Spear material

[stephensonswille]

I'm looking at making a new spear head for this season and am curious weather to use round stock or sheet metal I have access to plasma table so cutting the sheet metal is no biggie just wondering what people suggest. Thanks for the input

[newfish]

I've heard that round stock is better for tines of a spear because fish is less likely to get off. A square or rectangular hole in the fish will get bigger as it struggles, whereas a round hole will not get bigger as it struggles.

[darkhousefisher]

I prefer round stock.  Go with something a little harder than mild mild steel, if you can.  Just my $.02.

[fishsmith]

When making a spear i would use a shallow hardening steel like w-1 it is tough and if hardened properly will resist deformation. 5160 would also work well though the heat treatment is a little more involved.
w-1 can be purchased as drill rod from most machinery supply retailers.
5160 is used for coil springs in cars and trucks but you almost need a forge to straighten efficiently.
if you want any more info just send a pm.

[webster]

we here in Vermont can not spear under the ice but we can spear a short while in the spring.  The best spears were made from insilage fork tines they were tough and stayed sharp.  They are also round.   I shure would love to try Darkhouse spearing some time

[campfindit2]

we here in Vermont can not spear under the ice but we can spear a short while in the spring.  The best spears were made from insilage fork tines they were tough and stayed sharp.  They are also round.   I shure would love to try Darkhouse spearing some time

 If the ice can last till spearing season I figure I could use my portable.........no? If not its the jon boat.

[gooseblaster49707]

high carbon 1/4'' round stock - 5/16'' max.    old farm equipment offers some good spear steel.  hay rake tines come into mind first off.     avoid mild steel and anything stainless.        stainless is soft and will disappoint you in the long run.  think of it like an old kitchen knife.     the Ontario's rusted quickly but, were easy to sharpen and held an edge forever.        the crap stainless from China is soft, unreliable and dulls quickly.         
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treat your spear like a good quality knife.  keep it sharp and clean.   dry it when you are done at the end of the day.    give it a little oil now and then.   keep the tines in a protector when not in the shanty. 
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don't grind on the tine tips or barbs after the spear is made and heat treated.  only file and stone.
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paint everything else with a good quality paint.    blaze orange in case you ''lose'' things like i do.
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engrave some sort of ID onto your spear.   some people will steal a good thing.
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