Posts by Dan

  • Speardiver 400 lb & 300 lb mono line for speargun shooting line

    If you were ever curious whether the 400lb and 300lb rated Speardiver mono line actually lives up to its name, I made this video. The machine measures the increasing load in pounds, and stops automatically when the line breaks. You can see how low stretch the mono is, this is crucial to maintain a high breaking strength when using crimps.


    Speardiver 400lb mono speargun shooting line test - YouTube


    Speardiver mono shooting line is available from www.FreediveStore.com. 400lb and 300lb 100 yard coils, in black, blue, red and hi-vis yellow/green.



  • Possible muzzle configurations

    Holy crap $9 for a pair of rubber plugs!


    Did anyone try the D-Mart version of the expandable plug? I tried a similar one before and tightened as hard as it will go it would still move at less than 100lb pressure.

  • Foot pockets without tendons

    I haven't. But a plastic fin is a plastic fin no matter how much hype is attached to it or how much the price is inflated. For entry level diving and rock hopping there are few decent plastic fins in the $100 range.

  • Foot pockets without tendons

    I'm not familiar with that method so I can't comment on it. Would be interested to see you try it.


    The water channeling rails definitely stabilize the fin. But I don't know why you'd invest the effort in the plastic blades. Once you use carbon or a good fiberglass fins, it's impossible to go back to plastic fins, even to mess around in shallow water. So you end up not using them even as backup fins.


    BTW it would've been better to weaken the foot pocket tendons rather than chop them off completely. You would've gotten some stabilization effect from the foot pocket tendons.


  • Possible muzzle configurations

    The Merou handle and its variants including Aimrite, is not a good handle. It was good at it's time because it was one of the few available with a full stainless steel trigger mechanism (case, sear, trigger). But it has poor ergonomics. You will notice this when turning a gun that's somewhat long, the back of the handle will slip in you palm. Aimrite fans will disagree, but that's because they have not made an honest comparison with a good handle. So it's good you didn't choose the Merou handle.


    The Picasso Cobra is an interesting choice. Meandros makes a drop in full stainless steel mech for it. But the handle will require some modification.



    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMs7CM5peh4


    If you're going to modify the CF tube, don't drill, rather use grinding tools. I wouldn't do what you propose. CF has great structural integrity in some directions, but if you have an open edge, I feel it's a potential area for failure. Also I don't like that look and feel the design lacks versatility. If using a Derlrin rod insert, I'd make sure the slot in the Derlin is a little smaller than the slot in the CF tube walls, so that the rubber puts hardly any pressure on the tube walls. But then what's stopping the Derlin insert from being pushed in? Possibly a couple of screws through the tube wall, the ones for the line anchor perhaps. You said you want to fill the tube with high density foam. If you're going to use foam that has adequate resistance to compression at depth, it will be heavy, and defeat the purpose of a light CF tube.


    Because of all these complications, and lack of versatility, I'd stay away from the integrated band slot design. I would instead look for a muzzle that suits your taste. If the muzzle track is a little high, it can be easily reduced with a round file the same diameter as a shaft, and further polished with steel wool for an almost original looking finish.


    I'm interested to see how the Picasso handle matches up with this tube, and how the track lines up. If you can post a pic it would be great. If you try other handles and muzzles with this tube, which have a reasonably good fit, please post about it in this thread.

  • Spearfishing Alaska salmon

    A bow kills by shredding internal organs causing massive bleeding. A spear doesn't have cutting barbs and so makes a very small hole. It would have to be an extremely lucky shot right into an artery or the heart, to make a bear bleed to death. I think it's highly unlikely to kill a bear with a speargun. And a damn shame to try, unless it was in self defense. If it does come to that make sure the shooting line is not connected to the gun, otherwise the spear will come back and stick you if you miss the bear.

  • Off the grid

    There's a big mango tree on my property. A couple of days ago someone came knocking on my door asking to buy the mangos. I had this happen before and don't want to be bothered. I told him all the mangos are green and not ripening this year, which was true. He said he wants them green. Turned out he sells produce and in this particular case, green mangos to Asia for pickeling, yuck! Anyways his crew cleaned up my tree of the useless big green mangos, which this year were doing nothing but littering my back yard.


    I took the opportunity to ask him a few questions about my tree, since he's a pro and said he has many of them. He said my tree is at least 120 years old. He found it hard to believe the mangos weren't ripening. But it's true, I tried everything. Maybe it has to do with the fact there was a double crop this year, and neither crop was good. If this wasn't the case I'd never sell those mangos. They're Valencia mangos and when ripe they're the most delicious thing. I'd rather give them away to friends.


    I asked him how long it takes from the time a mango tree is planted for it to bear fruit. He said in about 8 years it will have a little bit of fruit. I think it's totally worth it. But it's also sad to think that you'll never get to see it as big as it can get.