Hawaiian Slings

The one question I have is the shaft thickness. Is there a standard size? Making the correct hole size would be #1 I assume.

I would think it would have to be larger than the shaft but not so small to allow sand to jamb it.  the hole would only be a guide and a handle to help you point it in a general direction.  it could probably be 1/8 to 3/16 larger than the shaft easy. sounds like fun to make.

Grew up using polespears & hawaiian slings.  One of my favorites was a mechanical sling, the hinge gun.  Found a couple in my grandpa's garage & used them to harass the local reef fish.  I should go dig them up again.  Here's a very old site one of my dive buddies made about slings (& hinge slings)
http://www.geocities.com/freedivespearo/aboutslings.html



You can use pretty much any size shaft.  PM me if you need one.

Thinner shafts are quicker.  You won't be able to generate anywhere near the speed of a speargun, so for close range rockfish... thin is good.

Thicker shafts have more inertia, but slooooooow.  Because the shaft speed is low, you'll have considerable trouble penetrating a big lingcod with a thin shaft.

Are we talking a shaft diameter of 1/4 inch or thinner. I can't imagine it being thicker then that. Just wanna drill a hole that is large enough

1/4" is probably the minimum.  5/16" is probably the maximum.

For what you're doing, I'd advise sticking to the 1/4" end of spectrum.

I have around fifty feet of 1/4 slick rod that I could cut in probably 4' sections and sharpen one end of.. That way I could make numerouse shafts and if some are lost its all good... I will bring some sharpened shafts to Gimme Shelter to look at....Andy

sounds good. I will use 1/4 inch as the hole size.

Looks like some serious fun.  I've always wanted to try one.

sounds good. I will use 1/4 inch as the hole size.

There needs to be room for the shaft to move freely through the handle if it is a 1/4 inch shaft it will not move freely through a 1/4 inch hole.  5/16 would only give you a 1/32 of an inch on all sides might have to go to 3/8"

I just finished my proto type! I used 1/2 pvc as the barrel. I attached the tubing to the pvc with hose clamps. I took one shot at A 1/2 piece of plywood and the spear pierced thru it... Oh boy I think we can pull this one off. Will post pics tognight. Maybe even some video...Andy

I just finished my proto type! I used 1/2 pvc as the barrel. I attached the tubing to the pvc with hose clamps. I took one shot at A 1/2 piece of plywood and the spear pierced thru it... Oh boy I think we can pull this one off. Will post pics tognight. Maybe even some video...Andy

I was looking at PVC today as well. I really wanna make one out of wood. Like the one in the 2nd pic down. The issue is drilling a 3/8 in hole all way thru 8'' of wood.

Instead of trying to bore 8" without a lathe I CHEAT.  Use 4 pieces of square stock hardwood 3/4"x3/4"x10".  I wax my choice of staft and then glue up the square stock so that the shaft is in the middle.  Remove shaft when the glue is dry and ream the hole from both ends.  Round off the square ends of the handle where needed..Gotta love a belt sander..stabilize the wood inside and out and then cord wrap handle and attach the tubing (I use two bands) at the same time,  I use a fitted plastic "cup" that holds the shaft well but releases properly when let go.

Have not done one with a trigger mechanism yet but it is in the works as soon as I can find a brass or stainless steel hinge I like.  I tether my shafts to a float but that is not recommended by many due to possible entanglement issues.

DSRTEGL

Made A vid but dont know how to post it.You could view on utube in Hawaiian sling NCKA stlyle. I cant wait to get some good wood!!http://

Yeah, I've been calling pole spears "hawiian sling" too. Good knowledge.

Here's that video Andy. You should shorten the "workout band" haha!
And nice overalls farmer Andy!

Nice...I should have something to show tomorrow or Sunday. I am now going with 1/2 inch PVC but I am going to wrap the plastic in some exotic wood.