I like Tamarack shafts!

[snag]

I have to cut and tip taper these. But at full length they are all 542-545grs. Straight and true. With their strength they will hold up well in any hunting situation.

[WESTBROOK]

Dave, those are REAL nice! Who sells Tamarack shafts?

Eric

[snag]

Eric,
  No one I know of sells them. But if they did I'd sure buy them. These were made in a very limited amount.

[firsted]

[wingnut]

Yep Tamarack (western larch) makes some of the best shafts you will ever find.

Mike

[snag]

You been holding out all this time Mike...haha

[Jack Denbow]

That is what I mostly shoot. OTA, now Surewood, used have them but I probably bought most of them. I will be hunting moose with them this year, with 105gr tungsten rod and a 145 Eclipse up front they weigh about 750gr.
Jack

[DesertDude]

Very Nice Snag, The arrow I mage for the "Arrow Swap" was Tamarack with a twisted footing and footed nock.... I found it to be a great wood to work with...

[snag]

Wow, I missed that one Desert. "Twisted footing"...? How do they do that?!!  haha

[WESTBROOK]

According to the WIKI...

"Larch is a wood valued for its tough, waterproof and durable qualities; top quality knot-free timber is in great demand for building yachts and other small boats, for exterior cladding of buildings and interior panelling. The timber is resistant to rot when in contact with the ground, and is suitable for use as posts and in fencing."

Guess they dont know about arrows yet.

We have the American Larch around here, should be similar. I got some logger friends, have to see if I can get my hands on some.

Dave, do you happen to know if higher spine is common to this wood, dont want to dowel a 1000 board feet just to get a dozen 75# shafts.

Eric

[snag]

Eric, I don't know this for a fact but because it is generally a harder wood than POC or spruce I would think it would be of a higher spine weight most often.

[vtmtnman]

Great looking arrows David.I wish I lived a little higher up to get some of our tamarack here through our sawmill.

[Bjorn]

Nice work snag. Tamarack sounds like it may have some real staying power if a good cosistent supplier gets involved. In your opinion does it offer any advantages over Doug Fir? Or an alternative perhaps?

[DesertDude]

Snag, This is the only picture I have left of it.
Twisted Purple Heart Footing and Footed self nock....
 

[snag]

Bjorn, these Surewood larch shafts are tough. Don't get me wrong, their douglas fir shafts are great. I just think the larch is by nature a little tougher.

DD, that is one mean looking arrow! Kind of twisted!    

[wingnut]

I looked up some specs

Larch has a specific gravity of 590
Sitka Spruce  450

Couldn't find douglas fir.

I've only had 2 dozen larch shafts over the years but was real impressed.

When I shoot wood these days it's sitka spruce from Raptor.

Mike

[Hood]

I had some Tamarack arrows and thought they were great.

I got them from Rusty's Footed Shafts. Last I knew, someone took over the buisness from him. Maybe they still have Tamarack?

[snag]

Mike, the Surewood doug fir shafts I have are all in the 75#-85# range and they around 470-480gr  Like any wood there can be heavier or lighter per 100. But they have been consistantly a little heavier than the spruce and POC shafts and really straight.  Did I say I love 'em?!!!    

[wingnut]

Snag,

The numbers I show are not grain weight but rather specific gravity as compared to water.

The lower the number, the lighter the wood.

I think your right though that Doug Fir should be in the same ball park as western larch.

Mike

[Ray Lyon]

Shrewhaven Lodge is made with tamarack beams and 2x4's from the 1930's.  You can hardly drive a nail in that stuff it's so dense.  By the way, those 2x4's are closer to real 2x4 dimensions than todays stuff.