GAFF ??

[Marlinmate]

I've been toying with building a gaff. My question is this:

What kind of epoxy is everyone using? Rod Bond (thick and gooey) or a more liquid type?

Will the epoxy do the job by itself or do I need to "pin" the hook into the blank somehow?

When putting the epoxy in, are you putting it into the hook end, then inserting the hook, or putting it in the butt end?

[clt_capt]

The last batch of gaffs I made, I did not pin the hook. I did make the shaft portion of the hook a bit longer than necessary, and then scored it every couple of inches to add a bite for the epoxy. I used regular West System Epoxy - poured from the open end.

My thought is that with the scores to add some teeth for the epoxy, and the taper of the blank, it can't come out unless the epoxy breaks up...

Once that cures, I go back and build an epoxy ramp to smooth the transition from the shaft to the hook. Over the top of that I wrap very fine nylon twine - just like wrapping a rod...

I have not had one fail yet...

I toyed with the idea of pinning - but never tried it yet. There are a couple of negatives in my mind - if the pin moves, I think it could split the blank, also I think there would be a bunch of heat generated drilling through...

[Taz575]

I've used a couple of the Mudhole Custom Gaff kits. They use a fiberglass handle, designed with a spiral cut on the inside of the shaft and the different hook shank dimensions. Each gaff size has a corresponding handle to fit that hook. On the shank of the hook, 2 sides are flattened, so it can't rotate once it is epoxied. I have used Threadmaster Ult. Gel and I think the TM quick 15 min gel for the gaffs. The 6', 5" gap hook gap deadlifted 130# straight off of the ground with the TM long set gel, ran out of room on the hook for more weight. No pins, just the epoxy. I also did up some 3" gap hooks, 4' long gaffs with the quick set TM epoxy, the 15 min stuff. I was able to lift 90# straight off the ground with it. When I started going to the side and lifting the 90# at an angle, the hook started to bend a little, no signs of the handles splitting where the hook was. I haven't done a side lift with the 6' 5" gaff yet. Seem to be good, solid kits!

I just got an 8" Aftco Flying Gaff head in, so I will be making up my own flying gaff, should be interesting! This hook is HUGE!

[NightHeron]

I pin all my gaff heads in with one eighth in brass or stainless rod. In the past i have had to replace hooks that were just epoxied. Maybe just poor epoxy job maybe wrong kind. I do know west system 205 is useless in this application. I make my own hooks and thread the shank going in the blank to give epoxy more surface to bond to and drill pin hole prior in shank and blank seperatly then glue and put pin through let set. So far no problems here in OC but who knows that just my way.

[Banshee]

I found a few fiberglass gaff handles floating, I will not mention the maker, Had a bud make me a bunch of 4 inch heads, some with line pushers, some without. On the ones I have fixed, I ground v'v in the shaft, but I like the Idea od threading the shaft.
Thanks for the tip.
I use marine tex to bed the shaft, but thickend system 3, would also probably work.
JW

[clt_capt]

You can fill "regular" epoxy - West or System 3 with milled glass fibers to add some toughness. The key to me is to keep the epoxy mix thin enough to fill the entire gap around the hook and the shaft.

[NightHeron]

Banshee did those gaff handles have alot of splatter paint on them.