As stated in my introduction thread, I've been diving for a while but always with a pole spear, I decided recently that I wanted to start spear slinging and being a hobby woodworker, building it comes natural to me.
So far, I have 3, 6 part laminated Honduran/Santos mahogany blanks glued up with WS epoxy, trued 4 sides square on the jointer, planer and table saw, and they have all been hanging for about a month. The moisture content on the wood was sub 8 % as it was kiln dried then has been sitting in my lumber rack for at least a year so I don't expect it to need to hang much longer and don't expect much warp or twist.
Two blanks will actually become guns, the third exists soley as a setup blank. I will use it setup the machines before making cuts on the actual blanks.
I'm currently planning on a neptonics reef mech ( honestly because I don't know about many other options), mid handle mounted, and an enclosed track ( gunna have to buy the ball mill since that's not a tool most woodworkers own.) as I have a bunch of purple heart on hand! I'm planning on inlaying about 18" of ppl heart into the end of the gun for support rather than derlin or uhmw plastic. The hardness and oil content should give me more strength than either of the plastics with the same low coefficient of friction. (I'd like to hear thoughts if I'm off base)
Currently, both blanks are 45". I will be hunting halibut, WSB, calico, sheepshead.. Pretty much everything that likes in the kelp beds between San Diego and the Channel Islands.
Some things I would like to get feedback on.
I have no idea how to choose a spear size.
I have no clue what power and number of bands I should plan for
Here are some pics so far including a handle of padeuk, Purple Heart that I tried shaping.