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Speargun care
- Thread starterchris25
- Start date
Thread Status: Hello
, There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
Some people do lubricate the trigger mech, some people never do. I use only one small drop of crc once a year: it doesn't harm.
Now how long do rubber bands last? It depends on variables. How often you use your gun, exposure to sunlight and heat, quality of the rubber, accidents...
After long use, you will start seeing small cracks at the end of your rubbers, especially at the edges of the bands, near the muzzle and wishbone fittings. That means that the rubber has started degradating, and it's wise to change them shortly after.
There is a pair of H. Dessault bands that I've been using for 4 years, and even after I noticed the small cracks in the rubber at the ends, I continued to use them and to hit fish. Only last august, when I saw that one of the minor cracks had turned into a major, deep cut, I finally accepted the unacceptable: bands were gone, dump and replace.
Now how long do rubber bands last? It depends on variables. How often you use your gun, exposure to sunlight and heat, quality of the rubber, accidents...
After long use, you will start seeing small cracks at the end of your rubbers, especially at the edges of the bands, near the muzzle and wishbone fittings. That means that the rubber has started degradating, and it's wise to change them shortly after.
There is a pair of H. Dessault bands that I've been using for 4 years, and even after I noticed the small cracks in the rubber at the ends, I continued to use them and to hit fish. Only last august, when I saw that one of the minor cracks had turned into a major, deep cut, I finally accepted the unacceptable: bands were gone, dump and replace.
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I was told not to oil my RA trigger mech just wash in freshwater. But I ended up having to replace the mech after a few years. So I think a little light lubricant like WD40 or perhaps a dry lubricant (like graphite or silicon(e)) once a year (as Spaghetti suggested) should do no harm & might help. I wouldn't use heavy oils or grease because they will hold grit & sand, and I wouldn't do it too often because oils might react with the plastics. However, I still don't use any lube - but I might if something started sticking.
Re. rubbers, I replaced my RA 16mm rubbers after about 2+ years but I reckon they could have lasted years longer. The RA/bulk rubbers seem thicker and longer lasting than my omer screw-in rubbers. I'll be controversial: I reckon rubbers should easily last 3 or 4 years if you keep them out of the sun, wash them with the gun after use and store them in a cool, dark place (or freeze them out of season). Possibly much longer in some cases. Obviously the more you dive & the fewer guns you use, the harder the life of the rubbers. I think folk often change rubbers just to experiment or for something to do over winter. Surprised to hear Spaghetti kept his bands so long, as I thought he was a frequent changer, but I know he really rates those Dessault rubbers. If they work well, might as well stick with them (wish I hadn't "upgraded" my RA 16mm rubbers - 20mm is just hard work).
If you use bulk rubbers, this place offers good prices & reasonable shipping which make it tempting to change rubbers more often: www.spearitco.com.
Re. rubbers, I replaced my RA 16mm rubbers after about 2+ years but I reckon they could have lasted years longer. The RA/bulk rubbers seem thicker and longer lasting than my omer screw-in rubbers. I'll be controversial: I reckon rubbers should easily last 3 or 4 years if you keep them out of the sun, wash them with the gun after use and store them in a cool, dark place (or freeze them out of season). Possibly much longer in some cases. Obviously the more you dive & the fewer guns you use, the harder the life of the rubbers. I think folk often change rubbers just to experiment or for something to do over winter. Surprised to hear Spaghetti kept his bands so long, as I thought he was a frequent changer, but I know he really rates those Dessault rubbers. If they work well, might as well stick with them (wish I hadn't "upgraded" my RA 16mm rubbers - 20mm is just hard work).
If you use bulk rubbers, this place offers good prices & reasonable shipping which make it tempting to change rubbers more often: www.spearitco.com.
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Mr. X, don't you remember this post of mine?
http://forums.deeperblue.com/747984-post6.html
Well it was no joke.
I actually kept my gear in the luggage trunk of the car all winter long, and nothing happened.
Of course I do not encourage anyone to take this extreme (and maybe silly) behaviour of mine as an example to hymitate: it's a good thing to take care of our gear because 1) we paid for it 2) we love it 3) we must rely on it while performing a potentially dangerous activity such as diving underwater, so the gear must be taken care of to be always reliable.
But my point is: if it rusts, it's working.
It's not necessary to exagerate with maniac, paranoid care. A bit of essential care, ordinary maintenance and periodical check is enough.
I've been keeping rubber bands in the fridge for years, and indeed I don't doubt it may actually benefit the life span of a rubber.
But then came a day I had guests for dinner, opened the fridge to grab a bottle of wine, and when my guest asked me "what's that black stripes in the veggies closet?", I saw a paranoid maniac in the mirror....
http://forums.deeperblue.com/747984-post6.html
Well it was no joke.
I actually kept my gear in the luggage trunk of the car all winter long, and nothing happened.
Of course I do not encourage anyone to take this extreme (and maybe silly) behaviour of mine as an example to hymitate: it's a good thing to take care of our gear because 1) we paid for it 2) we love it 3) we must rely on it while performing a potentially dangerous activity such as diving underwater, so the gear must be taken care of to be always reliable.
But my point is: if it rusts, it's working.
It's not necessary to exagerate with maniac, paranoid care. A bit of essential care, ordinary maintenance and periodical check is enough.
I've been keeping rubber bands in the fridge for years, and indeed I don't doubt it may actually benefit the life span of a rubber.
But then came a day I had guests for dinner, opened the fridge to grab a bottle of wine, and when my guest asked me "what's that black stripes in the veggies closet?", I saw a paranoid maniac in the mirror....
I like using silicon based lubs instead of WD40 (like X suggested), my main reason is wd40 may affect the pastic parts.
The omer manual also make reference of using silicon
Question do you store with the shaft in the trigger system or outside ?
The omer manual also make reference of using silicon
Question do you store with the shaft in the trigger system or outside ?
Strangelove is entirely correct, every lubricant/protecterant that has petroleum distilates in it will destroy rubber. Silicon base is the only way to go. Cheers.
