Home made sand spike

Message

#1 Post by **merv147** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 3:50 pm

I have some scrap metal that I have gathered up over the past couple days and I was always looking to make one so here goes. The first bit I needed to get was angle iron I got this from an old farm house in Larne that was knocked down 2 bits about 6 ft in length that would make 4 or 5 sand spikes. I was down in Co.Cavan last weekend to see my cousins they live on a farm and there is an old derelict house up the road with some cast iron pipe that when a first saw it I new that was the bit I needed so it went in the boot of the car that we had out for the weekend. I wanted to put a good solid bottom in the pipe so I went to a near by engineering firm in Larne and they had a skip full of scrap metal plate small bits that they had no use for so I asked if I could have some and they were more than happy to help. So far this little fishing project has cost me nothing so at the most it will cost me a grinding blade and one or two welding rods so it is pretty cheep better that paying £10 or £15 for one out of a fishing catalogue and if it proves to be a good sand spike then I might think of selling some on e-bay and maybe make a good tripod as well one that will not blow over in the wind. :oops:
[img]http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f343/merv147/SA400159.jpg[/img]
That is the metal that I am going to use.
[img]http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f343/merv147/SA400160.jpg[/img]
And that’s it marked I think that I will maybe get 5 or 6 out of what materials I have to hand
[img]http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f343/merv147/SA400163.jpg[/img]
It has been cut and a bit of plate steel welled on the bottom it needs to be cleaned and then welled to the bit of angel iron
[img]http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f343/merv147/SA400001.jpg[/img]
And that’s it made I put some one inch box section on it so that it can be put in the ground better I tried it out in the top garden
[img]http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f343/merv147/SA400004.jpg[/img]
And that’s it made tried and all ready to have some primer on it and then painted it is going to be done with some silver hammerite that I got from the old farm house never been opened and there is some brush cleaner as well the price tag is still on them.
[img]http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f343/merv147/SA400010.jpg[/img]
And that’s the first one finished they can be used when fishing rock marks as well witch I am going to do saves your rod but getting messed up. Pm me if you would like one made and they should only be about £4-£5 for one not hard to make :D

glengormley-gavin · Mon Oct 23, 2006 9:45 pm

Looks the dogs bo**ox Merv - well done mate.

I wouldn't have a Scoobie about engineering or welding something like this....

Have you field tested it yet?

It would be really useful for a wander along a big beach just using one rod and covering as much ground as possible.....

Let us know how you get on with it.

Jude

#3 Post by **merv147** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 12:05 pm

i am going to test it on Friday night i will let you know if it works as well as it looks and i will see what changes if any need doing. :D

i just get an idea in my mind to make something then do a drawing and work of it.

some times i would be laying in bed and an idea would just pop in my head the important thing to do is get it on paper :idea:

#4 Post by **shockleader50** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 3:02 pm

I know what you mean Merv.Sometimes when i'm lying in bed things just pop up as well,but then i just try to think about fishing and it goes away again. :oops: :oops: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

#5 Post by **merv147** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 3:07 pm

shockleader50 wrote:I know what you mean Merv.Sometimes when i'm lying in bed things just pop up as well,but then i just try to think about fishing and it goes away again. :oops: :oops: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

LMAO :lol: yea i know what you mean :oops: :lol:

#6 Post by **Drew** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:17 pm

Pervs! :shock: :lol:

#7 Post by **lumpy** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:49 pm

how ya doing merve, nice design, jus wondering how long the angle iron which sinks into the ground is. ould fella and myself made a couple years ago and found that you needed about 2 foot below the ground to hold the weight and leverage of the rod

hope that doesnt sound like i'm being a sceptic or aqnything, just an observation we made.

#8 Post by **merv147** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:56 pm

its about 1ft 6 inch's like i say its only a tester so will see how it works on Friday :)

#9 Post by **lumpy** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 5:05 pm

i see. best of luck with it

#10 Post by **Viper** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 5:20 pm

Great idea and I might that out as well...
Can I make one suggestion (not to be critical or anything!)
If the horizontal bar (the part you use to drive it into the ground) was broken into two and hinged on each side so that they will fold up (towards the end that the rod sits) and lock perpendicular when opened, it would fit lovely into a rod bag?

#11 Post by **Drew** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 5:49 pm

Remind me to check it out Merv mate. 8)

glengormley-gavin · Tue Oct 24, 2006 6:32 pm

Viper wrote:Great idea and I might that out as well...
Can I make one suggestion (not to be critical or anything!)
If the horizontal bar (the part you use to drive it into the ground) was broken into two and hinged on each side so that they will fold up (towards the end that the rod sits) and lock perpendicular when opened, it would fit lovely into a rod bag?

:idea: :idea:

Or if they folded at an angle towards the ground, you could double them up as leg supports - similar to a tripod - just an idea....

I think Merv could engineer this no probs...

Jude

#13 Post by **liam78** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 11:21 pm

iq of 147 :)

#14 Post by **round_ourway** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 4:00 pm

Nice one merv great idea mate

Thu Oct 26, 2006 1:28 pm

Merv, Looks the part although I would have to agree with lumpy around the length below ground, you dont want your best rod falling tip first onto a shingle beach just when you are not looking! :shock: Could turn out to be an expensive prototype. :cry:

The problem I can forsee is when it's up and running, all measurements etc taken care of, it might need a forklift truck to carry it to the beach for you to use :lol:

#16 Post by **merv147** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:39 pm

Norfolk and Goode wrote:Merv, Looks the part although I would have to agree with lumpy around the length below ground, you dont want your best rod falling tip first onto a shingle beach just when you are not looking! :shock: Could turn out to be an expensive prototype. :cry:

The problem I can forsee is when it's up and running, all measurements etc taken care of, it might need a forklift truck to carry it to the beach for you to use :lol:

yea you my be right silly idea anyway :?

#17 Post by **merv147** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 11:06 pm

tried it out on Friday night at the northern meet and worked like a dream good for fishing on the go and it isn't that heavy. it works well now maybe time to make a tripod or maybe a double headed sand spike i could relay do with a good strong tripod i seen one before made out of steel looks the dogs bol**cks and never fell over once relay good if you have a top rod and want to keep it that way

glengormley-gavin · Sun Oct 29, 2006 11:22 pm

Nice one Merv 8)

The tripod you saw didn't happen to belong to Chris from The Sheddings did it?

#19 Post by **liam78** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 11:31 pm

i place my order for them hey merv whats keeping my sand spikes 8)

#20 Post by **pookie5488** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 9:02 am

costa had a home made one at meet should have showed you it did job well.

His was made of hard drain pipe end shaped to a point with a bolt through it to stop rod sliding to far.

I used it and held rod perfect i will post pic.

I like sand spikes as my post said i used one all summer in spain in all weathers and liked the high position out of surf.

I got one of ebay for 7 pound and it got a cup and head rest bargin