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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: PowDuck on August 01, 2012, 01:38:00 PM

Title: "Elk Medicine" Arrow Build-Along
Post by: PowDuck on August 01, 2012, 01:38:00 PM
Its been a long long time since I built anything on my own for archery. I decided to build my arrows this year and go back to using wood.

ArkyBob had gotten some poplar shafts from Magnus and was very pleased so I decided to go the same route. We like heavy arrows with heavy heads so the poplar seemed to be a good fit. I contacted Magnus and ended up having a LONG phone conversation and got a good education in selecting the proper shaft for your bow. Thanks for all your help, Matt.

Selected two dozen 60-65 spined heavy shafts and got them on order. After receiving them I weighed each shaft and selected 9 of the closest weights for this project. All 9 shafts were within 8 grains of each other. (My select 6 shafts were within 3 grains.)

In this photo the nock tapers have been cut and the shafts sanded (though they really didn't need it.)

  (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v88/PowDuck/Archery%20Stuff/7bc67700.jpg)
Title: Re: "Elk Medicine" Arrow Build-Along
Post by: Bldtrailer on August 01, 2012, 02:03:00 PM
I'll enjoy watching your build
Title: Re: "Elk Medicine" Arrow Build-Along
Post by: PowDuck on August 01, 2012, 06:28:00 PM
Please don't tell my wife the furniture she wants to get rid of is in my pictures. She'd die ....... or maybe she'd kill me, I'm not sure which.  :nono:  

I started this build by reading and rereading and rereading and referring back to Rob's "Excellent Woodies" thread in the      HOW TO RESOURCES (http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000119)  topic.
Title: Re: "Elk Medicine" Arrow Build-Along
Post by: PowDuck on August 01, 2012, 09:54:00 PM
On to the staining.

I had seen a photo of someone's arrows here that had an interesting fade out stain. So being the kind of guy I am and liking things "just a bit different" I thought I'd try it. I wanted it to start very light and go to really dark at the end.

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v88/PowDuck/Archery%20Stuff/03451185.jpg)

I selected a dark cherry stain to sort of match the bow they are made for, a Super Shrew Chameleon.
Title: Re: "Elk Medicine" Arrow Build-Along
Post by: PowDuck on August 01, 2012, 10:12:00 PM
5 coats of Min-Wax WipeOn Poly later and the Sharpie's came out. My cresting "rig" is pretty rigged. I made the spinner rolls out of two cabinet closer roller halves on a piece of scrap board. The tubing connector came from an old exercise band that hasn't been used in a LONG LONG time.  :)  A zip tie on the trigger of my drill driver worked to regulate the speed and I simply removed the battery to stop it.

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v88/PowDuck/Archery%20Stuff/a2644c57.jpg)

I like a small crest IN the fletches so that was a must. I, also, like to have a crest line to quickly check my brace height. That's where the small crest at 7-1/4" comes from. The other main crest is just a design I experimented with on some earlier test shafts. I like simple.
Title: Re: "Elk Medicine" Arrow Build-Along
Post by: Bowitis on August 01, 2012, 10:21:00 PM
Thanks Bruce, Keep it coming! I'm starting mine in the a.m.
Title: Re: "Elk Medicine" Arrow Build-Along
Post by: Machino on August 01, 2012, 11:29:00 PM
Just curious what kind of bow you plan on throwing these with?
Title: Re: "Elk Medicine" Arrow Build-Along
Post by: stringstretcher on August 02, 2012, 07:49:00 AM
Very interesting.
Title: Re: "Elk Medicine" Arrow Build-Along
Post by: PowDuck on August 02, 2012, 08:08:00 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Machino:
Just curious what kind of bow you plan on throwing these with?
It's a Super Shrew Chameleon. 58" - 53# @ 28"
It'll be in a future post.
Title: Re: "Elk Medicine" Arrow Build-Along
Post by: Shedrock on August 02, 2012, 08:15:00 AM
I'm curious what those shafts weigh.
Title: Re: "Elk Medicine" Arrow Build-Along
Post by: PowDuck on August 02, 2012, 08:18:00 AM
Cresting done. I was pretty pleased with my first attempt at making several arrows match. Most all of mine are all mismatched cresting, shafts, points, etc.

I did have a little disappointment with the small brace height crest line. I much preferred the two red and black ones but, as my luck usually goes, they were the LAST two I did.    :banghead:  

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v88/PowDuck/Archery%20Stuff/0ff34832.jpg)

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v88/PowDuck/Archery%20Stuff/Untitled.jpg)
Title: Re: "Elk Medicine" Arrow Build-Along
Post by: NoCams on August 02, 2012, 10:27:00 AM
Looking good there bud.... what will be on the pointy end ? Looking forward to your feather selection too....  :coffee:
Title: Re: "Elk Medicine" Arrow Build-Along
Post by: Mike Vines on August 02, 2012, 10:44:00 AM
Coming along nicely
Title: Re: "Elk Medicine" Arrow Build-Along
Post by: Blaino on August 02, 2012, 11:39:00 AM
That's just a regular Sharpie? They look good! Simple and classic.
Title: Re: "Elk Medicine" Arrow Build-Along
Post by: Shakes.602 on August 02, 2012, 12:15:00 PM
Did you use a Brush or rag for your Fade Stain Job? Looking Good So Far!!   :thumbsup:  Furniture? What Furniture??  :goldtooth:
Title: Re: "Elk Medicine" Arrow Build-Along
Post by: PowDuck on August 02, 2012, 02:21:00 PM
Shedrock, I can't remember what they weighed at this point. I had it written down somewhere but I must have put it in a safe place.

