber washers to hold them in. Besides being very short cones, the insert plus fasteners costs 4 times the cost of the martini basket, approaching the Orvis basket in price, easier to go with the de facto basket and pay the $100 for three.

The individual screw-in cones are pretty good from the fly shows but cost a lot and require some effort. I can literally goop cones into the basket within a few minutes - the whole problem here is the lack of good cones, marine goop definitely does the trick and the rubbermaid basket is durable, light, and inexpensive.

Tried the mono loops and either I was doin' it wrong or they are a pain to insert! The bottoms hang out and catch the line from below, how aggravating. If the loops are not exactly the right length they bind the line. The problem there is not the loops, but the method of attachment. I did think about gooping small weed-wacker loop holder cones, but that's another experiment for another day and a lot harder than laying a bead of goop and plunking a cone into place.

Still laughing about the doggie comment! Keep your hands out of my basket! Sorry but I forgot to mention that I cut off the "nipples" with my dremel sidecutting disc after the photo. :p

Dfix - how many of those roll-ends can you get?
 
#7 ·
OK the glue dried so I gave it a whirl... too much LIFT AND SEPARATE! The four rotund boobies are much better than a flat surface but compared to the Orvis basket's cow udder they aren't enough.

I've spent a whole $4 in R&D and fallen short of the ultimate basket! :hehe: It's still better than flat, but my next test will be a better basket and will stay within my $5 budget.

TBD
 
#8 · (Edited)
Frankly, I LIKE the East Coast Fisherman setup, with the nylon screws, nuts and so forth - but what do I know??? (OKAY - NOBODY BETTER WEIGH IN ON THAT, OR ELSE !!!)

Juro, I've got nine in possession (took a good long while to collect them), and I really don't figure I'm gonna use them right now; you're welcome to them. I'm at the mercy of how much roll stock the guy uses; I'd think a contact at Charrette, where they do contract work for businesses, would produce more of them than we could effectively use, kinda like Nick's boxes :whoa: :devil:

Hey Juro - that thing looks like it oughta be on late-night pay TV :tsk_tsk:
 
#9 ·
Seriously....

Hey, guys... what about women's "falsies" for the cones?? I'm pretty sure they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Not sure if they would work or not, but just thought I would mention it.

(And if the fish aren't biting, make 'em removeable to rest your head on when you are taking a nap! Now THAT would be a dual-purpose luxury!)

BobK
 
#12 ·
Thermoforming....

Now that idea just might work. Of course, it depends on the plastic the basket is made of. And you would need a metal form to heat - that is the expensive part..

But sitting here and looking on the desk, I have a neat stack of plastic serving cups that they use to put ketchup in for kids lunches at school. (I got 'em from my wife for another project - it's OK, she got permission to bring 'em home).

While larger than plastic easter eggs, they would be too small - but if fastened them on the bottom of a plastic cup, and then turned the plastic cup upside down, that would make a good-sized (and cheap) "cone".

Just a thought!

BobK
 
#13 · (Edited)
Invisable waders are better:D ... Lets see... buy the pan... and then the cones... the glue..but wait..I better go to the hardware store and get some nuts and bolts.... wait.. do I need glue also?..that's only $3.... Should I buy the cones..or go to the party favor store and get the plastic Easter eggs... I can't!... the store is only open tomorrow.. but if I stop at K-mart for the basket, I can get the glue there and swing by the hardware store and then the party favor store... Easter is over..I hope they still have the eggs... oh no ! I forgot what I will need for a strap... well ,I can search the Garage for a couple hours and I am bound to find something..... Lets see.. I figure if I time everything right it might take me a day to do this ... the travel and building... what the heck ,what else do I do on Saturdays anyway... I could always spread the project out a couple nights and trips to the store after work.... Darn...I forgot a drill.... will I need a drill or a soldering iron?????........ You Know on second though ...I think I will swing by and buy a nice one for $40.00 at Orvis (it will probably be cheaper and if time is money then it will definitly be cheaper)... and I get a free membership to TU. (I think Mine has run out) and I will spend the day fishing instead.........:eyecrazy:;)
 
#14 ·
It could go that way, I agree. Or it could take 5 minutes and 5 bucks. So far I have been on the 5/5 plan.

I've already gone thru three Orvis baskets that flew out of the back of my truck or were left in parking lots while changing out of waders, etc. You seem to be able to hold onto yours longer and make it worth the investment. But if I buy three more (which I need) that would put me on the all-star team for glorified dishpan big spenders, triple digit stripping basket spenders' club, platinum.

