nock orientation/wood arrows

[razorback]

yes the tubes are an analogy of what the grain/rings look like in the tree. They really are the same thing just being viewed from different perspectives. Wood splits along the grain and when an arrow breaks it will most likely really split along a grain line. That is why george is saying put the <<<< on top of the bow. If you look at an arrow or dowel you can see where the grain runs along the length of the arrow on both side and will often run out the side of the arrow. Where the two sides of the grain meet at the run out you get the <<<< or flame look as someone described it. It is not the strength of the wood that you need worry about but the normal way in which it will fail, and that is along the grain line. If an arrow had perfectly straight grain with no run outs then you would just see straight lines down 2 sides of the arrow and smooth wood on the other 2 sides. nock would be cut perpendicular to the rings in the end and the smooth "side" would face up and down. Good luck finding a doz of those arrows.
Hope this helps some. If anybody has something to add please do.

[Steve B.]

I think I get what you are saying.  So the cardboard tubes do not sit perfectly even inside each other, perfectly parallel.  Each tube is tipped slightly in one direction or the other inside the next tube and therefore not parallel with the outside of the tree.  So when a board, or arrow, is cut out roughly parallel to the outside of the tree then the sections of tubes that are cutout with it will be something other than parallel with the edge of the board?  
So the "lean" of the annual rings relative to each other, and relative to the longitudinal slices of the tree, represents the grain?

I do understand George's explanation of the flames and the breaking point of the arrow.

Thanks again,
Steve

[KILLER B]

I am so confused by the <<<<< and the >>>>>> what if they run like this ^?  Where is your hand in relation to the <<<< and wich end is the front and which end is the back?  Maybee i am confusing myself. A picture with an arrow with something to refernce in it would be greatly benificial.  I have a dozen dowels that i am going to make arrows with but am kinda scared about having this backwards and stuffing a piece of wood into my hand.  Thanks

[Steve B.]

Killer,
That's the one thing that I do understand.  Think of the arrow as having four sides, top/bottom, and sides.  The lines running along the "sides" are roughtly parallel lines, the lines on top and bottom form points, or flames.  When you get done building your arrow and you place it on your bow, the top of the arrow should have those points or flames pointing in the direction of your target, or bow hand.

[razorback]

Thanks Steve , that actually clears up some of my confussion. Together we may all come out of this a whole lot smarter or in need of a stiff drink.

[KILLER B]

I think i get it now.

[huey]

That's pretty funny stuff, for a minute I thought I was confused!

[Roy Steele]

<<<<<< flames on top. Is all you need to know.
  If we shoot better than this you should be shooting carbon.