New build - 135 compound roller

[Hpwatson]

I've been honing in on this design over the last few builds and I think I'm getting close to my best version of this style. I factor in a handful of changes and updates every time I build one of these and as far as this one goes I'm perfectly happy with it as a personal gun. I'm going to be switching to sapelle instead of mahogany on future builds, it is a similar wood but apparently much more sustainable and maybe even a bit stronger.

Specs are:

• 135cm band stretch
• 67" 7.5mm riffe shaft
• 14mm rubbers
• Meandros reel with 250ft aussie dyneema line
• AR-15 handle
• Mahogany and purpleheart woods
• 1.4" max thickness

I also post my guns on instagram for any who are interested: @cavalier_spearguns

Thanks for looking!
-Henri


https://photos.app.goo.gl/65XJ8HE32qQXPugt5

https://photos.app.goo.gl/HZnA664KBiSsk6A96

https://photos.app.goo.gl/jgoWJfb4v5pj1CCAA

https://photos.app.goo.gl/rNjT6CDxKL5SY8TT8

[popgun pete]

Certainly a vivid purple from the purpleheart creating in a sense an equatorial band around the gun. Looks great!
Does that stuff hold its color over time?

[Hpwatson]

I think it will fade some over time. Most exotic wood species look their best right when they first get oiled. Teak oil has a high resistance to UV and should keep it well protected as long as I keep the oil finish fresh, but ultimately it will probably fade some. Mahogany actually improves with age.

[asianspearo]

A true work of art!
Congratulations, Mr. Watson.

Di Au

[Hpwatson]

Originally Posted by asianspearo

A true work of art!
Congratulations, Mr. Watson.

Di Au

Thanks!

[musubi]

It's really a beautiful gun! I love the wood colors.

For the band that goes over the rollers, is it cored with line (like spectra)?

[Hpwatson]

Originally Posted by musubi

It's really a beautiful gun! I love the wood colors.

For the band that goes over the rollers, is it cored with line (like spectra)?

Yes it is cored with dyneema

[Mikel_24]

Beautiful gun!!!

Any issues bumping arround the muzzle area? The sides seem a bit thin... and while the core takes most of the load on the pulley shaft a bad bump and you could break it.

I know it goes probably against the overall looks of the gun but... a few layers of CF could reinforce that area.

How is loading it to the last tab? Seems quite close to the butt of the gun!

Mikel

[Hpwatson]

Originally Posted by Mikel_24

Beautiful gun!!!

Any issues bumping arround the muzzle area? The sides seem a bit thin... and while the core takes most of the load on the pulley shaft a bad bump and you could break it.

I know it goes probably against the overall looks of the gun but... a few layers of CF could reinforce that area.

How is loading it to the last tab? Seems quite close to the butt of the gun!

Mikel

Yeah this is the thinnest I've gone on the muzzle without reinforcement. On past guns I've done inlaid carbon fiber bars that work well. The purple heart is so strong I think it'll be fine, but I'm going to see how it works long term. Backup plan is if it does break those pieces eventually I will cut them out and install carbon fiber bars.

Loading to the last tab takes some muscle! Would be less of a problem if I had given myself an extra inch or two of line inside the threaded bands. Right now the threaded bands max out about an inch too short of the last notch and it really tightens up right before you get the tab. Fixable though, just takes time.

[spearq8]

Nice!

[deanmc]

Nice looking gun. Love the choice of wood.

[popgun pete]

http://www.spearboard.com/showthread.php?t=200418

[renepotvin]

Nice gun! what is the length between the roller and the mech? Just so we have a basis of comparison

In the process of making a 120 cm single traditional roller. I've been using a 90 for a while and like it a lot. I'll post the 90 with videos.

[Mikel_24]

Originally Posted by popgun pete

http://www.spearboard.com/showthread.php?t=200418

Uh.... I was looking again at the pictures in this sale thread and... isn't that Meandros reel installed facing BACKWARDS??? I have that very same reel model (different size I guess, but the construction is the same)

The cage of the reel is not symetric. The front facing side has a rod in the topmost part of the cage that works as a line guide and keeps the line tight to the stock, so it does not snag on the rocks or whatever.

The main problem is not that in the current position the line is not paralel to the stock, the problem is that right now the break will tighten as the line is unraveled!

Am I missing something?

Mikel