55inch custom wood gun

Epoxy will add weight.

Before anything I'd see if it floats without the reel. Then with a light composite reel.

Next I would consider changing the handle to wood.

Maybe fill the handle with foam and add a closed cell loading butt.:confused1:

Quote from sdeisen

Oh I had not thought that epoxy would add weight, damn

You could foam fill ( 2lb per cubic ft) the handle voids.
Change out any screws for Ti from a aircraft supply house.
I would use balsa for any plugs with a coat of Gflex epoxy.
Switch out for a lighter reel.
Make certain no amount of water is weeping into your band holes.

I have gone as far to foam fill the holes on a reel if the maternal is thick.
Tie on a 50' float line and more if it still heads for Davey's locker.
Lastly. get used to diving with a negative gun, I find them great for laying on the bottom. They are not as twitchy in messy seas and don't cycle up and down as much as a lesser mass gun when tracking a fish at speed. (something I try to avoid, just use the other hand to crank it on a new angle).

Cheers, Don

Quote from sdeisen

Would plugs covered in epoxy alone work, do you think, as far as sealing them if the entire gun isn't then epoxied over?

Thanks for the nice words, I too am happy to be back with my friends.

This all just comes down to physics and math. I would weigh the gun as is in sea water with a small hand held digital scale to see how negative it is.
You can also start getting Rick Racer and carfully Swiss cheese drill the reel plate and reel end plates.
What kind of wood is it?

Cheers, Don

I miss Nate. As the thread was loading my eye caught a familiar avatar that I realized I didn't see in a long time, so I scrolled up and saw it was his post. Sorry to bring this up Steven.

I had to tell myself yes, it's really true, he really is gone when I started the read a few nights ago, and seeing you are likes brothers, I'll be the first to say i cried and went for a whiskey.:(

Sincerely Don

Quote from sdeisen

Something called cumaru I believe . Very very dense.

Cumaru 68lbs/ft3 86 to 1.09 specific gravity,

Teak app (depending on type) 41 to 50lbs/3
Sea water app 1.022 / 1.025 Specific gravity
So yes a heavy wood for a gun.

Cheers Don

Quote from Don Paul

Cumaru 68lbs/ft3 86 to 1.09 specific gravity,

Teak app (depending on type) 41 to 50lbs/3
Sea water app 1.022 / 1.025 Specific gravity
So yes a heavy wood for a gun.

Cheers Don

MAN ITS SO AWESOME HAVING YOUR BRAINS BACK HERE BUDDY :thumbsup2:

Quote from Dude george

MAN ITS SO AWESOME HAVING YOUR BRAINS BACK HERE BUDDY :thumbsup2:

Thanks ...it's the good whiskey I drink.;) These are not the answers.... just a guide for guys to figure it out.
John Warren ( early tuna gun builder) and I used to spend a lot of time trimming buoyancy, using scales, string, stick on tire wts and a dock with calm water.;)

Cheers, Don

I don't think you're gonna do much in terms of buoyancy drilling holes and filling with foam.
But for sure you will end weakening the gun itself.

Have you considered adding some sort of lateral "wings" made from light wood?

Another solution could be trimming the sides of the blank, gluing lighter wood to both sides and reshape. That way, you don't have to do the precision machining of the track, mechanism pocket, etc.

Maybe that would be the way I'll go.