Spine ?

[MarineR6er]

To lower spine should I get a longer arrow or cut the ones I have down some?

[drewsbow]

longer or add weight to the front :0)

[dino]

Longer arrow or increase the point weight to decrease the dynamic spine of the shaft.  Cutting them shorter would increase the spine. dino

[wtpops]

do you want to make it stiffer or weaker?

[MarineR6er]

I bought some 6075 carbon arrows at wally's world using their little display chart to pick them.  well, I get them home and they are consistantly grouping way left of my point of aim.  I am shooting a 50 pound selfbow and didn't know that i should have bought TR4560.  The 6075's are 30 inches and I have a 28 inch draw which if you add the 1 inch for a broadhead leaves me at 29 so i have an inch i can cut off or add weight or what ever I need to do.  Do i need to just go buy new arrows or is there something I can do to use these?  And if it is adding weight what is the best way?

[Bjorn]

Cutting makes them stiffer and will only make it worse. You can add weight with heavier inserts and heavier points; but I doubt you can add enough. Likely, you will need weaker arrows-most self bows are not cut to center and do not need as much spine as other bows. Be careful cutting carbons they get stiff in a hurry.

[BamBooBender]

You're  gonna want something that like the 30-50's, but they are cut to 28" at wally world. The 45/60's are cut at 29" but you are gonna need some considerable weight up front around 250-300 grains.jawg Also tell us more about the self bow. Does it have a cut in shelf? Whats the design? ie length,straight profile, reflex, flipped tips,etc. Does it have any string follow? All of these things play a big role in determining spine for self bows.

[MarineR6er]

My selfbow does not have a center cut shelf it is a straight profile and has about 2 inches of set in it.  it is a classic selfbow from my hero ferrets design pictorials

[BamBooBender]

Based on what you said you're gonna need something spined like the carbon express 30-50's (about 64# iirc)but longer so you can dial them in through length and/or point wieght.

IMO that's the problem with buying premade carbon arrows from wally world, they're aimed at compound shooters. They work pretty well for their intended use , but trad bows (especially self bows)are a little more finicky when it comes to spine.  The 30-50's are sold as youth arrows and are cut to 28".

Have you considered cane/boo arrows to go with your selfbow? I could probably make up a few that would fly from your bow.


BTW you picked a good hero.         Maybe you can talk him into sending you some of them cane arrows    j/k

[MarineR6er]

I have lots of cane, and am in the process of making some arrows right now. Should I leave them bare shaft and long and just start cutting from the back as I tune them to the bow?  Wow, I just thought of that...man where did that come from.  BamBooBender you are inspirational.  I think I'll save my carbons for my wheelie bow and use cane for my selfbow.  Just seems right....That way I can just use some generic tips like .38 casings and trim from the nock end until they fly right.  
Will this work?  Should I add more weight up front to start with?

[BamBooBender]

Don't think you'll have that much problem getting cane arrows to fly right.They have a natural taper from front to back (provided you use the fat end for the tip)so they're pretty forgiving to begin with. Have you seen the cane arrow how to by Ferret? It is a great resource for building cane arrows. Personally, based on the specs you gave, I would cut them about 30" long and hot glue in (so you can remove them by heating them)some different weight field points starting with 100 or 125gr. Can't remember what a .38 or .357 casing weighs, but I used to weight them up with a single pellet of 00buck lead shot.
Also, you stated that you have lots of cane, so you could go with the low tech method of just making up a bunch of them and using the ones which fly the best.

BTW just looked at your profile... and you have time to make selfbows and such! Hat's off to you sir!      

May God guide you in your grave responsibility.
-James

[MarineR6er]

Like I said, Ferret is my hero and I have his site in my favorites.  My wife knows his site by heart now also.  "Looking at Ferrets again huh?"--wife.  His tutorials are awesome.  

Where can I get different weight tips?  I thought you had to buy a whole bunch of 1 type?  But the different tips would be the way to go.  Trying different tips and see which fly best on that arrow with my bow. Man this sight is great.

[MarineR6er]

By the way, thanks for the compliment.  My priorities don't leave alot of time for bow making and even less for arrows, but I wouldn't change it for the world.  I am gonna have my second child which is my first boy in 2 weeks.  Needless to say I am blessed and highly favored in the eyes of the Lord.  Plus to boot my little 3 year old girl wants a purple bow like mommies now.  "Mommies isn't purple, it's a bamboo backed bamboo R/D with a hickory laminate.  Thank you Norseman for your tutoring, wherever you are."  Now I am gonna have 2 hunting buddies!!!!  My little girl asked me today if cats where yummy!!!  She helps me gut fish and harvest sinew...What a trooper.