I guess to me it's the principle. I want to find a solution to such an easy problem - putting a cone system into a dishpan, which is all the orvis basket really is except for the thermoforming. How friggin hard could it be? Believe me, given 6-8 of the right size, shape and material of cone and a tube of marine goop and you're done within 10 minutes. Yet thousands of anglers have yet to solve it in a complete and elegant manner.

I don't mind spending a huge chunk of change on a rod that casts itself, a reel that personifies form and function, even a pair of waders that won't let me down. Somehow I just can't see myself paying $120 for three dishpans!

The search continues...
 
#15 ·
Juro,

Have you tried using 200 lb. mono "straights" instead of the mono loops? This was reccomended to me over the winter and I'm going to try it this year. If you can't get the straights I beleive you can cut spooled mono into 6-8" strips and then immerse in very hot water and then cold to get the memory out. Then drill small holes in the bottom of the pan, thread the straights through and melt the mono and squash flat on the bottom.

I like the idea of the slight flexibility of the straights when the line comes ripping out of the basket. I will let you know how it works out as soon as I get a chance for some "field research" :D
 
#16 · (Edited)
The Easter Egg idea sucks, based on past experience.
Thermoforming would be nice if it were affordable.
Mono loops are a personal preference; right up there with Easter Eggs as far as I'm concerned.
Some people LIKE doing the 5/5 thing! :eek:

Hey, did anybody see that coffee-powered rocket ship that just went through here? :rolleyes: :hehe: Did it have a bunch of fishy looking bumper stickers on it ??? :chuckle:

Juro - Do you want the Atlas nose cones or not ? - gotta keep us 5/5 guys respectable, ya know...:smokin:
 
#18 ·
Ok...Ok.... Only if the coffee powered entity used a French Press... Yes, I have not lost my Basket...so it was $40... god knows when ,some time ago... the bumper stickers attribute to it longevity... Juro ,If it takes you such short time then I can't not differ with that... I will just buy another, if I lose it....OR if I run out of room for bumper stickers on my existing one.....Dave;)
 
#19 ·
What is this, "What's My Line" ???

Oh, then it must be back to me - "Ten Dollars, now, to Mr. Fix..."

[Mr. Fix] "Mystery Guest - is the object that we are to guess perhaps made of plastic; will it maintain contact with bumper stickers and do you agree that it is worth more than Ten Dollars?"
[Guest (in his best disguised voice)] "Mai Oui, Mon Ami!"
[Mr. Fix] "Is this object worth more than Twenty Dollars, including molding and straps?"
[G] "More."
[F] (under his breath - "in your opinion, yeah...") "Will it hold coffee or water while at the beach?"
[G] "Both; one would be spilled into and the other awash around, as well as inside."
[F] "Does one use these in the Northeast surf?"
[G] "Perhaps and No"

bbbzzzzzzzzzztttt
[Moderator] "Fifteen Dollars to Kitty Carlisle." :hehe:
 
#20 ·
Dave -

If you are certain you can spare them, I will give them a try! Thanks in advance. I have a few more $2 dishpans kicking around in the garage for experimentation purposes.

The problem with these is that the solution will not be repeatable - meaning no lack of appreciation of course. The ideal solution would be easy to re-create.

Thanks
 
#21 ·
"The problem with these is that the solution will not be repeatable...The ideal solution would be easy to re-create. "

"I'd think a contact at Charrette, where they do contract work for businesses, would produce more of them than we could effectively use, kinda like Nick's boxes"...

That might possibly be arrainged with a certain red-headed architect I know...getting on it. we can make THOUSANDS! Hundereds even.
 
#23 ·
dissapointed!?

signal: I have half a brain sometimes.

shot: it did cross my half-mind but I actually GOT the reference and can picture Kitty Carlisle wearing something with flowerey accessories, the set of the show and almost the moderator in his blue suit and wiiiide tie bold stripes like bad wallpaper in typical early 70's fashion and reconsidered - besides, any attempt to one up such an elegant dig would only do it an injustice...they'll be other threads, I'm trying to get a little more trecherous with my digs
 
#24 ·
Then you're WAY OFF !!!

'cuz I was in the Fifties version, even tho' it's memorable beyond...:chuckle:

Quick trivia question without looking it up in ancient internet trivia resources: What's the Host/Moderator's name in my timeframe?? Your Host/Moderator is Gary Moore.

This plug is made by Badger Plug, Greenville, Wisconsin. Made of HDPE, item # 123P21. Patent 5,351,825
 
#26 ·
How about Cigar tubes ?

A dab of superglue to seal the cap then marine goop to the base of the dishpan. I would be looking for a bit more surface area though - might not take much abuse.

Or there are those power drinks with the cone shaped caps (Red Bull taste-alike) - where's Roop when you nee him :devil: Very lightweight (drink the contents first) then glue the can plus cap to the base of the bowl.
 
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