"make your own Spearbands " Submitted by a Spearo

Method 1
To make your own powerband with ease of assembly , adjustable wishbone length, and easy changeability do the following steps:

cut to desired length - measure the full distance a fully stretched band would require then subtract 6 (for the wishbone) and divide by 3 to 3.2 depending on how tight
you like your bands - that is the length of the powerband rubber. Tighter will mean more power but it will also mean it is more difficult to load. Better to get more
power by adding more bands. For high-modulus rubber, you can go up to 3.5 to 1 stretch.
taper each end - by inserting a nail into the end of the band (wet it first to ease insertion) then using the pedestal grinder taper the end at a 45 degree angle, grinding
down until the grinder sparks on the nail head .
make the wishbone Sear the ends with a torch or match to prevent fraying.
tie a figure eight knot in one end of the 10" length of 1/8" nylon Para cord. Pull the knot tight with a pair of vice grips.
construct the band eye . Here is a shot of the stages of the band eye assembly. First cut about 6 inches of 400lb mono and thread onto a 2.2 barrel crimp . Then
swage the crimp with a large enough loop for the cord to run through. Next install a barrel shot on one leg and a trailing barrel crimp. Swage the entire assembly and
then cut the trailing mono to result in the final band eye
insert the wishbone end into the powerband end - Silicone spray on the knot and silicone spray up the hole in the rubber will aid in inserting the knot. Wrap cloth
around the rubber to protect your hand and then push the rubber over the tool holding the knot. Be sure it is deep enough to allow you to tie a knot over the cord in
the next step.
insert the band eye using needle nose pliers and silicone spray until it's all the way in.
tie the Constrictor Knot or the Double Constrictor Knot over each end Using pliers pull the knot - be sure it is very tight - so tight that the rubber seems like it is
going to burst tie it twice using square knots after the constrictor. Also be sure you tied it as close to the taper as you can but still over the wishbone line. Cut and
sear the tag ends of the knot line. I use the waxed wiping line sailors (available at West Marine or better Marine supply stores). Cut about a 12 inch segment when
tripled tie figure eights in the waxed line. installation on the gun is easy - thread thru the guns band slot . Then tie a figure 8 in the wishbone cord. The finished product

test for strength - pull each end apart to be sure the wishbone knot isn't going to pull out. Repeat test on a speargun to be sure it holds. If it pulls out, your constrictor
know wasn't tight enough or your figure eight knot was too small.

Here is another Method

You can buy your tubing from RIFFE or AB BILLER. Keep in mind that metal wishbones make more noise than monofilament or nylon wishbones and when the
metal gets weak you can't and won't notice it, it'll just snap out of the blue on ya. You can see when nylon or monofilament is getting weak and they last way longer
than metal wishbones!! If want to make your own then here's what to do: JUST REMEMBER I'M NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY MISTAKES OR SCREW
UPS!! SO USE YA HEAD!
MATERIALS NEEDED
1.surgical tubing(7/16" or 1/2" diameter)
2.very,very stiff nylon line
3.two hard plastic beads(1/2" dia.)
4.four cable ties
5.contact cement

TOOLS NEEDED
1.razor blade
2.cigarette lighter
3.pot(to boil water in)
4.pencil
5.measuring tape
6. q-tip
7. common sense (no joke)

CONSTRUCTION:
first measure the length of your current band. Apply these misprints against your new surgical tubing and cut that same length, from your surgical tubing, using the
razor blade. Secondly, cut one, 5 to 6 inches length of the nylon line. Next get your two hard plastic beads and thread a bead on each end of that line(if your beads
should not happen to have any holes you can simply drill the holes in just wide enough for the line to fit through). after you've threaded the beads tie 3 super tight ass
knots on each end of the line so it can't be pulled out of the beads. Next take the cigarette lighter and carefully burn the frayed ends of the knots you have just tied(be
very careful not to burn the knots themselves!!!) After the burned ends of the knots have cooled take your q-tip and dip it into the contact cement and coat the knots
thoroughly and let dry. after the glue is dried, on the knots, fold your new wishbone in half(bead to bead) and dip your q-tip into the contact cement again and
properly and thoroughly coat the apex of the line and unfold(DO NOT let the line be glued to itself!).Let dry. You now have a very strong and dependable
wishbone!! Now comes the part where you incorporate it into the surgical tubing. First bring a pot of water to a boil. The boiling heats the tubing(to make it easy to
push the beads in) it "relaxes" the rubber without compromising the integrity of the rubber. Insert about 2 inches of the tubing into the boiling water for about 30 to 35
seconds then remove from boiling water and insert a bead of the wishbone into each end of the surgical tubing. take your pencil(make sure the pointy end has been
sanded flat so you don't puncture you tubing) and push the beads about an inch and a quarter down each end of the tubing. Next take your four cable ties( these will
be the retainer rings to secure the beads in the tubing so they don't pull out) and put two on each end(make sure they are close or touching each other) of the tubing
right behind the beads( opposite side of where the knots are) so the beads don't slip out when you cock your speargun. Pull the cable ties as tight as you can and
more!!!! Make sure there is at least a quarter inch of tubing extended from the cable ties. I would recommend using a pliers or vice pliers to get a super, super, super
tight pull on the cable ties. And there you have it! Your own hand/home made powerband!!! Sure, the initial cost of the materials(if you don't have them already)
would probably cost more than a store bought wishbone and power band set up, but you will never have to purchase another wishbone again in life, after you make
the initial investment, and besides, you can make various sizes and sell 'em to your friends!! The tubing can be bought in spools!!! Good luck!!!

Happy hunting