poplar arrows?

[Don Stokes]

Tex, the spine will vary. 5/16 will spine relatively low, probably in the 40# range, and the 3/8 may spine double that. But, like I said, they will vary quite a bit. If you want a specific spine it's better to buy them from a shaft supplier.

You have to be VERY careful with dowels. There is no quality control at all relative to defects and grain runout, and grain in yellow poplar is not as easy to see as it is in some species. Moisture content of the wood makes a big difference in spine, too.

[Living_waters]

I buy the 1/2" craft boards from HD or lowes for less than $4 bucks and can get 10 shafts from them. I have found the craft boards have better grain on average so there is less wast even if they cost a little more. Feed them slow through my jig and they come out with a perfect compressed finish. Most often they require little or no sanding. I like them for practice especially because they are way more durable than Cedar. Forgive the picture they were taken with my phone. Here is some I just finished.