fish netting help!

alright i want to apologize if this is in another thread , but i couldn't find it i am trying to make a glass float lamp and am having trouble finding netting to hang it up in does anyone know any books or such that teach you how to rig netting up? also does anyone know how much the float lamps go for at OA do they have faux or only authentic?

i thank you in advance for any help you that can be provided

lots of good juju!

Here's some old threads:
http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=7366&forum=1&hilite=knot%20book
http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?mode=viewtopic&topic=8725&forum=18&start=15&hilite=knot%20tying
http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=18022&forum=7&hilite=knot%20tying

Remember to use the search feature

buy the Ashley book of knots:
http://www.amazon.com/Ashley-Book-Knots-Clifford/dp/0385040253/ref=pd_sim_b_img_5

it has every knot for every function.

The fish float lamps at OA were going for around $135 or so. I used to make them for OA and, unfortunately I can no longer supply them for OA. They may have one or two of mine left. Unless they've found another provider, I doubt that they have any for sale, but you can always call and ask. They have a bunch of original vintage globe lights, but they are not for sale.

for net - any shell shop or beach decore shop will sell little bags of fish netting you can do an online search or ebay search and find tons. Or, try minnies in Newport Beach- http://www.minneysyachtsurplus.com/

That first thread is what started me.
Just buy some thick jute twine.
Get a glass ball and start tyeing.
The ball is about 2 bucks the jute is 2 bucks.
You may lose 4 bucks.
Remember make the strands long, 250 feet is 2 bucks.
It makes about 1.5, 3 inch floats.
As you tye these balls you will get an idea how long everything should be.
Some people can do this some can't.
It will cost you four bucks to find out.
Good Luck!!!

Once you learn how to tye these floats you can tye
any glass, and make lights like this as well.

[ Edited by: tikiskip 2016-02-02 07:17 ]

wow thank you for all the info, i bought a glass round light fixture from home depot and try spray painting it needless to say the paint looked like hell and kept flaking off any special type of spray?

michaels carries "stain glass" spray, that works pretty good after a couple of coats. Seal it with a spray polyurithane or varathane and keep it indoors and it shouldn't flake.
http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=25185&forum=5&vpost=328683&hilite=thatch%20lights

this takes you to a picture of a float I used the stain glass spray on. View entire thread for more info about floats (and cool pictures of tikiskip's stuff!)

thanks Polynesiac do you think the glass lighting fixtures are the best way to go or is there a better alternative an its not clear it is a white glass plus i am having a hell of a time mounting a light into it i was thinking about using a hard plastic to put the socket it and somehow make it stick to the opening of the ball

thanks

The white plastic ball at home depot would require no spray - just a colored bulb (VERY low wattage - you don't want the plastic melting,) Just make some kind of fitting (like out of wood) to hold the socket and have it rest on top of the hole.

IKEA actually makes a light that would work perfect for what you are doing. It's about a 10" diameter globe light (complete with socket and cord, so you don't have to do the wiring) that sits on a table for about $12 (price just went up - it used to be 10). Throw in one of their VERY awesome compact flourescent colored bulbs and you have a very cool float alternative. Just tie your netting and hang!

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70096377

I know the one in Carson had bunches of these lights. I always thought it would be an inexpensive way of doing a fish float light. I haven't tried it, but I bet you could use the stain glass spray on it to color it even more. I'm sorry I didn't think of this sooner.

sorry, I just re-read you r question - yes making a top out of some plastic would work (lycra or whatever), I usually use wood, but that's just me.

The white glass will look good - the socket set would work fine.

I hope that helped.

I use only colored glass for my floats.
Then I spray them with glass frosting spray.
The net holds the glass ball up. (the light/fixture floats inside}
I use C7 blubs/fixtures.
Do a small ball first, I would say.

Another alternative is to go to your local sports supply shop and buy yourself a basketball net. Fit it over the globe/lamp and secure the bottom with another piece of rope or twine or even wire woven into the 'loops' at the bottom of the net and tied up nice and tight. It's a super CHEAT but it works OK-I dyed the nets I used with some brown cloth dye (Rit Dye, I think)

Seriously though, you'd be suprised at how easy it is to get the net tying method down. I 've done it and it isn't as difficult as you might think--it does take alot of rope though. (not to mention alot of patience and alot of time)

Your best advice still comes from Polynesiac and Tikiskip--both masters at the craft!

Here's the only pic I have at the moment of a homemade fish float lamp (w/ puffer) using a basketball goal net.

Good luck!

The ikea light looks very good thanks for that idea, tikiship you mentioned how you only use colored glass for your floats where do you find them? and the basketball netting idea is a great idea, i looked at the directions at http://www.olypen.com/elgato/ballnets.htm but i still am having trouble trying to visualize how to tie the netting up and i really want to atleast attempt to make my own net just so i can be more proud of my float and i am sure once i have it down i will be going crazy making lights and such, i have a small float that i bought last week i guess i will get some hemp or something and just practice on that one and see how it ends up the notting on it dosent seem that difficult i am just wondering how you connect the first set of knots to the others on the sides of it if that makes sense? once i again i appreciate all the help all of you have provided so far!!

Hey Howland that loks good. And thank you.
This is the site that helped me start.
http://www.olypen.com/elgato/ballnets.htm
Oh heck thats the one you looked at sorry.

You can find the globes on ebay, flea markets, antique shows ECT.
I found 20 this summer.

[ Edited by: tikiskip 2007-12-21 13:32 ]

Boy this intrigues me! I found this link also in searching the net (pun intended!) for info.
http://www.bertaut.com/netmaking.html

And another...with variations
http://nightshaderose.com/netting/start-net.php

Great links!
Thanks sur2baja.

This is my first attempt at making a float lamp, and I'm not sure how to finish off the netting at the top. The netting is sisal rope around a glass gazing ball. The picture below shows the stage where I'm stuck (although I did go back and tighten up/ even up the knots so they aren't quite as loose and sloppy as they look in the picture.) Can someone tell me how to tie up the top so that I can hang it properly? Thanks!

I just keep going till you get a 4 inch top tail.
Then put your light cord down the center.
Now take some extra twine and lash the top part
round and round to form a loop.

i hope everyone had a happy holiday season, now that things have settled down a little bit it is time to continue to make a float lamp so i bought a fairly large float and am wondering if anyone knows any place in orange county that will cut a hole in it for me !?

thanks

So Fugu did you finish that lamp?
Lets see it.
And on the hole thing I have tried and could not do it.
You could try a stain glass shop.
Or a place where they do monuments for graves.
Both of these places have hole cutters for glass.
It won't be cheap.
Or guaranteed!