# DIY Speargun Mistakes— Still Kills Fish! Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaewQXETNws Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/uaewQXETNws Generated: 2025-12-13T16:33:30.194+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview The DIY speargun build, while resulting in a functional tool that successfully caught fish, involved several costly mistakes, including using the wrong epoxy hardener (205 instead of 207) and misaligning the trigger mechanism, ultimately costing around $40 more than necessary compared to buying an entry-level gun. **Key Points:** - The builder used West System 205 Fast Hardener instead of the recommended 207 Special Clear Hardener because the shop was cold, leading to potential long-term issues. - The trigger mechanism was incorrectly installed on the wrong side of the wood blank, requiring rework. - The total cost of the DIY speargun project was approximately $40 more than purchasing a new entry-level speargun. - The builder calculated the potential energy stored in the bands to be 936 Joules, using the formula W = integral(F(x)dx) = 1/2 kx^2 * 4 bands. - Wood preparation involved planing Mahogany boards, which, unlike Teak, is less oily, requiring more frequent treatment to prevent warping. - The builder realized that using brass screws instead of stainless steel for mounting hardware could cause corrosion issues in saltwater. - The final speargun, despite the mistakes, successfully caught a large fish, demonstrating its functionality. ![Screenshot at 00:16: The title card displays 'FORTNINE x Defender' over an image of the completed wooden speargun resting on its trailer, setting the stage for a DIY project build.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/uaewQXETNws/00-00-16.png) **Context:** This video documents the process of building a custom wooden speargun from scratch, detailing the construction steps, material choices, and the inevitable mistakes encountered along the way. The narrator contrasts the DIY approach with simply purchasing a commercially available gun, highlighting the financial and practical trade-offs involved in custom fabrication. ## Detailed Analysis The creator details the process of building a custom wooden speargun, starting with the realization that small repair issues can escalate into major problems. Initial steps involved removing a stripped screw from a fish finder mount on the boat 'The Sound Pounder' (00:07) and discovering previous bad repairs, like silicone shot into a hole instead of proper fixing (00:29). The wood fabrication began with planing Mahogany boards (02:10) and cutting the shape based on a blueprint (03:05). A significant error occurred when mixing epoxy; the builder used West System 205 Fast Hardener instead of the 207 Special Clear Hardener because the shop was cold (06:22). This choice, while necessary for curing in the cold, might compromise long-term durability. The builder also made errors in cutting the trigger pocket, installing it on the wrong side of the gun blank (04:02), and used brass screws for mounting the line guide, which risks corrosion in saltwater (05:54). The builder calculated the potential energy stored in the bands as 936 Joules (01:44). Ultimately, the total cost of the DIY project exceeded the cost of buying a new entry-level spear gun by about $40 (08:03). Despite the numerous mistakes, the speargun proved successful, as demonstrated by the underwater footage of the builder catching a large fish (07:19) and the final shot of the successful catch on the boat (07:58). ### Project Introduction & Initial Assessment - Discusses how small repair jobs can balloon into full restorations - Mentions stripping a screw on the fish finder mount on the boat 'The Sound Pounder' - Notes previous shoddy repair work involving silicone sealant (00:01-00:31) ### Woodworking & Assembly - Involves planing Mahogany boards (02:10) and cutting the stock shape on a table saw (02:52) - Shaping the wood for the trigger mechanism pocket using a router (03:36) - Discusses finishing with two coats of epoxy and light sanding in between (06:26) ### Hardware & Epoxy Mistakes - Used West System 205 Fast Hardener instead of 207 Clear Hardener due to cold shop temperatures (06:19) - Realized the trigger mechanism was pocketed on the wrong side (04:02) - Used brass screws for line guides, potentially leading to corrosion (05:54) ### Physics & Cost Analysis - Calculated stored energy in the bands as 936 Joules (01:44) - Concluded the DIY build cost about $40 more than buying a new entry-level spear gun (08:03) - Notes that using Teak wood is better for buoyancy but harder to source than Mahogany (05:19) ### Final Result & Conclusion - Despite mistakes, the speargun successfully caught a large fish (07:49) - The builder expresses satisfaction with the process despite the cost overrun (08:21) ![Screenshot at 00:07: The close-up shows the corroded bracket and stripped screw where the fish finder transducer was mounted on the boat transom.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/uaewQXETNws/00-00-07.png) ![Screenshot at 00:14: The host stands in front of a bar setup, wearing a shirt that reads 'Keep it shitty', introducing the topic of fixing gear.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/uaewQXETNws/00-00-14.png) ![Screenshot at 00:20: The transom of the boat, named 'THE SOUND POUNDER', shows where the fish finder transducer was previously mounted.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/uaewQXETNws/00-00-20.png) ![Screenshot at 01:03: A chalkboard displays physics equations related to work done \(W = integral F\(x\)dx\) and the calculated energy of 936 J, relating to the speargun's power source.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/uaewQXETNws/00-01-03.png) ![Screenshot at 07:17: The diver is fully suited up in camouflage wetsuit, mask, and snorkel, sitting on the boat with the finished wooden speargun across their lap.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/uaewQXETNws/00-07-17.png)