Making agate stripping guides in the home shop

[jerrym303]

Impressive!

Dan, is the roller tool you use on the lathe a standard tool or did you mount a bearing on a knurling tool?

Jerry

[kermit]

Impressive!

Dan, is the roller tool you use on the lathe a standard tool or did you mount a bearing on a knurling tool?

Jerry

I had an old 1/4" wide single knurl tool and milled the opening to fit a 3/8" wide sealed bearing.

[toothybugs]

I am incredibly impressed. I think I just found a few more items to add to my list of equipment to pick up!

[bluemntbamboo]

Very nice Dan!
I too appreciate your willingness to share, as this subject....for some reason...has popped into my head and won't leave.

Thank you,
Jim

[Larry Swearingen]

Very nicely done Kermit. I like the worksmanship.

Larry Swearingen
http://planingforms.webs.com

[GrayHackleRods]

Are you bringing some samples to SRG?

[kermit]

Sure, I' bring what I have made up + maybe some ones that I black nickel and or chrome plated.

[Doublehauler]

So help me, every time I check into this Forum I learn something new that can be useful to me. I've wondered for a long time just how to turn over the edges of the retainer ring on a stripping guide. That is indeed a clever way to do it. You are to be congratulated for your innovation.

Jim J.
Bigfork, Montana

[SamNielson]

Kermit (Dan)
Could you do a quick rundown of the soldering products you use for this?
From your photos I see:

Handy Flux (B1 or regular?) a flux
Stay-Brite (not sure what this is, a solder?) as a kit or separately?
Stay-clean a flux
Sparex a pickle acid

I understand about soldering the wire for the frame being a different situation than soldering the bezel(and stone) to the frame. Do you use the same ?Stay-Brite solder for both? The Handy flux for the frame and Stay-clean for the bezel? Does the Sparex affect the stone?

Could you describe more about these and their choice to use? Does one need all these or can it be simplified some? I am intending to buy some and I want to make sure I don't get what I don't need. Sorry, I am trying to come up to speed on learning about this kind of soldering.

I have NS wire (several gauges) and bezel (two sizes, I think) already to go.

Sam

[kermit]

-I use the Handy Flux, (Blue label) made for low temp brazing and med temp silver solder to solder the bezel seam.
-I use Stay-Brite with Stay Clean Flux (KIT) to solder the cage and bezelled agate to the cage.
-I use the Sparex No. 2 to clean any soldering flux residue and surface oxidation.

By using the higher temp silver solder on the bezel seam, I'm assured that it will not separate when I solder the bezel to the cage using the Stay-Bright solder. The Stay-Bright will melt real fast and give a good solder joint. The two solders will polish bright, but if you want to blue the guide, the Stay-Bright solder will take a different bluing agent than the NS wire to blue. I get good results using Santa Fe Black from Santa Fe Jewelry supply or BC Brass Black. DAN

[SamNielson]

Thanks tremendously. I was looking at getting some of that from Santa Fe Jewelry.

This information will be greatly helpful. Now I can move forward. Got stones, got nickel silver, just need the flux, pickle and solder.
Thanks again for your help.

Sam

[RaspberryPatch]

all the above positive credit is deserved. thank you

[Old Fork Rod Co]

Very nice work

[trland]

From this thread and the photos from Dan’s (Kermit) web site I was able to do this. Thank you Dan and others for sharing your knowledge.


Black Onyx stripping guide

[bmwmoa67707]

Another example of great craftsmanship and talent of our forum members! Very nice work!
Steve

[TimM]

Really nice work!!

I've debated learning how to cut my own agate ring inserts so I can pick the stone I really want instead of buying 10 at a time and picking the best for special rods. I have some very special Lake Superior agates I might sacrifice if I were confident I would have more than rubble to show for the effort.

I'd also like to repair my Heddon 125A reels that need new line guides. Alas, in addition to the skill the patience and free time are lacking.

[trland]

Thought I would show 3 more I made last week. I don’t cut the stone. Hard to find them in many colors. If anyone knows sources for agate rings, please post. I currently get them from 2 sources on Etsy. Again, thanks Kermit for showing the way.

[kermit]

Nice job!

[Brooks]

Beautiful agate guides!

[Peales]

Kermit, I didn't see your original post back in 2016. I want to thank you for sharing your process. Your generosity is a clear demonstration as to why this site so great. Even though I'll probably never make agate strippers, it's really interesting to have the knowledge as to how they are constructed. Your ability to make and teach is a real gift and greatly appreciated.