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Quote from Wood Guy

Am I missing something?

The muzzles usually aren't deep enough (top to bottom) to drill two holes (or slots) on much of an angle and meet in the middle. It works best if the slot is a curve, so that it can exit higher on the muzzle.

I was thinking that I could cut it from the end, using X and Y coordinates to simulate an arc. The DRO has a routine for this. Then just make a fitting piece to seal the end of the slot, and held in place with a screw. Similar to the way many band slots have a little shim to fill the cut, but thicker and curved.

The problem is that the angled cuts won't meet in the middle. You have to make a "normal" band slot cut first, wrap in lots of carbon (1/4" wall thickness) and then make the angled cuts down into the already cleared out slot.

We generally mix up the ingredients ahead of time and the first fish that's shot (small snapper, tripletail, trigger, etc.) is lunch. My favorite style is similar to the 1st recipe, but with jalapenos

No pics with bands stretched. The pictures are of a prototype that I made yesterday. It's only about 10" long.

Quote from griswold

The problem with that is cutting the curved slot in the delrin is just as hard as cutting it in any other material.

I'm a little embarrassed that I didn't think of it, but i think the DRO on my mill would make this not only possible, but easy.

The problem with that is cutting the curved slot in the delrin is just as hard as cutting it in any other material. You have to "build" it in stages. I don't know a way to cut if from a single block and a muzzle isn't an area where I want to rely on glued together pieces.

Here's a new muzzle design that Jeff and I have been playing with. It provides in-line band pull using regular bands, which can be easily replaced.

It features a curved band slot that dips down well below the track area and comes up at an angle on the sides of the track. It's not easy to make, but by doing it in steps along with the carbon fiber layup, it's do-able.

Good on you Don. Great advice.

I wasn't being a smart ass. I ment that I learned something in a good way.

I really didn't know and hadn't given it much thought. It makes sense.

I started making the handles that way just because it felt right. One of the great things about shapelock is that you sort of know it's right when it feels right.

I knew I was going to learn something today.

I like the more angled handle - I don't know why it's is better, might just be a personal preference thing?

You are right Dan, I need to stop using my cell phone to take pictures of stuff that I want anyone to appreciate.

Thanks Hau.

Missed opportunity Dan! I was expecting something more like "Yes, it's an art. But if you send the guns to me, I'll take some nice pics for you . . ."

I have yet to take a good picture. Just can't seem to capture the subtle shaping, like the concave shape along the track on the bottom gun.

I have a couple of these to play with, of a slightly earlier design (2 screws) and unanodized. They are a little large for my hands, but the molded rubber grips are really nice, and something that I haven't seen available on any similar handles. I had kind of forgotten that I had them, but I want to experiment and see if I can sand the grips down a little to better fit my hand.

I cerainly agree that a great handle is important, but you're leaving out an option which works well with mid-handle guns - using the second hand on the butt to rotate the gun.

While it is impossible to track a fast moving tuna feeding on chum, there certainly are times when I can and do move the gun laterally through the water following the movement of a fish, or while carefully lining up a shot on a fish that is going to kick my butt if I don't hurt it badly. Having at least enough gun behind the handle to have the option of using the second hand to aid in swinging it is important for the way I handle a gun.

Hey John - How did your handle finally turn out? I thought you still wanted to smooth it a little?

Jeff (TinMan) and I would like to support FRA’s efforts. We are hereby donating 2 custom guns to raise money and membership.

1 custom gun will be raffled off with 100% of the money going to FRA.
1 custom gun will be auctioned to the highest bidder, again with 100% of the money going to FRA.

We will post pictures of some of the guns that we have made, along with sketches of some ideas that are on the drawing board. The winners can choose from what we have already done, or we will work with them in making their dream gun.

Please post bids for the auction on this thread.

We haven’t talked with Denny about this yet, so please check back for information on how to purchase raffle tickets.

As many of you know, we have never sold our guns. If you want one, now’s the time to step to the plate.

Thanks,

Chad

Quote from griswold

After much pain trying to get a decent finish the first 100 times I tried to make something out of carbon fiber, Tinman told me to just wipe the epoxy on and while wet try to wipe it off with a clean cloth. If you do this you get a near perfect finish every time (I say near perfect because I haven't done anything perfect yet).

I learned this when I accidentally applied epoxy to the wrong end of the CF tube when making up my hybrid. I hurredly wiped it off and went on with the assembly. Later, I realized that in spite of the dusty shop, the wetted area turned out with a nice clean satin appearance.

Every mistake is a learning opportunity, right?

This is a beautiful gun, by the way. The pictures don't do it justice.

After much pain trying to get a decent finish the first 100 times I tried to make something out of carbon fiber, Tinman told me to just wipe the epoxy on and while wet try to wipe it off with a clean cloth. If you do this you get a near perfect finish every time (I say near perfect because I haven't done anything perfect yet).

Quote from LunkerBuster

. . . what it is about the handle of the gun is so much about the angle of the handle. that is sooo big for each shooter based on hand size and angle of the fingers..if you are forced to break your wrist up or down at all, it loses a considerable amount of strength (see; sloppy drunken punch breaks YOUR hand not other guy's face)

+1 on that, and I'll add that the position of the trigger makes a big difference too. I got bonked in the head shooting one of Griswold's mid-handle guns in the pool the other day. His hands are bigger, and his trigger further forward. In reaching around to get my finger on the trigger, I failed to notice that I didn't really have the palm of my hand properly positioned behind the handle. It was more at the base of my thumb. When I pulled the trigger, the gun just folded my thumb back and recoiled backwards.

I did have my other hand on the but of the gun, but wasn't really expecting to stop it's full force. Embarrassing more than anything, but a lesson learned.