Spine consistency & an Ace 203 spine tester

[dan d]

Ok, I have been on a wooden arrow spine kick the last few weeks, I have learned a lot & need a couple of more things clarified.

I just bought a dozen arrows from 2 of our sponsors here, one is very well known (I will not mention names even to a PM as I don't believe in that as I very well could be checking them wrong) anyways, I am getting spine readings all over the place ! On one set of 12 it goes from 43 to 54 spine ! The other set is a little better from 49 to 55 (most are at 54-55 &  I ordered 45-50 spine) I rotated the arrows 360 degrees checking in multiple spots, but that didn't make a lot of difference, maybe a few pounds of spine.  

So now for the question, is my Ace 203 spine tester junk ? Or does this sound like what you get when ordering arrows ?

Thanks,
Dan

Edit: I forgot to add that I am shooting much better as far as right to left with the lighter spine arrows, 55-60 was too much spine for me.

[WESTBROOK]

Dan, I've used that spine tester for years, its been very accurate. I always keep a few XX75 aluminums around, when I get a batch of wood shafts that seems squirrely I throw the aluminums on the tester to make sure everything is still on par.

I've gotten some ridiculous batches of "matched" shafts over the years.

Eric

[dan d]

What should a 2213 spine check at ?  I have one of them laying around, I would like to check my tester as I cannot believe what I received for arrows.

In my mind the spine tester must be out of whack. If not, my next question will be who sells accurately spined arrows.

Dan

[moebow]

Is the Ace 203 the "cantilever" style?  I have the 107 that supports the shaft on supports at each end.  Are you sure you have your tester set up for 26" centers (or equivalent)??  Also, be sure that the annual rings in the shafts are oriented correctly and the same for each shaft.  Just turning them to find the spine is not the way to go.

The Ace spine testers are as good as they come (IMO) and if what you report is not a factor of miss setting the testers, you MAY have a couple dozen poorly matched shafts.

Arne

PS.  Just saw your last post but the shafts I get from Surewood and Hildebrand are right as specified.

[dan d]

Arne, it is the cantilever style, I don't see where anything can be adjusted except for turning the eccentric cam to set zero for each arrow.

[WESTBROOK]

You can the deflection off eastons website, 2213 = .458 and I use Stu's calculator to convert it. 68.8 pounds.

Eric

[moebow]

I have a 2213 that spines out at .235 deflection for 110#.  That's on 26" centers with a 2# weight.

Really don't know about the 203 but mine (the 107) can be readjusted to do 28" centers with a 1.94# weight (for carbons).

Arne

[moebow]

I don't doubt it Westbrook.  That's why there is so much confusion about the "new" verses "old" spine standards.  And why there is so much "talk" about the Easton charts being too stiff for trad shooters.

I now use the "old" standard with all my shafts and seem to get better results ( for me).

Arne

[dan d]

Originally posted by WESTBROOK:
You can the deflection off eastons website, 2213 = .458 and I use Stu's calculator to convert it. 68.8 pounds.

Eric

Hmmmmmmm...........  It's pretty accurate, Im checking it a tad light of 70 pounds, so it's 1 pound off, my 2 dozen arrows (from 2 reputable companies) is way more than a pound off, just the one suppliers arrows have a range of 8 pounds. If I take both suppliers arrows & check them I range 10 pounds from highest to lowest on a purchase of 45-50 spine arrows.

Dan

Edit: I see Arne posted a few seconds before me, I cannot adjust from 26 to 28 on the 203 tester, but I am getting just shy of 70 pounds checking the 2213.

[moebow]

Yep, I think that your tester is set for the 28" centers and a 1.94# weight.  That will give you "weird" measurements for wood and be assured that your wood shafts were measured on 26" centers with a 2# weight.  The shafts may still be a poorly matched group of shafts but ...

Arne

[dan d]

Ahhhh..........  Thanks for clarifying Arne !

Like I originally posted I thought my spine tester might be out of whack. I wonder if I can convert it somehow ?  My arrows still might have a wide range but at least they might be closer to the 45-50 that I want them to be, the vast majority check between 50-55.  

I know I am no longer hitting constantly left like I was with the heavier spine so that's a good thing !

Now to see if I can fix my spine tester as I only shoot cedar arrows. Any suggestions ?

Dan

[WESTBROOK]

Here is a list of XX75 Alum that I have, all check within a  1/2 pound of what they should per my calculations.

The deflection is eastons, measured at 28" & 1/94#, the poundage is what you should read at 26" & 2# weight.

2016  .531  59.4#
2018  .464  67.8#
2020  .426  74.0#
2117  .407  77.4#
2216  .376  83.8#
2219  .337  93.5#

These are all XX75 shafts, the old greenies will measure slightly different.

The #203 model is the wall mount, 26" only.

Eric

[magnus]

Also remember 45-50# 50-55# etc... Is actually a 6 # range

[dan d]

Originally posted by magnus:
Also remember 45-50# 50-55# etc... Is actually a 6 # range

True, I think Arne figured it out & it is set up for 28 inch verses 26. that will teach me for saving a buck buying it used at comptons................ You would think I would learn, this is not the first time I have bought something used trying to save a buck & when it is all said & done it usually costs me more than buying new !  

Anybody know how to convert it or do I just break down & spend the money for a new one that will do what I want it too.

Thanks for helping me figure it out, I was a little confused on how 2 reputable suppliers could miss the mark.

Dan

[WESTBROOK]

Dan, I don't think there is anything wrong with your spine tester, you said its reading just shy of 70# for a 69# 2213.

That model 203 was never made to measure the 28" scale so it cant be setup that way.

Sounds like you just got a poorly measured batch of shafts, I got them from the highest praised suppliers too. That's why I have a spine tester.

Eric

[moebow]

Dan,

Contact them and talk directly to the producer.  877-549-3444.  Get the actual answer from the folks that know.  They are nice folks, met them in Cedar Rapids, IA last year when I got my tester.

Arne

[dan d]

Originally posted by moebow:
Dan,

Contact them and talk directly to the producer.  877-549-3444.  Get the actual answer from the folks that know.  They are nice folks, met them in Cedar Rapids, IA last year when I got my tester.

Arne

Thanks Arne, I guess I have to call as I don't know what to think now, I either have poor arrows or a poor spine tester !

It is hard to believe that 2 reputable suppliers could have sent me mostly 52-53 spine for a 45-50 order, but there are some arrows in there that go to both extremes of over & under what I ordered. Crazy to figure out !

The only good thing is they are averaging 10 pounds lighter than what I had & I'm shooting better ! In fact I'm heading back out right now for some more shooting, it's kinda fun when you can hit what your looking at !

Dan

[Orion]

I agree with Eric on both his posts.  Some suppliers don't have or won't take the time to hand spine.  The only way you know for sure what you have is to spine them yourself.  That being said, most folks can't shoot a 10-15# spine difference.  A lot of folks who don't have spine testers are perfectly happy with mismatched arrows (and shoot just fine) because they don't know they have them.       On the other hand, that's also why some folks get turned off on wood arrows. It's hard to be consistent when the arrows aren't.

[rraming]

I bumped this

The 203 was made for wood shafts, Ace came out with an additional weight for carbon and aluminum for this spine testor to use. Found it on their website today.