straighten aluminum arrows?

[Bob Moran]

Is there a way to straighten slightly bent aluminum arrows? I've seen gizmos for straightening wood arrows; would they work on aluminum?

[Alexander Traditional]

I had one of these types,and they work all right.
 http://www.3riversarchery.com/Cartel+Aluminum+Arrow+Straightener_i5902_baseitem.html

[wtpops]

I use a arrow spinner to check straightness and find the high side of the bend and then straighten by hand. I can get them very straight like this.

[M60gunner]

The pliers type like Aexander refers to work good. I have not had much luck using the Ace wood arrow straightener. It smashed my arrow before it got straight. It flatten that area.
I am glad I kept my tools as I have a closet full  of shafts I am starting to use agian.

[jhk1]

I've got a 2-foot long piece of 2x4 that I use for straightening aluminum arrows.  I used a rat-tail file about the same diameter as an arrow shaft to file a shallow groove

Lay the 2x4 flat.  File a groove on the top surface of the board at one end (groove should run parallel the long axis of the board).  When filing the groove, hold the file at a very slight angle so that the groove is about 1/4" (or maybe a little more) deep at the end of the board and runs back about 3" from the end of the board, where it tapers back up to the surface of the board.  Be sure to make nice straight strokes with the file, so that the groove stays pretty straight and true.  That's a pretty long and possibly confusing way to describe a very simple groove, but it's the best I can do without pics.

The reason for the groove in the board is to distribute the bending stress around the girth of the arrow somewhat (as opposed to just bending it over the flat sharp edge of a kitchen counter or workbench)-- you'll be much less likely to put a kink in the shaft if you bend it over the end of this grooved board.

Just lay the shaft on the board, with the apex of the bend right at the end of the board (and in the groove).  With the heel of one hand holding the shaft flat to the board (just behind the 3" groove), use the other hand to push downward on shaft to flex it back in the opposite direction of the bend.  Go easy until you get the right amount of pressure/bend applied to the area so that it straightens.

It's similar to straightening a wood arrow-- just keep working the area until it's straight.

[Dave Worden]

I have two types of arrow straighteners.  One that's no longer made could be simulated by a board with two nails in it.  The other is an anvil type with a dial indicator.  With this one I can approach manufacturers' specs.  With the other (handheld) I can get them pretty close.  The arrow tamer and the Ace won't work because they work by crushing the wood fibers on the "long" side of the bend thereby bringing the shaft back into straightness.  If you want to try to make the handheld one, just nail a couple of nails into a board about an inch, inch and a half, apart.    Let's say we're looking straight down on the board.  Put the arrow under the rh nail and over the lh nail.  I usually put the tip end under and the fletched end over the nail and the bend right on the lh nail.  Rotate the shaft, keeping it tight to the nails until the fletched end is at its highest point away from the board.  Now just pull the fletched end down bending the shaft.  Rotate it to check for straight.  If you didn't bend it enough, do it again.  If you bent it too far, bend it back in the other direction.

[BOWMARKS]

Nothing straightens aluminum better than a straightener with a dial indicator. The hand held will get you close but not with in thousands.

I have one similar to the AAE model that has been working for me for the last 40 years.
With a stainless steel rod arrow extention I had made I can get an arrow straight right down to the inserts.

AAE and Grayling make a couple that will do the job very nicely.

[yeager]

I bought a straightener years ago called "Personal Arrow Straightener" made by Rightnour Mfg Co Inc from Mingoville, Pa.  It has a dial graduated to 1000th of an inch and adjustable rollers to lay the arrow on.  With a little work and patience, I've straightened arrows down to 1/1000 of an inch. Now that I shoot carbons, I do not use it as much as I used to.

[TradBrewSC]

Before I started shooting carbons, I would just straighten slightly bent aluminums by hand just as I would a woody.

Give them the ol' thumb nail spin test and roll with it. If they were too bent I chunked them..

Prob not what u are looking for but that's what I did for years!

[Bob Moran]

Lots of good tips - Thanks to you all!

[2nocks]

Like Bowmarks said, get one with a dial indicator. I have an old one made by De-Sta-co works great.

The Arizona Arrow Straightener is the best on the planet. They are a bit expensive (around $150), but if you shoot aluminum arrows, they save you a bundle in the long run! The dial caliper on this straightener measures in .0005" (1/2 of 1/1000 of an inch)., and you can most of the time gets shafts to within .001" straightness. As long as there is no kink in the shaft, you can straighten it!

This one is at least 20yrs old, and still going strong!

 

Bisch

[JamesV]

Good quality shafts are easy to straighten by hand if they are not kinked. Back in the day when all the kids were shooting it really payed off being able to straighten shafts on the 3D course.

[Dogboy900]

I have one of these
 http://www.graylingoutdoorproducts.com/support_straight.html
It works pretty well I broke the handle and got a new one machined out of solid bar aluminium by an engineer that owed me a favor.
Slightly bent arrows I could get very straight but a kink in the arrow always caused it to fly a bit wonky  :(