Posts by mike n

Bump, this is the last night to bid!!

MN

Thank you all! I have been keeping Darleen, Gil's widow, up to date one the bids. She was very grateful.

Current bid is $1000, courtesy of Oscar. :thumbsup2:

This size gun has done quite well in HI and Baja. And at this price is quite a bargain. Four days left to bid, don't let this get away!

MN

Bump: Current bid $800

This is a great deal at this price!

Gil's family:

All,

Several months ago the spear gun building and spearing community lost a well loved member, Gil Gacula. Other than the legacy of being a premiere Socal gun builder, Gil left a wife and young kids behind. Jon at Ulusub suggested a benefit build.

Although I never met Gil, I felt compelled and eager to contribute.

My contribution is a: Tiger wood and Padauk, 60" open track mid handle, three 5/8 bands, 400# mono rigged for break away, tuna mech, 5/16 Mori shaft and tip, custom paint, epoxy coat to matte finish, includes Sports Tube.

Shortly after Jon's post, Amadeo Bachar responded that he would be willing to paint a couple guns. I jumped at the opportunity. The gun has a single kelp stock running along the underside of the gun with fronds wrapping each side and terminating at the open track. It is stunning!

Greg and Vanessa at the Freedive Shop provided material for rigging. Best of luck in Peru.

Josh at Neptonics donated a tuna mech. Solid.

Mori provided a 5/16 shaft, slip tip and spare spectra. Sorry you lost a friend.

Finally, a good friend suggested that this build needs a case to protect it from damage. With his help Paul and Thomas at Sports Tube provided a case to protect this beautifully painted gun on its travels to spearfishing destinations world round! Thank you so much!!

This gun will go to the highest bidder as of August 30, 2014 at 12:00, noon, west coast time. 100% of the proceeds go directly to Gil's family. So please bid high, bid often, and let your friends know, too. Direct any questions to me here, via PM, or e-mail to manmidhandles@gmail.com.

Thank you so much for those that donated to this build.

RIP, Gil.

MN

RIP Brother.

MN

Wow! The wood looks great.

MN

I have built several guns in the 36" overall length. I typically use two 9/16 bands or one 9/16 and one 5/8 bands, and usually 9/32 shafts.

MN

Great report, Alex.

Don- you should try diving up north. The sharks don't bother you too much.

MN

A friend of mine has that gun, he likes it.

MN

Quote from Dude george

Wow!!!!!!:yaydance::yaydance::yaydance::yaydance: the second one from the top, the one with all the holes cut into it, how did that perform? is that purple hart?

Thanks Don.

Nate - I used to use a jig, but now I do it a little differently. Sorry no pics but try to follow this.

I start by drilling the short pilot holes on the bottom of the gun where the loops will attach to the pin, I think I use a 5/16 router bit and go about1/8"-1/4" deep. Then I place a piece of 1/4" OD copper tubbing in a vice on my drill press table directly in line with the axis of the drill bit. This acts as a guide, so I know where my drill bit will end up when the holes are done. Next I place the gun wtih a pilot hole on the guide and the top of the muzzle facing up. Then it is just a matter of drilling from the correct starting pioint on the top of the muzzle down to the guide (the 1/4" tube). I do this for each hole with a small bit, 5/32 or so, then finish with a 1/4" bit.

Clear? If not I can take a few photos.

Don't forget to round over the edges of the holes on the top of the muzzle. :thumbsup2: I had a gun crack due to the spectra pushing on a hard corner/edge.

MN

Here is a little something I worked on over the last couple months.

48" tip to butt, five horizontal lams, HDPE handle frame and scales, epoxy coat, it shoots a 9/32 shaft with three 9/16 bands. Since I don't get down south too much, so I sent this to a buddy to put it thru the paces. It shot great in my pool, hopefully it will take a few WSB.

Enjoy,

MN

Sweet! Did you use any dowells on the side stocks?

MN

I personally like the tied in band style. If you tie shorter loops for the tie in, the bands might be more manageable.

MN

Of course; cabbage, potatoes, and carrots. I will chop the veg soon and I have been sneaking samples of the broth all afternoon, yum. But your dish sounds pretty good too!!

I am Jonesin' for a fish. I haven't been out in month due to bad seas, and generally being too busy. Now the freezer is empty. My plan to remedy that is give this a test run soon. :thumbsup2: It should be done by the end of the week.

MN

The corned beef will be ready in about 2 hours. :thumbsup2:

MN

Leave your blank bulky, purple heart is dense and the weight of the trigger mech and handle frame may sink the gun with the shaft out if it is too skinny.

Good luck on the build.

MN

Quote from Don Paul

Here is one I built in 1984 that is still in good shape, I only touched up the finish with Phil's epoxie, decided to leave all the water marks and blemish's . It is still straight and has taken the load of 3 5/8 Dessault rubber for years, however lately I only use 2 5/8s bands.
I would use sealed Mahogany today with no problem except on a Tuna cannon.

Cheers, Don

Lovely gun Don. I hope mine look as nice in so many years. Might I ask why you wouldn't use mahogany on a tuna gun? Is it due to its low density?

MN

Way to go TS! I though Daniel and your dad cleaned that place out already?

MN

Here are a few examples of band elevators I have used on some builds with conventional band slots.

MN

Before I got into diving and building guns I used to use a turnig jig with a rotisserie motor for the fly rods I built and epoxy head flies I tied. It is just about the only way to epoxy coat thread wraps with an even coat. Now I use it for the guns I build. It does work well.

MN