Shaft straightners

[fflintlock]

Ok, what's the deal on these things, do they work and which is a good one to get, like Ace, Shaft Tamer, etc ?
 I was thinking on getting one if they work.
I have some shafts that are giving me a real headache LOL!!!
And, do they work on finished arrows as well as raw shafts ?
Thanks,
Jerald

[Shakes.602]

I have an ACE Roller Straightener, that I wouldnt trade for any thing!! Ace Will  NOT  Mar up the Finish and is Really easy to use, and I am a Sloooow Learner!!    

[Grey Taylor]

On raw shafts I use a tool that is essentially a 1/4" aluminum bar.  I've also had good results by using a screwdriver shaft.
For coated shafts I just bend them.

Guy

[aromakr]

Jerald:
Learn to straighten shafts with your hands, its not that difficult. On the occasional shaft thats difficult use some heat (heat shrink gun, hot plate, etc.) When hand straightening you never have to look for a tool, their always there, you don't need a surface to lay the shaft on. Its so much easier.
Bob

[fflintlock]

I've been using the hand method for years and it has worked, but I have a couple sitka shafts I just can not get straight, yet, I ain't giving up ! I tried heat, with an alchol burner, keeping it up off the flame, just enough to get the wood heated up and then trying to bend them back in shape. There giving me a fit.
 I had thought of one of the straightners, as an alternitive for some of the "worse" shafts. I will keep after it though, I ain't done yet.
Thanks for the help guys.
Jerald

[longstick]

Originally posted by Shakes.602:
I have an ACE Roller Straightener, that I wouldnt trade for any thing!! Ace Will  NOT  Mar up the Finish and is Really easy to use, and I am a Sloooow Learner!!        

Myself!

[poekoelan]

I bought a gizmo years ago when I shot a compound that was made for straightening aluminum arrows. It's called a frontier arrow staigthener, it's a plier like device that only cost about 12 bucks. It straightens ramin shafts like no tomorrow.

As far as I know, it hasn't been made for years. It wasn't made for wood arrows but it works VERY well. Besides my fletching jig, it's the only "carry over" I still use when I made the switch from compound bows to self bows. Someone should pick up on the design and market it to wood shooters.

[poekoelan]

Jerald,

Just my 2cents here...

If a shaft gives you nightmares and will not stay straight...I would toss it.

I have come across shafts like that. They never flew well for me even when I got them as straight as I could.

Some pieces of wood just don't want to be arrows no matter how bad we want them to be. I don't want to get into a discussion about wood here, but it isn't homogenous. Too much of an imbalance of homogenousity ( that can't be a word LOL ) will lead to an arrow that will never stay straight or fly well. Sometimes this will show up on a spine tester. Test it then move it a quarter turn and do it again, all the way around.

You will likely get some readings that vary widely on the same shaft. Toss these shafts and move on.

Just my opininon of course.

Austin

[John57]

I just use a rag and wrap the shaft with it, then rub against the direction of the bend.
I've looked the verious straightners in the 3R cataloge an reckon they would be the go for bends close to the broadhead or field point.
But then I also reckon I could make a roller after one quick vist to my local hardware store.
Thanks for the reminder all.

[Matt E]

When I was fanatical about my accuracy I used a ,Arizona straightener, it has a dial indicator with a lever you pull down to put pressure on the shaft. It was made for aluminum but I used it for wood as well. I could keep my woodies within four or six thousands which is about as good as wood will allow.

[dino]

4" chunk of 3/4" dowel and screw a 1" eye hook into it.  Bingo! Gotta hook straightener.  Personally I believe in the heat and hands method, but if you gotta use compression an eye hook with a handle does just fine. dino

[madness522]

A pulley from the hardware store is another cheap one to try.

[Bjorn]

I have a beautifully made Ace straightener and it works great! Even in a brisk breeze the papers stay on my desk leaving my fingers free to straighten arrow shafting by hand.

[NightHawk]

I second the cup hook method. What you end up doing is flattening the side of the shaft with it. It will straighten the wooliest of arrows