Getting nocks off wood arrows

[Ruttinghard]

Hello, just wondering if anyone has tips or tricks for getting nocks (glued on with Duco cement) off of wood arrows. If the past if I’ve had to pop one off, grabbing the nock with a pliers and twisting the shaft has usually worked. These are really on there. If I grip and rip it off too much, I am compressing the wood nock taper a bit. A knife risks shaving some of the wood off. Maybe dipping it into really hot water then pliers? Other tips? Thanks!

[Pat B]

Try dipping in hot water and twisting off with pliers. I've done it that way.

[Stringwacker]

What works best for me is to heat some water in a pan and just dip the nock for a few seconds in it...and twist off with a pair of pliers. I would strongly suggest not to dip deeper than the actual plastic nock as I wouldn't think the hot water wouldn't be good for your wood shaft.

Works great and the nocks comes off with very little pressure.

[Maclean]

I have the same problem getting nocks off of wood shafts. I use Bohning classic nocks and Duco cement. I've tried the methods mentioned above with no luck. What happens with the hot water method is the nock gets soft enough that the pliers just twist the top off leaving the bottom portion still attached to the shaft. And I'm left with having to shave the rest off with a razor blade very carefully. I must be using too much glue.

[The Whittler]

Run your hot water out of your tap and just the nock = pliers.

[trad_bowhunter1965]

I use a small butane touch and I heat the every end of the nock let it burn for a couple seconds comes off easy with pliers then sand off what's left with sandpaper.

[GCook]

Great thread.  I've tried all of these with limited success.   

[LongbowDP]

Use a lighter and burn the nock. It starts to melt and will peel right off leaving no residue and won’t damage the nock taper. Of course you have to use common sense and not burn the arrow.

[M60gunner]

I use my DNA lamp. Occasionally one will pop off but usually I do the pliers trick.

[Ruttinghard]

Thanks for the replies guys! I tried some of this. The hot water and pliers trick worked for me on the bearpaw nocks (seem to be a harder plastic) but not the Bohning. They get soft and the top just twists off as someone mentioned. I then tried the alcohol burner flame. It did peel off that way, but wasn’t the easiest. I may just have to try a couple more to get the hang of it. Anyway, thanks again for all the tips, I appreciate it!

[David Mitchell]

I gently heat them over an alcohol burner flame until the plastic softens then twist off with pliers or use a knife to whittle it off.

[Stringwacker]

Thanks for the replies guys! I tried some of this. The hot water and pliers trick worked for me on the bearpaw nocks (seem to be a harder plastic) but not the Bohning. They get soft and the top just twists off as someone mentioned. I then tried the alcohol burner flame. It did peel off that way, but wasn’t the easiest. I may just have to try a couple more to get the hang of it. Anyway, thanks again for all the tips, I appreciate it!

I might add that I use a set of nocking pliers and grab as close to the throat of the nock as possible. I often rock them gently back and forth to break the glue seal a little before twisting.

I've just never had a problem with dipping them in hot water. I once swapped a nock style on a dozen arrows it and took me less than 10 minutes to do the entire set. I never dip them long enough to melt the nock.

[Maclean]

Never tried nock pliers, gonna have to give that a whirl.

[Stringwacker]

Never tried nock pliers, gonna have to give that a whirl.

I use the pincher ends as opposed to trying to circle the nock. If you practice with a nock on a glue on aluminum shaft; you will find that you can crack the nock length ways pretty much without any heat source with the pinchers. The trick on wood is to modify the pressure not to damage the wood fibers...so you use the heated water.

I can remember an occasional nock that was hard to get off by the above method and I would resort to just getting a breakoff snap blade knife and indenting small numerous cuts and all the way around the bottom of the nock; pushing very carefully up the nock (along the taper) each time. A couple of times around the nock and it usually pops off.

[Maclean]

Never tried nock pliers, gonna have to give that a whirl.

I use the pincher ends as opposed to trying to circle the nock. If you practice with a nock on a glue on aluminum shaft; you will find that you can crack the nock length ways pretty much without any heat source with the pinchers. The trick on wood is to modify the pressure not to damage the wood fibers...so you use the heated water.

I can remember an occasional nock that was hard to get off by the above method and I would resort to just getting a breakoff snap blade knife and indenting small numerous cuts and all the way around the bottom of the nock; pushing very carefully up the nock (along the taper) each time. A couple of times around the nock and it usually pops off.

I have some broken arrows I'm going to practice on. Thanks for the tips!

[two4hooking]

I gently heat them over an alcohol burner flame until the plastic softens then twist off with pliers or use a knife to whittle it off.

I have luck with old nocks doing this.