Bow Dodger for the Honwave T38

[smallribber]

I know many have made these but I thought we would have a go and document it here.

I was going to make a template out of some quite thick plastic I have but I think I will give it a go as the actual dodger as it is quite thick and does not tear easily. Holes and places you have to cut I reinforced with Gorilla tape each side.

Materials used are:

Carbon fiber Tent poles from ebay £8.00

Plastic ------ I had that

Clips for the rub rail of the honwave ------- I had those

Bungee ------ I had that

Odds and sods

And of course our recently aquired 1935 Hand operated Singer sewing machine and some high quality not rotting thread

[smallribber]

Some pics


The ends of the poles fit lovely in the eyelets on the honwave. I will secure these some how and also prevent any rubbing on the tubes

[smallribber]

We just sewed a loop hem on the plastic and put the pole through. It will be held back with Bungee one bit each side

[smallribber]

And here is the old hand cranker 1935 Singer in action

https://youtu.be/1ugxp0z_7rQ

[smallribber]

I just looked at the handles near the edge of the dodger and it looks like there are holes in them that might be specifically for a dodger such as this

[smallribber]

The holes in the handles look at the wrong angle so wont use those.

[smallribber]

This is the almost finished job. The plastic is I think 1200 micron Visqueen and seems easily up to the job and with the gorilla tape reinforcement I think it will be ok.

The lip at the top just seemed to happen and will be nice I hope for stopping the water coming off the top.

Just got to 'soffen' the ends of the metal where it goes into the eye hole on the rib. I think a little plug of CT1 will help that and some sort of cup or tape on the rope to just keep the end away from the tubes

[smallribber]

For the metal ends of the carbon fiber rod I wanted to make them less sharp although they actually end on the very thick rope around the honwave.

All I have done is made a little plug of CT1 rubber material in the end of the metal feral and also smeared some CT1 in the webbing of the rope. This should mean that there is no real chafe.

See pics below

[smallribber]

If you were wondering the Carbon fiber pole goes in the position of the red arrow in the attached pic

When it is all set up and in place the whole thing is very solid indeed

So behind the rope through the hole and rests at the point of the arrow.

This is the front pair of holes nearest the front seat

[smallribber]

Here it is all finished and rolled up with the Carbon Fiber rods inside

Lighter for Scale

[Jung at Heart]

Thanks for sharing this step by step guide, look forward to reading about how it performs, do you know what the clips are called please as I’d like to buy some?

[smallribber]

Here is a selection of the clips on ebay £7.50 for 5

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_f...Hooks&_sacat=0

[Jung at Heart]

Originally Posted by smallribber

Here is a selection of the clips on ebay £7.50 for 5

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_f...Hooks&_sacat=0

Thank you, that’s very helpful.

[smallribber]

Because I am so impressed with the little Singer Sewing machine I made a little bag to pop it all in from the off cuts of plastic

[Jung at Heart]

Have you used a sewing machine before this project or is this a new found skill?

You’ve inspire me with your thread (see what I did there) and I’m now wondering what I could make for my T38 using my wife’s sewing machine.

[smallribber]

Originally Posted by Jung at Heart

Have you used a sewing machine before this project or is this a new found skill?

You’ve inspire me with your thread (see what I did there) and I’m now wondering what I could make for my T38 using my wife’s sewing machine.

No never used a sewing machine before ever but was also inspired by others on here. I am however a keen DIYer in many other regards but not sewing.

My wife also hates Sewing. I bought the Vintage Singer because I know many others use them on canvas work and also I thought it was both a engineering marvel and also a work of Art. I also like the simplicity and beauty of the hand crank system.

The one I bought was made in 1935 and I love the thought of maybe a person making things with it during the war and now I am putting it to use again.

Go on have a go what could possibly go wrong

[smallribber]

This was the polyester thread I bought. It is incredibly strong

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/V69-Polye...53.m2749.l2649

[Jung at Heart]

Originally Posted by smallribber

Go on have a go what could possibly go wrong

I will do and report back on what can go wrong in due course, thanks for the link to the thread too.

[smallribber]

The plastic I used for this Dodger was 500 gauge or 0.12 mm thick which I think is very strong.

I am going to make one for my Rib also but will use 1000 gauge or 0.24mm thick on that one