anyone here make their own spears/slings?

[DPP Santa Cruz]

I am curious as to how other people make their own polespears, slings, and speartips. I also want to hear from people who have tried both handmade and factory made hunting tools, and what you have to say about that.

 

[JHO007]

I guess if you are really into making things and already have the tools/materials then its not too bad. But for the most part, anything you make won't be as good as what you can buy for close to the same price. I have found that USUALLY(i know many people will say "oh no you can make this for cheaper) the price of commercially made goods is not much over cost of materials. Certain items like snares, and other things you can make cheaper. But guns and spear tips and things would require more investment in time and money than the few dollars they cost.

 

[Wayward Son]

I tie my own bands. The rest, well, if you already have a machine shop you could do it. Other wise you'd spend a small fortune tooling up & then the learning begins.

 

[DPP Santa Cruz]

Thanks!

I have been sporting a 5ft' bamboo pole with a 2'' long antler tip. The tip was widled sharp on both ends and fitted on the tip of the pole with the hemp that wrapped around carved wedges on the tip ; I also used a surgical band for the sling. It was a solid spear until I lost it on my last hunt... major bummer!

I think I might start looking into getting a pre-made one, I just hope I don't lose it!

 

[Chad Carney]

I've used homemade Hawaiian slings that my buddy Art Pinder made, but he does not make the spears anymore. In the 40's he made shafts from umbrella rods.

You'll probably get a kick out of this website. http://www.skindivinghistory.com/gear/spearguns/index.html

Ron Mullins brought his history display to The Blue Wild Expo this year. http://www.thebluewild.com/divehistory,happyhour,filmfest.htm
http://www.thebluewild.com/2006expo_copy(1).htm

Chad

 

[Chad Carney]

The guns I use today are custom made by Daryl Wong.

Quite a difference from what most would call hand made.

http://www.wongspearguns.com/

 

[Sam Miller III]

1. I would suggest that you contact the "retro sub" diving group in your area. They are very talented and make some great guns and or modify off the shelf items to be great shooters.

2. Most who produce their own shooten irons currently use selected components from the various manufactures...All though costly prefer the Alexander mechanism which is installed in a wood guns of my own design.

3. The home built guns are generally custom designed and made to the makers own exacting specifications, generally but not always they are more powerful, more accurate and more dependable. On rare occasions guns either shoot high or low at predetermined distances, this can be rectified by establishing an alternate aiming point or modifying the gun.

4. The story about Art & his brothers using an umbrella stay is noted and heard many times. A great story, many many things were used as projectiles and propellants in the geniuses of spear fishing by many many people on both sides of the US. However an umbrella stay would have the trajectory of a $5 dollar bill in a wind storm

sdm

 

[DPP Santa Cruz]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your advise!
After reading everyone's posts, I am leaning towards getting a pre-made sling. Probably out of some lightweight metal.

I tried constructing a shaft out of an umbrella... I would be better off leaving that umbrella intact for this coming rainy season. The spear itself shoots more accurate than my bamboo pole, but i need to aim higher than the target, vs the pole that I would need to aim lower. I cut three thin Vs at the tip so that I could have a three prong tip. The drawback is that it is really short, and retractable.

All in all, I am finding out what I like and what I don't like in a spear. One of the things I am beginning to not like is having to pause a hunt sesh to fix or make adjustments to my rig.

Thanks for your input, I'm sure I'll have more questions as I upgrade my equipment