Fiberglass Gaff

[tankerfly]

Ok guys, after receiving my gaff components from FLATLINER, I finally got this bad boy together. First step was drilling the hole for the pin. I decided to go against Kevin’s advice and drill the hook separate from the blank. Turned out to be a mixed outcome. What a pain to drill in the stainless. 2 drill bits later (would have been end-game if I drilled it after being glued in), it was done and I drilled the blank. The hole was slightly off on the bottom side due to some deflection when the bit hit the spiral groves on the inside of the blank. I inserted the hook and lined up the hole to ream it slightly to work. Lesson learned: drill one side, insert drilled hook, then continue the drill. It would have fixed this problem. I think the copious use of Rod Bond made up for any weakness I imparted. I also filed some extra slots in the hook shank. I didn’t use the method shown on Mudhole’s site because I didn’t want the thread on the hook.
Wrapped, finished, and on to the handle. Found a neat trick to make a fairly straight edge of the finish. After it was on, I took a fine brush soaked in alcohol and just rested it in a steady position while it turned. Worked better than I expected.
I did a Double Moku coxcomb on the grip about 33” long for a solid, comfortable grip. I tried to keep all the moku points in a line, but once the blank started its more severe taper, they started to rotate on me. Oh well. 5x4 Turk’s Heads on each end and several coats of Helmsman spray satin varnish. If anyone wants some good links to coxcombing techniques or how to tie your own Turk’s Heads, PM me. Thanks for all the advice Kevin – it wouldn’t have turned out the same!

[clt_capt]

I drill and peg all of my gaff heads. There are a couple of little tricks to make it easier for you.

Drill the head first - Set your drill press for the lowest speed it supports. Use a good quality lubricant for drilling - In a pinch you can use WD-40, but I prefer Tap Magic Tapping Fluid.

Put a drop of oil where you are going to drill the hole. Start drilling, with steady pressure. If the oil starts smoking, back off. Once you get a little dimple, add more oil. Keep adding oil as the hole gets deeper.

Above all TAKE YOUR TIME. If the stainless gets red hot, it will work harden and then you are in a world of hurt...

Once you have the hole in the gaff head, wash the gaff head with soap and water to remove the oil. Allow to dry. Wipe with Denatured Alcohol.

I then put the head into the gaff blank to determine where it will go. I wrap electrical tape around the gaff head at the point where the head intersects the blank.

I remove the head from the blank, and the electrical tape gives me a little lip to rest the gaff head on the blank on the outside. I drill through the hole in the gaff head, through one side of the blank.

Then I put the head back into the gaff and line the hole up inside the blank. Now drill all the way through the blank and gaff head and out the other side...

I've not had any problems or misses using this method.


Beautiful Wrap on the handle and great looking gaff.

[FLATLINER]

WOW! Well worth the wait!!! It turned out beautiful!!

Clt Capt is the master at drilling those holes. He helped me a bunch as I was pretty good at work hardening my steel. I wasted many a hook until I got it right!!

great work again!!


For those that don't want to tie their own turks head knots, I have them already tied.
Kevin

[Ponce]

Sweet job Matt. You've got those knots down.