Changeing inserts;

[UncasUK]

I have some Bear-Paw Timbersticks carbon arrows, these are excellent quality arrows.
What is the safest way to remove the light insert ( factory installed ) so that I can replace with a heavy one?
Any help appreciated.

[The Whittler]

With the point on you could try some boiling water put your a rows in for a minute or more, or field point some flame.

 And some suggest a drill bit inside just make sure you cover the tip end of your arrow as the insert and drill bit can come flying out.

[Bisch]

Check where you bought them from and ask what adhesive was used to glue in the original inserts.

If hot melt, you can easily remove them by installing a field point, heat the field point under a torch, then pull out insert.

If epoxy, then use the biggest drill bit you can fit in the shaft that will still slide through freely. Remove the nock, insert the drill bit, and then whip the shaft to drive the drill bit into the insert at the other end. This sometimes takes multiple tries to get it to work, but it usually does work. The amount of heat it takes to remove epoxied in inserts will ruin the carbon shaft.

Oh, and when you go to glue in your new heavy inserts, use Quick Stick hot melt from Big Jim’s Bow Company. Then you will never have trouble getting inserts out in the future when you need to. Don’t use other brands! Get the Quick Stick from Big Jim’s!!   

Bisch

[McDave]

I have removed many inserts by heating a field point with a torch.  I have also ruined a few shafts.  I have found that the key to not ruining them is to use a fairly long field point, like 145 grains or more, to keep the direct heat further away from the carbon shaft.  Rotate the shaft while the point is in the flame to help spread the heat evenly.  After initially holding the point in the flame for five seconds or so to get things started, tighten the point in a vise, if you are fortunate enough to have one on your work bench, and pull.  Often the insert will pull out on the first try.  If not, shorten the time in the flame to a couple of seconds at a time, then pull it out of the flame and hold the carbon shaft near the end you are heating in your bare fingers.  As long as you can stand to do that, there is no danger of ruining the shaft.  When the shaft gets too hot to hold, then try Bisch's method.

If nothing else works, and you are determined to get the insert out, it will eventually come out, epoxy or not, if you apply heat long enough.  Remember that it is the end furthest away from the heat that is still holding, so apply the heat to the point for only a second or two at a time and then remove it from the heat for 4-5 seconds to allow the heat to move up the shaft.  At this point, some of the end of the shaft will probably be ruined, but generally only about 1/4 - 1/2”, which you can cut off if you don't mind having a slightly shorter shaft.

[UncasUK]

Whittler, Bish, McDave,

Thank you very much for such excellent advice, much appreciated.

[M60gunner]

Big Jim’s glue X2. When you get those inserts out clean the inside of shaft with Acetone or something like it. I use a rifle bore brush first then clean out with Acetone.
  I was a skeptic about using the Big Jim’s glue or the Bohning blue glue. Always used epoxy. But I gave the hot melt a try about a year ago and haven’t lost a insert yet. Out target bales are compressed carpet. Hopefully they used some form of super glue on those inserts. Less hassle than epoxy.

[Steelhead]

I use Big Jim's Hot melt as well.It would be nice if everyone did.Sometimes I buy used arrows and want to change the inserts.Pain in the butt when thier super glued in or epoxied in.

If you cant get them out only other option is to cut shaft right before the insert up the shaft.

good luck!