Just wondering if anybody has any experience with re-finishing a mahogany speargun? Have a AB Biller 54’ that has a few black spots forming on it, think it may be rot. Read that you can sand down and then place a single coat of clear epoxy over it if you really want the gun to be durable. Any thoughts?
Epoxy doesn’t have any UV protection and the sun will degrade it fairly fast. You need to put a clear coat over the epoxy, such as a marine varnish with UV inhibitors. Otherwise, no problem.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Small craft surveying and repair
Larry- If the gun is rinsed down and stored inside when not in use, will the UV rays really do that much harm?
Probably not, Chris. Marine epoxy usually doesn’t show UV damage until 3 or 4 months of constant exposure. I imagine most spear guns don’t spend more than a couple days a month in the sun, if that, so it would be a couple of years before it had any real damage, at which time you could sand it down and re-finish it again. Just something to think about if it spends a lot of time exposed.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Small craft surveying and repair
I agree with Cracker Larry, I’d put (at least) a coat or two of some sort of varnish with UV inhibitors on it. I think even fiberglass resin can do that, but I’m not sure if that would be doable as a clearcoat or not. You wouldn’t notice the amber color of fiberglass resin over mahogany.
Personally I’d spray it with a 2-component polyurethane finish made for exterior work, but only because I have some available to me and I’m trained in using it. It’s neither “marine grade” nor made for use below the waterline, but has a lot of UV inhibitors and is one of the most chemically resistant finishes I’ve ever seen in my life. Easy to spray also.
Automotive clear coat, if you have any available to you, would also work if you strip the mahogany well.
There are several good ways to skin this cat really.
Sand down and rhino line!
Stephen Goldfinch
“Sleep When You’re Dead!”
It wont rot. It’s minor water intrusion. Next time get an oil finish gun or rhino line the gun. The wear just adds character and shows that you use it.
Tight lines,
Michael Mattson
843-224-3542
captmattson@aol.com
[quote]Originally posted by yellabird
Sand down and rhino line!
Stephen Goldfinch
“Sleep When You’re Dead!”
[/qlooking for info on the cheap shafts??? looking @ water temps in the GT area, might be looking at a trip to that area soon in prep for june spearfishing tour. lobsters only but cabin fever already setting in!uote]
If it got any better I couldn’t stand it.
Ed,
There’s lots to shoot right now. Just have to pick your spots carefully. Ray odor has the cheapest shafts. Email him. I think he’s selling them at $35.00. Viz has been great up here.
Stephen Goldfinch
“Sleep When You’re Dead!”
Thanks for the input everyone! I have access to free marine grade epoxy so going to go with that for now. Planning on putting some type of UV inhibiting coating over it as well.