Cutting aluminum arrows

[Dry Creek]

I just started fletching my own arrows. If I put the insert in before I cut them it goes in great, but when I cut it then try to put the insert in it will not go in all the way. It will only go all the way in to the last collar on the insert. What am I doing wrong? I have been using a small pipe cutter and putting a drill bit inside the shaft as I cut.

Thanks
Craig

[sweet old bill]

Craig when you cut with a pipe cutter it does  cause the end of the shaft to be in a little that causes the insert to not go in. If you use a knief blade after using the pipe cutter and put it in the cut shaft and then push it around it will allow the insert to go all the way in...

[Green]

Probably need to chamfer the inside of the cut with a rifle case chamfering tool or take a very small round file and insert it into the shaft and pull outward with the file as you rotate the shaft....then rotate the end of the tubing on a piece of sandpaper on a flat surface to true up the end.  A tubing cutter will crimp down the cut area if you tighten it down too much or too often as you rotate it.

[Rob DiStefano]

mini tube cutter, then lightly chamfer the inside of the shaft end with a reamer.

[Earl E. Nov...mber]

Get a deburring tool from the reloading houses,, Cost about $6.00 Great for removing both ID and OD burrs. Just don't do too much as it can promote splitting or shoving inside the shaft on heavy impact.
Also don't try and cut it off with one pass of the cutter, Several light passes will deform it less than one or two heavy ones.

[mahantango]

Yeah, go real easy with the tubing cutter, not too much pressure.

[Dry Creek]

Thanks guys!!!!
Problem solved to much pressure with the tube cutter.
Craig

[elkken]

I used a large screw driver instead of a deburring tool after cutting with a pipe cutter, worked just fine.

[WESTBROOK]

I use the tang of a file for insde burrs, the file for the outside.

Eric