Greg Madrigal
06-14-2012, 03:33 PM
This wood is a dream to work with! You must see it to appreciate the amazing light refraction going on with this wood. People who use it swear it is the best species in the world for this feature; Hence, its out-of-this-world-price. After drooling over the ease of milling of this wood, I looked it up and found out that it's native only to the Hawaiian island chain and is scarce on all but the big isle. Furthermore, the best curl and color only comes from the trees growing between 3K & 6K feet! The Hawaiian Gov. has banned all trees from being cut unless they are deadfall. This tree was taken decades ago and my client had it stashed.
The nets are named "Alawaii" and "Aloha." Both were commissioned by a winter resident of Hawaii, and an Alaskan fly fishing guide in the Bristol Bay area during the summer. "Alawaii" is for him and "Aloha" is for his bride. The client supplied the highly curly Koa handles which he cut from a slab he had been saving for years. Curly Koa like this is becoming exceedingly rare, and very expensive. He was saving this for a very special occasion. Alawaii's hoop is Wenge, Mahogany and Teak. The net number and signature are inlaid Chrysocolla, a stone not unlike turquoise. You might notice I have started putting Brass, Copper, and Aluminum ferrules in the handle hole where the lanyard attaches to.
The Magnetic Net Release was custom made with a large rare earth magnet in curly Koa. That ensures a nice secure bond whilst running from grizzly bears! :lol:
If you want to view the video, it goes through many steps of the build process, otherwise, finished pics follow.
http://youtu.be/PvnM39ouxdM
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/David%20Taylor/DSC_4043copy.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/David%20Taylor/DSC_4038copy.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/David%20Taylor/DSC_4036copy.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/David%20Taylor/DSC_4030copy.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/David%20Taylor/DSC_4028copy.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/David%20Taylor/DSC_4025copy.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/David%20Taylor/DSC_4023copy.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/David%20Taylor/DSC_4020copy.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/David%20Taylor/DSC_4017copy.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/David%20Taylor/DSC_4016copy.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/David%20Taylor/DSC_4012copy.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/David%20Taylor/DSC_4052copy.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/David%20Taylor/DSC_4051copy.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/David%20Taylor/DSC_3971copy.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/David%20Taylor/DSC_3957copy.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/David%20Taylor/DSC_4059copy.jpg
The nets are named "Alawaii" and "Aloha." Both were commissioned by a winter resident of Hawaii, and an Alaskan fly fishing guide in the Bristol Bay area during the summer. "Alawaii" is for him and "Aloha" is for his bride. The client supplied the highly curly Koa handles which he cut from a slab he had been saving for years. Curly Koa like this is becoming exceedingly rare, and very expensive. He was saving this for a very special occasion. Alawaii's hoop is Wenge, Mahogany and Teak. The net number and signature are inlaid Chrysocolla, a stone not unlike turquoise. You might notice I have started putting Brass, Copper, and Aluminum ferrules in the handle hole where the lanyard attaches to.
The Magnetic Net Release was custom made with a large rare earth magnet in curly Koa. That ensures a nice secure bond whilst running from grizzly bears! :lol:
If you want to view the video, it goes through many steps of the build process, otherwise, finished pics follow.
http://youtu.be/PvnM39ouxdM
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/David%20Taylor/DSC_4043copy.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/David%20Taylor/DSC_4038copy.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/David%20Taylor/DSC_4036copy.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/David%20Taylor/DSC_4030copy.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/David%20Taylor/DSC_4028copy.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/David%20Taylor/DSC_4025copy.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/David%20Taylor/DSC_4023copy.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/David%20Taylor/DSC_4020copy.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/David%20Taylor/DSC_4017copy.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/David%20Taylor/DSC_4016copy.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/David%20Taylor/DSC_4012copy.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/David%20Taylor/DSC_4052copy.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/David%20Taylor/DSC_4051copy.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/David%20Taylor/DSC_3971copy.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/David%20Taylor/DSC_3957copy.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/David%20Taylor/DSC_4059copy.jpg