Posts by seaweed

  • Making a 1 band gun better

    You cant calculate it by inches because the band length is a factor. Pulling 4 inches on a 20inch band is not the same as pulling 4 inches on a 5 inch band.


    Say one side of 20mm band is 12 inches and you pull 24 inches past that, that equals 200%, ~130lbs and a total length from tab to band hole of 36 inches. Add 4 inches to next tab that equals 28/12= 233%, ~140lbs and so on.


    We usually load bands to 250% elongation.
    Elongation is deformation / original length. Deformation =stretched length - original length.



    This chart is provided by primeline industries rubber. I modified it to suit speargun rubber which has 2 sides. Different manufacturers will vary.

  • New Reel designs

    Auto wind can probably be done with one of those mainspring watch springs. I know that's how they make the auto flyreels.


    I know with the some reels they have 2-3 delrin washers that can be replaced with a toothed delrin gear, and the level wind can be placed on the line guide.

  • New Reel designs

    Using a reel is great except when it comes to reeling back in the line. First of all we like to use thicker lines when the reels are designed to use thinner lines, since they are based on european spearfishing.


    This means that we can barely get enough line on the reels which means the spool is filled all the way to the brim. By having it so full we must carefully reel back in the line to make sure it is all even.


    So three thing are going on with only 2 hands.


    1. Wind the reel
    2. Hold the gun
    3. With the same gun holding hand balance the line on the reel


    Elimination of any 1 or more things will lead to a better reel.


    1. Auto winding reel( like autowinding flyfishing reels)
    2. Some sort of way to free the hand holding the gun
    3. Levelwind system (like on some horizontal fishing reels)



    2 can be the easiest to figure out and can possibly be done without designing a new reel. Maybe some sort or retratable stabilizer on the gun.


    3 is the next easiest/ Some sort of system can be retro-fitted to existing reels.


    1 is the hardest although an autowinding reel will be awesome it would probably cost too much or require alot of maintenance


    What are your thoughts?

  • Foreign Candy

    I found it in my kitchen in a carton with Santa Claus on it and more Russian writing. I guess my mom left it. I'll save you some.

  • Which gun to build>

    Thanks for the input guys. I think I can do a rough estimate of how much wood is really needed since I took a course on composite materials, laminated wood is pretty much a composite material.


    I really miss my 20mm band, there's nothing like almost passing out after loading your bands. I like it because you have 3 power options, my aimrite was a laser with it so imagine an enclosed track gun.

  • Which gun to build>

    Fixed features of the "Bitter Reality"
    ~black
    ~smallest crossection, probably will have problems with flotation
    ~60 inch shaft
    ~reel
    ~chest loader
    ~2 loop bands , 3/4 band and 5/8 band
    ~front wood wing (reduce muzzle rise due to small crossection)
    ~enclosed track
    ~highly angled handle as close to plane as possible with mechanism.
    ~maybe no shaft overhang, shaft is flush with the front or even a bit shorter, just and idea to try out, will probably switch over to 12-14" overhang if doesnt work out.



    I really like the idea the smallest crossection gun possible I think most wood guns are over built but the benefit is added mass. Current homemade gun, "sweet dreams", is under 1" thick but I made up for it by making it higher than a standard riffe. I will try out some calculations to try and find some acceptable dimensions.


    Option 1
    Been thinking of a "high tech" tactical look for a while. Inspired by a small crossbow I have. Collapsible wire stock included for better tracking in an instant. In other words the gun is a rear handled but you can extend the butt about 12" in an instant to get better tracking when needed. I'm leaning toward this idea, and "no" it will not have the limbs on it. A speargun a SWAT team might use if they had to.


    Picture it without the limbs, sight parts, and waaaaay longer.





    Option 2

    Basically a wood copy of a railgun except everything is wood even the handle. Leaning towards a complex barrel shape similar to an omer cayman HF or "Tito gun". Had this idea today so really haven't developed it well.

  • Bad shot placement

    I aim all of my shots. Probably due to switching over from shooting firearms to shooting spearguns. I find most my shots are in the head region unless the fish is fleeing. I compensate for distance by aiming higher. I do try to get as close as possible, less than 10 ft, so that probably has more to do with stone shots than anything else.