Laminating Spearguns – How to Laminate a Speargun

The Laminating of Spearguns – How to Laminate a Speargun

The concept of laminating spearguns is to epoxy the gain of the wood in opposition of itself.  The idea is that if one board warps the other laminated boards will warp the same amount in the opposite direction, thereby negating any warping that occurs in any of the laminated boards.  This concept is frequently used across many aspects of woodworking, for both wood that is used above and below water. 

Humidity and water increase the fish of wood warping.This is why the concept of laminating wood for spearguns is so common.  While most brands of epoxy used when laminating spearguns is actually stronger than the wood itself.  That being said the risk of delamination is still present, and actually presents a greater risk to the integrity of a speargun than wood warping.  

The Process of Aging Wood

The way to age teak properly is to simply keep it is a cool (room temperature), dry place. Allow it to simply sit for an extended period of time and allow it to dry thoroughly.  This can take anywhere from a month to a year depending on conditions.  Ultimately the process of aging wood is to allow the wood to warp before working on it.  Once the wood is properly dry and warped to the extent that it can, a woodworker is able to use proper tools to get a straight edge and build whatever project they are working on, in our case spearguns.  

Straightening Warped Wood

Shaping the wood is dependent on the woodworker’s skill level.  The tools also have a large impact on the woodworkers capabilities. Hand planners are the old fashioned method. This plus a straight edge are great tools for determining if the blank is straight. This process can be done on all four side of the wood to give you a square or rectangular board. 

Thank goodness for modern technology, because that is tedious and exhausting.  A modern method to fix warped wood is to use a joiner. The purpose of this tool is to create a flat edge to join wood into large fixtures.  This is how tables and most other wooden furniture are made. We use the same concepts to make a flat surface too.  After you have one straight edge you can use that edge to use other tools, like a table saw or planner, to create straight edges on all sides. This enables you to find true centers of the wood and accurately build a well-balanced speargun.  

Cost Benefit Analysis

Instead of laminating you can treat your speargun with teak oil regularly. Teak has been sought after and used for marine purposes because it has natural resistance to water damage.  Overall, the risk of laminated teak delaminating with water exposure is greater than properly aged and treated teak from warping.