Wood arrow help?

[Roy Schmidt]

Been shooting carbons out of my 2 bows and found a cheap supply of wood shaftsand have never shot wood. He has Cedar, maple and chundoo. Bows r Timberghost static tip takedown 49# @ 28" cut 3/16 past center and a Sauk Trail R/D longbow 53# @ 28 cut to center. I only draw 26.5". Shooting 400 spine GT's with a 200gr upfront on the Timberghost and just now setting up the Sauk Trail with 500 spine arrows and 135 or 145 up front. My question is what spine wood shafts and diameter do I need for each bow? Thanks for any help.


Roy

[The Whittler]

You are going to get a lot of answers on this. Talk to some arrowsmiths they know their wood arrows. Ask a lot of questions and he will ask you some questions. From what you tell him he'll send you some test arrows to see how they fly.

 It's how YOU shoot those bows not how someone else shoots their bow that matter. Good luck.

[Stumpkiller]

Diameter doesn't really matter.  It's all about spine and flight.  If possible get a couple of differing spines to see what works best for you.  I'd stick with the cedar of your choices mentioned.  Maple?  They must be horribly heavy.  I like Douglas fir and P.O. Cedar.

You may want to drop down substantially from a 200 gr head.  I shoot 125 to 135 gr on my wood arrows.

You can probably start at 55-60 spine; though with the lighter bow you may be fine at 50-55.  A lot depends on the weight of the head, your release and whether you cut the shafts down or leave them full length.  

If you leave them full length you can cut them down to reduce spine should you need to.

[nek4me]

I just went through the equivalent of Woodies 101. I had a bunch of old Chundoo shafts but didn't know the actual spine of any. I made a simple spine tester for almost no cost and highly recommend one so you'll be able to verify what you are working with. Turns out I had a mixed bag of spine weights. Bow is similar weight as yours - 53#@28 56" recurve with FF string and I draw 26".

Stumpkiller is right on based on my results. A 28" arrow spined at 57# shot fine with a 125gr point. Others spined 53# and 54# I cut to 27.5" and 48# and 49# arrows were cut to 27" and all flew fine. Not a matched set based on arrow weight but this was my "test" set to determine what to get for a matched set. This also shows wood responds predictably when applying the 5# to the inch rule when using length to adjust flex.

I decided 50-55 at 27" or 55-60 at 28" was the way to go and just bought some Cedar shafts 55-60 on the classifieds to try as my first matched set.

So you could most likely get by with what Stumpkiller recommends for each bow or use one spine and shorten or add to tune for the different bows. One spine may work with both - only testing will tell you for sure but this should get you close.        

Have fun.

[Stumpkiller]

I only played with aluminum for a couple years.  Never played with carbon (though I have used "borrowed" carbons).

Wood has seen me through for 50 years of archery & bowhunting.  I like the traditional stuff.  As you can see from my bow list - I stick to the 1960's for the nostalgia.

Chundoo I'm leery of because I have had folks tell me it is Sitka Spruce as well as lodgepole pine.  If they don't know for sure I'll stick with a wood I do know.  Consistency is critical for ANY shooting.

I made more "mistakes" in two years of aluminum and wheeliebow hunting to sour me forever.  Wood fills the freezer (for me).

[woodchucker]

I always liked Chundoo!!! Actually Sitka Spuce, and Lodgepole Pine, are the same thing. Kinda like everything that holds its needles is an Evergreen, but most folks just call them "pines" lol. I've had a few dozen Chundoo arrows over the last 20 years or so, and still have 4, from the last dozen Joe Skipp made for me about 10 years ago in my stumping bucket. As for straightness, they leave a lot to be desired! However, as for durability, I find them up there with ash & hickory, only much lighter!!! I have bounced them off of trees & rocks, and returned them to my quiver after passing inspection! The 4 left in my bucket, look like corkscrews, but they still fly straight & true!!!
As for Spine... I agree with the others. The 5# rule is pretty simple AND accurate, when it comes to wood arrows. Shorten or lengthen 1" will increase or decrease spine 5#.
Much simpler than carbons, in this old fart's opinion!

[flyguysc]

Surewood  hands down 45-50. I have same draw lenght @ 50#. 11/32 shafts Douglas fur,awesome straight shafts.I use a 145 gr broad heads and points and they shoot straight and on target. Great company to deal with.

[MPaul]

You will need to see what works for you bow and shooting style. I have shot lots of different spine for my bows to find out what works. Shoot a couple with feathers on then shoot a couple without feathers ( of same spine)when you find shafts that group together (fleched un fleched) you real close on spine. I shoot medium pound bows 55-65 pounds.and my style of shooting requires about a 90lbs spine shaft. Also if I change string material it effects my spine there are so many variables effecting what will work for you.