Durability of wood shafts

[Terry Green]

It's funny how the carbon arrow guys will tell you carbons are the best value because they are the most durable shaft. If you pay attention to all of the threads, there are many asking how to "foot" carbons so they dont split, which aluminum to use, what collars are needed, weight tubes to get the weight up etc. I have none of those problems with a wood shaft.

 I will tell you for a fact that the brand of arrows that I shot for 17 years, that were  carbons by the way.... Were way tougher than most wood shafts shafts by far.  I didn't foot or put collars on them...

They came in it 585 grains with a long adapter in a Zwicky D4 blade.  Most wood arrows did I use before were nowhere near this tough. Hickory and Compress Maples were the only shafts in the same league.

[Terry Green]

I've heard that, "If you ain't breaking arrows you ain't shooting".
 

And remember, arrows are supplies, not equipment   

I think they are tools... to accomplish a task.

Sardines, Vienna sausages, and toilet paper are supplies. 😁

[KentuckyWolf]

Figured they were older...and rare. Never got to try compressed wood arrows of any type. Shot PO cedar for years. Tried lots of other woods. Hickory was the toughest.

Personally
Shoot carbon for durability/toughness and wood for the feel.

[Wudstix]

Can't argue with either one of you about arrows don't seem to have them around enough, especially putting them through pigs.
 

[BigErn]

I have been shooting wood arrows for five or six years and still have about seven of the first one I made I also came across a tool called Arrow-fix made in Germany it’s an awesome tool for repairing broken arrow it will pay for its self.

      Is this the tool?

[Terry Green]

GREAT thread guys.... 

[M60gunner]

I just lost an old friend this AM. It came up short at 50 yard target. Hit the cement base and bounced back. At first all looked ok until I flexed it . Then it came apart in 2 places. Oh well, I have another doz on the bench in the “makin” process.
 While I have the floor, not necessarily a durability issue but what finish are you all using to keep target burn to a minimum? My last dozen or two I used waterbased Polycrillic. The bales are made from compressed carpet pieces. I have tried over the years, fletch Laq clear, Tru-oil, Gasket Laq, pure Tung oil, Polyethylene oil based and waterbased. About the only thing I haven’t done is just wax them, no finish.

[Wudstix]

I use water based Polycrylic and perhaps a light waxing of the last 6-8" would be a good idea to try.
 

[woodchucker]

Well Tom, now this is gonna sound silly.....

I had crap from the 3-D target, sticking to my wood arrows.
I used food grade silicone to clean it off. They didn't stick at all after that...??

[Horsey]

I have used wood arrows exclusively for over 40 years and never had a single animal complain when that wood shaft went through them.  100% satisfied customers.

--Mike Dunnaway
   Wild Horse Creek Bows

[trad_bowhunter1965]

I have been shooting wood arrows for five or six years and still have about seven of the first one I made I also came across a tool called Arrow-fix made in Germany it’s an awesome tool for repairing broken arrow it will pay for its self.

      Is this the tool?

Yes that is the tool.

[toddster]

I have used wood shafts for over 20 years, all types of wood.  I have had a few break when stump shooting only after like a dozen or more shots.  This last year I was curious and went down the "Carbon rabbit hole".  I wanted to figure out what worked best, just in case needed to go into a shop if hunting somewhere and needed some more.  I will admit that carbon shafts are straight and resilient, but to get the weight I want, will have to have extra components with me all the time.  Wood to me is just easier to work with, and once got recipe down, I know I can order that spine and done.  One other thing I have noticed about wood, is hunting, yes if the shaft stays in animal and they go down on it will break.  But, I know that if it snaps that I can still eat the meat without worrying about pieces of carbon.

[DV of WI]

Any thoughts on Ramin wood shafts? I have access to a fair number, they seem heavy and shoot ok if you get them strait. I don't know if they are even available any longer. They don't seem to have any real grain orientation from what I can tell. Oh well they seem to shoot good and dead is dead.

[Wudstix]

I have shot Ramin with good results, straightening is the key.