My DIY Gun

[frogmansailor]

Hey everyone, I'm relatively new to spearfishing, but have done some freediving. I began a project to make a speargun about 6 months ago, and have been all over the web for ideas. I have used this site extensively, and thought I'd finally register and share my finished gun with everyone. I didn't have anything to go off of so this is purely my idea for measurements etc.

its 36 in. long (I know inches eww, but I'm from USA so...)

it has 2 bands connected to one nylon flexible wishbone

the trigger mech. is aluminum

spear is steel w/ aluminum flopper/barb

the wood for the body is oak, and the grip is cedar.

The trigger guard is stainless steel

the shooting line is 80 lb test mono

the reel is a modified fly fishing reel rigged with about 150 yds of 50 lb fly fishing backing

the reel is optional and can be removed w/ nut and bolt --it has a swivel which accepts clip on end of shooting string

the wood is finished in a marine epoxy (very tough) which was leftover from a job from my business of constructing wooden touring kayaks (from Pygmy Boats Inc and Wood Kayak Designs, Plans, and Kits by Redfish Kayaks contact kayakbuilders@gmail.com if interested)

the whole project, strung out over about 6 months, probably took about 50 hrs.

haven't gotten a chance to use it yet, as I'm only close to the New Jersey coast, and can't find any good spots. Please contact me if you know of any that are good!! frogmansailor@gmail.com


please feel free to comment, criticize (constructive plz), suggest, etc. !

thanks
Dave

[frogmansailor]

I also have made a custom diving knife if anyone is interested in seeing/hearing about that.

[deep thinker]

Nice job and do share the knife too, the close up of the rubbers is a bit pixelated but from what I can see Id neaten up the fixing of the dyneema to the rubbers. Heres a pic of the right knots to use for that purpose.
Other than that your dimensions and everything else looks good all in all id say a job well done.
Attachment 14849

[frogmansailor]

the way I have it is a plastic bead with weed whacker line through it, intot he rubbers on each side, then a cable tie around the rubber and line in front of the bead to eliminate slipping. The rubber bands on the outside are just to cover the cable ties and provide no support. I found the process at this website: Make your own Spearbands

it seems very strong, let me know what you think.

[frogmansailor]

I also added some better shots of the power band and wishbone intersection to the speargun album.

The knife was made in the likeness of the Gerber Guardian.

It's about 9" overall length w/ about a 4" blade.

I used 1/4" steel from Lowe's which I ground into the correct shape w/ a bench grinder, file, dremel, and a cup of water to keep it cool.

After I got the right shape/size/thickness I buffed the whole thing shiny.

I then coated the whole thing (tang is the full handle size) in rustoleum black matte paint.

I then added two layers on either side of the tang of cut sheet fiberglass. I epoxied all of the layers together making a knife with a clear block handle.

I then used a dremel to shape the plastic into the desired handle, including cutting grooves on the sides.

That complete, i dipped the entire handle into black rubberizing dip (meant for tool handles) which is very corrosion resistant, tough, and most important: replaceable.

The sheath is vacuum molded plastic top, riveted through: a piece of leather, and several sheets of aluminum roof sheeting. I then dipped that entire thing in the black rubberizing dip as well.

The entire ensemble is attached to a nylon strap, including a small nylon strap w/snap to go around the handle. It is attached with parachute clips for quick on/off

No the blade is not stainless steel so yes it will rust, but it will only rust where the paint has been worn off, and it is easily cleaned, sharpened, and re-painted.

It cost a total of about $5 to make, and took only 10-15 hrs to make. Great for a dive knife because I would not be losing a $150 titanium beauty. As before, all comments welcome

[foxfish]

Arr its the man from Jersey! Well that is an interesting gun design! Not much that's conventional about your gun, where did you get all those ideas from?
A 90cm mid handled gun made from oak with the most unusual band set up! Good work for your first gun but not sure if it will work Very well?

[frogmansailor]

Ah, I know its unusual, but I didn't really have too much to go on. I'm not near anything that has good visibility, and I won't be going after very large fish so a large gun wasn't necessary. The mid handle design was just because I thought it looked cooler... : / The bands are surgical tubing from a hardware store. I live pretty far inland so there are 0 dive shops around for me to get supplies/ideas. I pulled ideas from as many pictures/ideas on the web that i could find; probably the reason for the hodgepodge of gun parts.

I have tried it while I was at the shore. The gun shoots pretty straight, and goes about 10-12 ft. I don't have anything to compare this to, but it can shoot farther than I can see in any of my waters so I think it Will work. It also cost me only about $25. So it's not a bad starter gun. Once I learn what I will need/want then I will be able to make an educated purchase of a gun, or a more educated build of another gun.

[Johan S]

Nice work and interesting design. Report about some future catches!
I am going to make a dive knife to, a knife that matches my gun. Teak handle witk some decoration.