The DeeperBlue.net Gun Building Extravaganza - The Build

[Pastor]

Some dude from some island somewhere and with two older brothers mentioned the idea of tapering the centre laminate from about 20mm at the butt to 12mm at the muzzle.

[foxfish]

Yep - I thought that would look cool, if you can imagine the two darker strips tapering down the sight line with the spear in the middle?
I do have a few ideas but lets see if anyone else would like to give some suggestions?

[Lockedin]

GITS,

Please correct me if I'm wrong (not uncommon), but wouldn't it be stronger, as well as quieter to use a Delrin insert?

Also instead of 90º opposed grains ( |-|-| ) would 45º make sense? ( / \ | / \ ) Great illustrations - eh?

Just wondering.

[THE GITS]

Hello again spearos!

Lockedin, your point about using grain opposed at 45º is again a good one. If we had chosen a single timber then yes this would be a very good solution that would help disperse stresses evenly. In our gun here we have a very different situation. This has been my attempt at solving the problem of mixing different timbers, by using them in such as way to avoid different rates of movement that would eventually be the cause a step in the join between the woods, or even worse future de-lamination. Timber that has its growth rings running in such a way is also at its most stable which is another of those desirable attributes of a speargun.

I like your signature Lockedin, it is a true statement indeed.

See you all next time spearos!

[blaiz]

Originally Posted by foxfish

Wow, thanks Mr Gits!!! I hope that answers you question blaiz ?

Yes, to say the least.

I like the idea of a molded graphite track. I think that a completely "custom" gun is what we are after here.

[podge]

Well its all Greek to me baby but I do like the sound of an epoxy track.
I have no idea what Derlin is, metal sounds to harsh and maybe noisy, plastic seems to me to be to cheap and tacky an option for such a master piece and I’m not to sure about cutting it straight into the Teak, will it not maybe weaken the gun or have an effect on the overall balance?
Just my humble thought gents I stand to be put in my place by such masters as Foxfish, Pastor and Spaggie.

[blaiz]

Originally Posted by podge

Well its all Greek to me baby but I do like the sound of an epoxy track.
I have no idea what Derlin is, metal sounds to harsh and maybe noisy, plastic seems to me to be to cheap and tacky an option for such a master piece and I’m not to sure about cutting it straight into the Teak, will it not maybe weaken the gun or have an effect on the overall balance?
Just my humble thought gents I stand to be put in my place by such masters as Foxfish, Pastor and Spaggie.

well even with the epoxy track you still have to mortis out (cut out) a portion down the center of the gun. I like the idea of reinforcing it with graphinte/epoxy. I think it will be very quiet and reletively bullet-proof!

[podge]

Originally Posted by blaiz

well even with the epoxy track you still have to mortis out (cut out) a portion down the center of the gun. I like the idea of reinforcing it with graphinte/epoxy. I think it will be very quiet and reletively bullet-proof!

Exactly that, you’d be replacing wood with a drop or two of brick hard epoxy and i reckon it'll look pretty cool

[Mr. X]

Don't know anything about wood or barrels but I seem to recall one guy using some odd T-shaped lamination recently. Another thread (in which Foxfish was involved) discussed enclosed tracks & Delrin seemed to be the choice of those involved (searching for it now, it looks like there are several threads on this very subject) & I believe Foxfish might know where to source it(?).

Alternatively, you could try "Unobtainium" (just kidding, I believe that's what they call the secret low-friction graphite/polymer/ceramic used to make the nuts on the more expensive PRS guitars).

How should the spearline be rigged? I would prefer to see it attached at the back of the spear but I could see that being a problem with the enclosed barrel (but not impossible). And perhaps a s/steel pin at the muzzle as a line guide?

[blaiz]

Originally Posted by Mr. X

How should the spearline be rigged? I would prefer to see it attached at the back of the spear but I could see that being a problem with the enclosed barrel (but not impossible). And perhaps a s/steel pin at the muzzle as a line guide?

Im not a hundred percent sure but I dont think that the line can attach to the back of the spear. Doesnt it have to be attachted to one of the shark fins in an inclosed track?

[settingsteel]

Originally Posted by Pastor

Some dude from some island somewhere and with two older brothers mentioned the idea of tapering the centre laminate from about 20mm at the butt to 12mm at the muzzle.

that man then must be a genuis...I think that would look, flare...and tapering with squid shape...the gods would be envious

[salibandy]

Originally Posted by Mr. X

... "Unobtainium"...

Off topic, but, isn't that material from Oakley?

[Pastor]

Originally Posted by blaiz

Im not a hundred percent sure but I dont think that the line can attach to the back of the spear. Doesnt it have to be attachted to one of the shark fins in an inclosed track?

Yes the line attaches to one of the sharkfins, well that's how it does on my wooden tracked Wong

[foxfish]

I have used derlin, I think that this is the best material commonly used? Very tough & slippery.
I have used wood, easy option but difficult to get an uniform finish inside the track. Not difficult to cut but difficult to apply an epoxy coat without little bumps & irregularity's.
I have used metal, very very tough but a bit noisy!
I have used epoxy mixed with micro powder, very good method, you can add colour to the glue so it looks cool too.
I have not used nylon or many of the self lubricating plastic available, but I am going to search the net for more info on some of these plastics.
Have a look here - theplasticshop.co.uk - the online supplier of Perspex, Lexan, Tufnol, acrylic rod, acrylic tube, acrylic mirror, industrial strip curtains and all engineering plastic rod, sheet & tube

[blaiz]

Originally Posted by foxfish

I have used derlin, I think that this is the best material commonly used? Very tough & slippery.
I have used wood, easy option but difficult to get an uniform finish inside the track. Not difficult to cut but difficult to apply an epoxy coat without little bumps & irregularity's.
I have used metal, very very tough but a bit noisy!
I have used epoxy mixed with micro powder, very good method, you can add colour to the glue so it looks cool too.
I have not used nylon or many of the self lubricating plastic available, but I am going to search the net for more info on some of these plastics.
Have a look here - theplasticshop.co.uk - the online supplier of Perspex, Lexan, Tufnol, acrylic rod, acrylic tube, acrylic mirror, industrial strip curtains and all engineering plastic rod, sheet & tube

The way Ive seen the epoxy tracks made was first the track was mortised out square (~5/8" wide by ~5/8" deep... not sure of the exact measurements) Then the entire track was filled with a graphite/epoxy. Next a shallow center line is cut down the epoxy fill (1/8 or 3/16in.) This is then fallowed by the track cut w/ a circular router bit. The resulting track is smooth and straight.