I used a rag on the stain and just barely wiped it on the first part and then got a pretty good soaking closer to the end.

Yep, regular Sharpies. Sharpie brand.

Insert lesson learned here:
I have read from many here that poly over Sharpie WILL fade or smear. I, also, heard from someone who will remain nameless, Bob, that they didn't smear when poly was wiped over them. (And I do believe he told me the truth for him.)

The truth for me? Red smears. Black and silver do not.
This is a picture after two coats of the same wipe on poly.

  (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v88/PowDuck/Archery%20Stuff/fee5ed0d.jpg)
Title: Re: "Elk Medicine" Arrow Build-Along
Post by: Blue Tick on August 02, 2012, 04:06:00 PM
Those arrows are really looking sharp. Something else I want to try my hand at. Thanks for bringing us along with the build.
Title: Re: "Elk Medicine" Arrow Build-Along
Post by: PowDuck on August 02, 2012, 10:27:00 PM
OK, time to fletch. I couldn't decide what to do here either. I like a very visible fletching but didn't want to go with all naturals. Maybe ArkyBob will pipe in here and tell us where we got our feathers ground. We've got natural turkey primaries & secondaries, and Canada goose primaries, too. That would be too dark to see well in flight, so ...... I decided to go with two turkey barred and one solid white. That gave me enough contrast to be fairly well visible but not so bright sticking out of the quiver.

The four on the left are my primary hunting shafts. The other ones are for broadhead practice, etc.

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v88/PowDuck/Archery%20Stuff/a82b9165.jpg)
Title: Re: "Elk Medicine" Arrow Build-Along
Post by: KellyG on August 02, 2012, 11:12:00 PM
Well those are sweet looking.
Title: Re: "Elk Medicine" Arrow Build-Along
Post by: ArkyBob on August 03, 2012, 09:44:00 AM
Feathers were ground by Stringstreacher before his business was taken over by Magnus. Arrows are looking great Bruce.  6 more weeks!!!!!!

BOB
Title: Re: "Elk Medicine" Arrow Build-Along
Post by: Bjorn on August 03, 2012, 10:48:00 AM
They will look great all covered in red! Nice Job!!   :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: "Elk Medicine" Arrow Build-Along
Post by: joe skipp on August 03, 2012, 11:07:00 AM
Great looking arrows.
Title: Re: "Elk Medicine" Arrow Build-Along
Post by: wooddamon1 on August 03, 2012, 12:46:00 PM
Good job!   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: "Elk Medicine" Arrow Build-Along
Post by: PowDuck on August 03, 2012, 05:58:00 PM
Thanks, guys. Bjorn, those Asolo boots will be underneath em.

I like a heavy head so I went with the WoodyWeights 75gr. and a Magnus 135gr two blade.

WoodyWeights
 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v88/PowDuck/Archery%20Stuff/4db065db.jpg)

And broadheads.
 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v88/PowDuck/Archery%20Stuff/e0424f60.jpg)

Got to trim the excess glue, get the points aligned, and get em sharp now.
Title: Re: "Elk Medicine" Arrow Build-Along
Post by: PowDuck on August 03, 2012, 06:01:00 PM
Oh yeah, stain and poly that little line of bare wood, too.

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v88/PowDuck/Archery%20Stuff/9a0d8967.jpg)
Title: Re: "Elk Medicine" Arrow Build-Along
Post by: elkbreath on August 03, 2012, 10:48:00 PM
Love em!  great Job!
Title: Re: "Elk Medicine" Arrow Build-Along
Post by: RedShaft on August 03, 2012, 11:34:00 PM
POWDUCK,nice arrows!! what kind of quiver is that on your bow? pretty neat.
Title: Re: "Elk Medicine" Arrow Build-Along
Post by: ArkyBob on August 04, 2012, 12:41:00 PM
RedShaft, that quiver is a Skookum 2 arrow.  Available at Alaska Bowhunting Supply. I have the same quiver on my Shrew as well. Wouldn't use any other attached to my bow.

BOB
Title: Re: "Elk Medicine" Arrow Build-Along
Post by: PowDuck on August 04, 2012, 04:19:00 PM
Got the little bare spot stained and poly-ed. Aligned the broadhead tips. Now I'll have to get ArkyBob to help me sharpen them.   :notworthy:

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v88/PowDuck/Archery%20Stuff/9ef5c536.jpg)

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v88/PowDuck/Archery%20Stuff/c5e31172.jpg)

Different lighting, forgive the double pics.
One of them will look great sticking in the dirt on the other side of an elk all bloody.   :archer2:
Title: Re: "Elk Medicine" Arrow Build-Along
Post by: PowDuck on August 04, 2012, 04:21:00 PM
Oh, and as a little funny side note. Here's a little exchange between Bob and me. He had texted me letting me know what HIS arrows finished out at.

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v88/PowDuck/Archery%20Stuff/f24ff995.jpg)