Casting Nocks from Molds

[Nockbroke]

Anyone ever try casting their own resin nocks?
From the looks of most nocks I've seen, they seem injection molded to me, but I wonder if you could make molds for and cast some old favorites. I always wanted to make some custom colored nocks, but I don't know the type of plastic resin formulation for impact resistance. I have bags of my favorite old Mercury Speed Nocks and Stotler Mid Nocks, but the stock colors always left me wanting. I've been using the same arrow building materials that were all given to me roughly 10 years ago, maybe more. The supply never seems to end.

If anyone has any 'insider' nock making info please chime in, it might save the cost of making a new mess in the shop...even though most of my messes were made free of charge...

[iohkus]

I'm assuming you're doing woodies.......... how about self nocks? I plan on making them on my next set of arrows.  Paint 'em ANY color you'd like.  

[M60gunner]

Sounds like a fun project. My favorite nock I color is not made anymore either. But I think one reason no one makes their own is cost. The mold would set you back a few thousand nocks. You could of course recoup some costs if you sold them.

[Keefer]

Robert,
 I used to "Set Up" and process molds for a major tool company that folded it's doors and took our jobs to Mexico and it was one of the major power tool company's on the market today. I no longer will buy that tool or try my best not to buy anything that carry's that name due to all the folks who had to find new jobs here.
 Anyway to answer your question many nock company's may have used a plastic called "Delrin" from the smell I get when trying to remove old nocks from arrows it has a smell you will never forget.
 If memory serves me correctly the heat used on the barrel where it was fed from a Hopper was set around starting temperature at about 320 degrees and as it was moved forward the heat increased to about 360 degrees.
 If you over heated that material it would nearly kill you from the smell and fumes would burn your eyes .
 Now not all the plastic beads that were used use the same heat so you had to know your material cause some needed a heat of 525 degrees to melt it.
 I never understood why no one has Ever made any plastic nocks without adding fiberglass which gives it more strength and doesn't break as easy.
 Those molds are not cheap to make but I am sure somewhere in an old warehouse those molds are resting on a shelf or hidden in a corner and if you could get hold of one and an Injection molding machine and a water heater to control the curing temperatures for the molding process you could possibly make a little money.
 There is much more to consider to what you will need to make a simple little nock but Molding machines and all the equipment isn't cheap but if you had a shop and the know how you could make many other things that pertain to archery using a molding machine as long as it can fit in the machine.

[Jon Stewart]

I have some old aluminum nocks that I am sure were cast.


Never used them but it would be interesting how they would work.

[M60gunner]

Like Keefer said, and do not forget our friends from the EPA. A big reason companies have gone South.

[JimB]

I've done a fair amount of resin casting and some resins are stronger than others,but I would never have the nerve to shoot a nock that I cast.There is a big difference between the cold cast resins and plastics used for nocks.

[Lonehowl]

I do some molding and this is probably not a good idea. Cold cast (mixing and hand pouring into a mold per se) sometimes leaves small voids (air pockets) from the pour, in the material. These are weak spots, and having these in something like a nock can be dangerous. I would highly recommend against doing this.

Most nocks are injection molded from ABS plastic or some similar mixture. It is pretty tough and injection molding is very consistent.
Just my opinion.
Mark

[Captain*Kirk]

If you have bags of plastic nocks, why not paint them with something like Krylon Plastic Paint in the color of your choice?

[Nockbroke]

Fellas, thanks for the input! Wow Keefer, what a wealth of information - you pretty much gave me the substitute to finding a how-it's-made. Thank you for that. I have a very small work space so at the moment that type of set up isn't in the cards...but you never can tell about the future. Hm...I don't think a nock making company called Nockbroke will work though, I'll have to think of something else.
Gunner, I certainly did forget about our friends at the EPA. Food for thought. I might be able to avoid eyes there for a while with the crackdown on Grumman chemical leeching toward the ground water here on the island. So if I don't die from the tap water, I might be able to make a few bucks before they get me! Concerning the cold molding, you're totally right guys. Certainly cannot get any real structural integrity for high force application.

You all have such a wealth of information, I'm glad I decided to get in earlier this year. Thank you.

-Nockbroke

[Nockbroke]

Kirk- I did do a few experiments earlier this year with painting the nocks, but never really got the results/long lasting results I was looking for. Can't get any better than the stock color through and through. I break nocks all too often to go through the trouble of painting - so maybe my original idea of making them was crazy altogether...unless like Keefer said I spend some time scroungin' and learnin'. I don't know how big the demand would be for color-matched nocks would be though.

[wooddamon1]

When you get it figured out, I'll test a few baby blue ones. Good idea on the name change, though.    

[Nockbroke]

Hahaha You'll be the first on the list if I figure it out Damon! I claim zero liability on that test batch though...you'll have to be the official member of the R&D department. Goggles are mandatory. Just sign this waiver...