DIY gaff (including hook)

I lost my gaff yesterday, and couldn't find one I liked, so I wanted to make one. While there's lots of good info on how to attach a gaff hook to a handle, I didn't see anything on how to fashion a hook. So, here's my attempt...

I got a 3/8" stainless (304 was all that I could find) rod, bent it in my DIY bending jig, put a point on it, and attached a custom (ha ha) PVC handle.

The hardest part was putting a point on it, but with some power tools, that would've been a lot easier. I heated up the end and tried to bash it flat to put a bolt thru. Suffice it to say that I'll never be a contestant on "forged in fire".

Anyways, I want to make a couple minor mods, but I think it'll work. I'm hoping to test it out tomorrow...

Nice work - I love the homemade bending jig for putting a nice curve in the gaff hook. Go over the hook with some Bar Keepers Friend to re-passivate the stainless and help keep it from rusting. Working it/grinding it will make it more susceptible to rust. I use it on all my stainless brewing equipment whenever it starts to show surface rust. I think Bon Ami will work as well, but am not positive.

Good luck and I hope you have an opportunity to test it. Be sure to get a photo of the kill shot

Cheers,
Brad

Go over the hook with some Bar Keepers Friend to re-passivate the stainless and help keep it from rusting.

Thanks for the suggestion. Will do!

I think Bon Ami will work as well, but am not positive.

I'm fairly certain that Bon Ami lacks the oxalic acid that re-passivates stainless.  I know both Bon Ami and BKF use feldspar as their alkaline cleanser, but only BKF has the oxalic acid component.

For NowhereMan, make a paste of the BKF with a few drops of water, spread it on the hook and let it sit for a few hours to ensure you let the reaction go as far as possible, then just rinse and it'll be repassivated.

Nice hook good looking gaf . Let me help you make your next handle please

Nice hook good looking gaf . Let me help you make your next handle please

Ha ha! When I get ambitious, I'll try to find a twist madrone branch to use as the handle...

That looks great!  Looking forward to your review of it's performance!  I like to make my handles out of fresh cut redwood branches that I shape a bit mount the hook and then let them dry/harden.

That’ll work. Great job!

Did you temper the hook at all (heat red hot and cool rapidly in water) to secure the shape after bending? I've always been curious about this process. Do you feel like the bend will stay in shape? looks way sweet. They only way to get more DIY than that would be to mine your own coal and iron ore and smelt your own steel first!

Did you temper the hook at all (heat red hot and cool rapidly in water) to secure the shape after bending? I've always been curious about this process. Do you feel like the bend will stay in shape? looks way sweet. They only way to get more DIY than that would be to mine your own coal and iron ore and smelt your own steel first!

Good question. You cannot harden 304 or 316 stainless by heat treating. Although slightly less corrosion-resistant, 410 stainless can be heat treated like non-stainless. I checked with the local metal stores, and none carry 410.

In any case, 3/8" is plenty stiff. The hard part is getting a sharp enough point on it, as it's very difficult to remove material with a file. I gaffed a salmon today and it worked, but it definitely could use a sharper point...

The "point" looks pretty good in the pics -- it's all the extra metal up behind that makes it difficult to penetrate. A slower taper will help, but that's a lot of material to remove by a hand file - a dremel should take a lot off pretty quick.

But hey - it works. You've got the fatty salmon to prove it

Cheers,
Brad

A nice young eucalyptus sapling would be better shape it where you want it however you want it and then let it age out in the sun for 2 or 3 weeks then you can stain it or oil it

Nice hook good looking gaf . Let me help you make your next handle please

Ha ha! When I get ambitious, I'll try to find a twist madrone branch to use as the handle...

I gaffed a salmon today and it worked...

lol... the true test of a DIY gaff... no big deal.   

Just for the record, I made a few minor mods. There was an ever-so-slight wobble, and it was a bit too heavy. So I cut off the top 3 or 4 inches that goes in the handle. Then, I drilled a small hole and threaded it for a 10-32 bolt, and put in a spacer. The bolt goes all the thru the handle (including the spacer and threaded hole in the rod), with a nut on the other side. There is absolutely no play/wobble now. Hopefully, that's reasonably clear, as I forgot to take any pictures.

I also filed the point to a better taper, and put a piece of vinyl tubing over the tip to keep from accidentally stabbing myself.

Hopefully, I'll get a chance to try it again soon...

Just for the record, I made a few minor mods. There was an ever-so-slight wobble, and it was a bit too heavy. So I cut off the top 3 or 4 inches that goes in the handle. Then, I drilled a small hole and threaded it for a 10-32 bolt, and put in a spacer. The bolt goes all the thru the handle (including the spacer and threaded hole in the rod), with a nut on the other side. There is absolutely no play/wobble now. Hopefully, that's reasonably clear, as I forgot to take any pictures.

I also filed the point to a better taper, and put a piece of vinyl tubing over the tip to keep from accidentally stabbing myself.

Hopefully, I'll get a chance to try it again soon...

Keep on creating!  I'm sure that's gonna be a fishy gaff.  I look forward to my first gaffed salmon...