i've sharpie crested the remaining 6 woodies, and even did an under-fletch crest. i'll be fletching up with trueflight graybarred turks and burning them to shape after they're on the shafts. the 3 fletches for each arrow will be 5-1/4" long and i've created a 'fat' hi-back shield shape in a new nichrome burning wire for the young burner. i'll be using a cheap bohning fletching jig with a left wing helical clamp. as always, feathers will be stuck on with bohning fletch tape.
first, cut cut down a buncha full length trueflights to 5-1/4" lengths. i like to angle the front of the quill back towards the nock end ...
... and the back of the quill towards the point end - these angles make for a better transition of the quill to the shaft.
this part is the same as i did for the 4-fletch banana fletching - put a shaft into the fletching jig, feather into the clamp - note there's a mark on the clamp where the back of the fletch lines up with, put tape on the quill base, remove the tape's plastic backing, and the clamp onto the jig, press down *firmly* and then do it again ...
-------------------- "Molon Labe" (Come and Get Them) ~ Instinctive Archer Magazine ~ TGMM Family of the Bow ~ NRA Life Member Posts: 8857 | From: NJ | Registered: Mar 2003
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do the same for the remaining two fletches - pull off the clamp, rotate the jig for the next feather, put a new fletch into the clamp ...
when all fletched up, pull out the arrow and snip off the rear of the feathers with a scissor to make it easier for feather burning ...
whether it's a new wire shape or an old one, always check the the wire with a bare shaft of the type yer about to fletch, to make sure the wire is just barely away from the shaft, then load in a feathered shaft ...
my feather burn connects to an on/off momentary footswitch, so i tap and hold the footswitch as the wire heats up and when it just starts to glow orange-red i carefully rotate the shaft to trim all three feathers, and the remove weight on the switch to stop the wire heating up, and remove the arrow ...
-------------------- "Molon Labe" (Come and Get Them) ~ Instinctive Archer Magazine ~ TGMM Family of the Bow ~ NRA Life Member Posts: 8857 | From: NJ | Registered: Mar 2003
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a 3 pack of burnt feather woodies with fat helical fletchings ...
-------------------- "Molon Labe" (Come and Get Them) ~ Instinctive Archer Magazine ~ TGMM Family of the Bow ~ NRA Life Member Posts: 8857 | From: NJ | Registered: Mar 2003
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quote:Originally posted by JamesJamison: ... As far as cost, would it be a cost effective altervative to aluminum or carbon?
woodies are a labor of love.
since finishing, and possibly straightening, is always part of woodie crafting, there is more expense and time involved than making carbons or alums.
i love woodies and will always build and shoot them ... but without a doubt, carbons are the most durable, and consistent with regards to both accuracy and climate, and easiest to craft arrows of all shafting material readily available today.
The thought of making my own arrows, sure sounds appealing, but I was curious, how the cost of making them from wood compares to buying finished arrows of carbon and aluminum. The last dozen of alum. cost me around 75.00 if I remeber right.
I am waiting on my first trad bow to arrive in a few weeks, and after a season or two of shooting and hunting, I would also love to attempt to build my own self bow, and wooden arrows just seem to be natural. Maybe I just dream to big,
Posts: 175 | From: Ky | Registered: Nov 2010
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quote:Originally posted by JamesJamison: [... I am waiting on my first trad bow to arrive in a few weeks, and after a season or two of shooting and hunting, I would also love to attempt to build my own self bow, and wooden arrows just seem to be natural. Maybe I just dream to big,
without our dreams we are automaton creatures living out the dreams of others. be thankful for your dreams.
-------------------- "Molon Labe" (Come and Get Them) ~ Instinctive Archer Magazine ~ TGMM Family of the Bow ~ NRA Life Member Posts: 8857 | From: NJ | Registered: Mar 2003
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After following this thread,I'm kinda embarassed how much I spent setting up to build woodies.LOL.Thanks for your efforts,gonna try this way soon.BTW,who's a good source for the surewoods?Thanks again.
Posts: 2966 | From: Michigan/Colorado | Registered: Nov 2010
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I LOVE WOODEN ARROWS!!! Them and the Wooden, Spring Loaded, "1 Billion and One Uses" Clothespins!! Ah, Life Is Good!! Well Done Mr. Rob!! Well Done Sir!!
-------------------- Proud Member of Christian Bowhunters of America "Life doesn't get Simpler; it gets Shorter and Turns in Smaller Circles." Dean Torges "Faith is to Prayer what the Feather is to the Arrow" Thomas Morrow Posts: 5181 | From: Crawfordsville, Indiana | Registered: Aug 2004
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i'm not sure if other trad gang sponsors offer surewoods, but i get mine from tim @ braveheart archery
-------------------- "Molon Labe" (Come and Get Them) ~ Instinctive Archer Magazine ~ TGMM Family of the Bow ~ NRA Life Member Posts: 8857 | From: NJ | Registered: Mar 2003
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Woodamon, Braveheart is definately a great place to buy the Surewoods. My experience from buying other items from Braveheart is they have very quick service. But you can also buy shafts directly from Surewood Shafts.
-------------------- Compton Traditional Bowhunters • Traditional Bowhunters of Montana • Montana Bowhunters Association Posts: 1899 | From: Billings, Montana | Registered: Aug 2003
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Great instructual post Rob. I really appreciate your efforts in sharing your experience/knowledge. Larry
Posts: 602 | From: Central Kentucky | Registered: Sep 2003
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another 3 pack of burnt feather woodies with fat helical fletchings hot off the burner not 10 minutes ago ...
-------------------- "Molon Labe" (Come and Get Them) ~ Instinctive Archer Magazine ~ TGMM Family of the Bow ~ NRA Life Member Posts: 8857 | From: NJ | Registered: Mar 2003
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Thanks gentlemen,looked at the site for Braveheart.Think I'll order a dozen.So the Bohning fletch tape is compatible with any finish?Thanks again...
Posts: 2966 | From: Michigan/Colorado | Registered: Nov 2010
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quote:Originally posted by wooddamon1: ....So the Bohning fletch tape is compatible with any finish?Thanks again...
absolutely.
-------------------- "Molon Labe" (Come and Get Them) ~ Instinctive Archer Magazine ~ TGMM Family of the Bow ~ NRA Life Member Posts: 8857 | From: NJ | Registered: Mar 2003
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