Grain runnout on Doug. Fir shafts?

[The Ursus]

Is there a standard for determining how much runnout is acceptable.  I've been "shaft-shoot'n" a bunch of Doug. Fir and some of them look a little squirly.  

Thanks

[Orion]

Doug fir is pretty tough and won't break as easily as cedar if the grain runs off the shaft.  However, I personally wouldn't use any shaft that has grain that runs totally across the shaft at some poinit.  It would probably hold together, but I don't want to be the one to find out.

[The Ursus]

Yeah, that's what I figured.  Most all the shafts I have made have looked pretty good but there's a couple that were obviously less than perfect.  Mabye I'll start another random shaft pile for shafts like that.

[Luke Vander Vennen]

Orion I've had the opposite experince with Douglas Fir. Of the few I have made, they seem to break easier than cedar. I had one hit the target and just apparently not want to stay in one piece anymore. It hit and the back half flew back 5 feet. Perhaps we have a different quality douglas fir.

[Orion]

Ursus:  Some wavyness is OK, even grain that runs off, if it doesn't go all the way across the shaft, will probably be OK.

Luke V:  Good point.  I did get a batch of Doug fir a while ago that was very brittle.  Fella I got it from said he doweled them from 80-100 year old timbers acquired through some sort of building demolition.  I think the stuff was just too dried out.  That's the only time it's ever happened to me, but perhaps Doug fir is susceptible to overdrying and becoming brittle.

[The Ursus]

One interesting thing, I've found, is that the DF shafts that I've made with the Shaft Shooter have come out very straight!  As good or better than the cedars I used to buy.  I can't wait to get some stain on a few of them, the grain should look really cool.

[Steve H.]

Luke,

I have a few more hickories ready to "shoot" and three Bubinga ready for you to attempt, more if they work out.

[SCATTERSHOT]

Ursus, I can't give you a definitive answer to your question, but if you are making your own, why even take the chance?

[The Ursus]

Scatt- Yeah, I might take that road too.  At less than $.50 a shaft it's no biggie if I have to toss a few.  Garden stakes maybe...

Steve I'll run that hickory real soon.  I need some heavy spined shafts.  Maybe I'll swing by and get more wood from you.

[Luke Vander Vennen]

Orion it could be that they over-dried in my basement. I had them down there for a while, and put the finish on them down there. It would make sense.