Well guys here is the first of 3 guns I am building for this year. Plan is to have a decent reef gun with 2 stiff bands, 5/16 shaft with Tin mans handle. Its a 57" overall length blank with 2 vertical teak laminates and 2 vertical cumaru strips with one strip of cumaru on the bottom, laminated using west system epoxy, dimensions are 1.58" wide 1.680" height .The other strips pictured are for a identical gun to this and a 67" Jatoba blank. Any constructive criticism is welcome
After squaring the blank up I routed a 1/2"x1/2" channel to pour a epoxy track, I used blue tint since my west system 423 graphite has been taking FOREVER to come in so I will do a side by side comparison on a graphite track vs. non graphite with the next build. As usual what can go wrong will, so Mr. Murphy decided to show up while routing the track for the epoxy and the blank skipped off the table cutting a piece off the edge, which leaves me with a VERY VERY VERY annoying defect which may cause to paint this gun.
After letting it sit for a day I ran the blank through the planer to clean up the top, then ran a 1/4" bit followed by Neptonics 5/16" ball cutter.
Then routed the pocket for Neptonics tuna mech in and tested fit with a smaller 9/32 riffe shaft I had laying around.
Next to do:
Pin mech and route line release.
Order Tin mans handle and fit.
Band holes
Ballast (if needed)
Figure what Im doing with the finish.