Flopper Change / Spear shorten DIY

[azapa]

OK, as a result of:
http://forums.deeperblue.net/speargu...pper-size.html

I started looking more critically at my spears. They are not all created equal, and fish, conditions and preferences create distinct needs.

I like shark tooth spears, I like shorter than standard spears (that an open muzzle gun puts up with) and I need to hold large fish.

I did two jobs in one here: Shortened a spear and replaced the short flopper with a longer one, but the two jobs can be done separately.

1. Original sharktooth spear with TOO short flopper, new flopper, and another Omer spear with correct flopper and point length (but with the cut outs and not shark teeth)

- (no photo) grind the head of the old rivet and drive out. Here a nice hard punch set and grinder are quick, but lesser tools would do the job

- (no photo) grind a nice point, rotating well, and quenching frequently so as not to spoil the temper.

2. If shortening the spear, you will have to drill a new hole. The SS is HARD and may be further hardened. The ONLY way to do it well is to mark first and drill afterwards. Do this, or hate the job.

3. The hole you drill MUST be bigger than the rivet or it will jam as you peen the end. For this rivet a 2.5mm drill was fine. Start with a 1.5mm, use a slow speed (a cordless power drill with variable speed and high torque is great) then pass the 2.5mm. use HSS drills, quench frequently, buy a spare or two

4. Shape the new flopper, that is probably made wide enought for 7 or more MM spears to your spear by placing it on the spear (no rivet yet) and bopping with a hammer against a block of wood. Go slow with little taps. The flopper should take the shape (diameter) of the spear but still end up a little loose.

- (no photo) insert the rivet and peen. Go slow, little taps, you DON'T wand to bend the rivet or it will bind in the hole.

- (no photo) adjust the flopper so that it stays open at 45 degrees whilst hitting the spear firmly (will try to post video)

5. End result!