Whats the best way to straighten wood shafts before staining and sealing?

[lpcjon2]

Ok it is as simple as the title.Any help is appreciated.Thanks

[**DONOTDELETE**]

round shanked screwdriver

[lpcjon2]

mysticguido can you elaborate on that

[slorun]

I sight down the shaft. Find the spot that needs to be straightened. Apply heat with a heat gun (not too much)and bend with my hands until straight. It works like a charm. I straightened 1doz. freshly made shafts last night.

[Rob DiStefano]

you've got to remember to check the 'how to' forum ....

 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000060

[fatman]

http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000060

here ya go  

[fatman]

jinx!

[Orion]

If it's bowed in the middle, hold it with both hands and just flex it in the opposite direction of the bow.  Or, put one end of the shaft on a hard surface with the bend on top and and press down on it with the palm of your hand and work your palm back and forth on the shaft while pressing down on it.  This will generate some heat fairly quickly as well.  If the bend is particularly stubborn, or near either end of the shaft, you may want to heat it some before applying the pressure.  Heat, put one end on a hard surface and press down, rubbing back and forth, with the palm of your hand over the bend. None of this compresses the wood fibers.  If the bends still won't come out, then you need to work with some sort of burnishing tool like the commercially sold rollers or the shaft of a fairly large screw driver. This burnishing/wood compression tool takes the place of the palm of your hand.  Can use it with or without heat. Just face the bend in the shaft up and press down on it with the burnishing tool and work it back and forth on the shaft over the bend. I think we have a tutorial on this site somewhere.

[lpcjon2]

Thanks you can close it and delete it .

[Rufus]

Gotta leave one or two a bit crooked. Crooked arrow is high on the excuse list.    

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Thanx for the link Rob. Thats how I do it and works great

[Jim Curlee]

Use a hook!
Jim

[JRY309]

I use a brass hook from Woodchuck and a spin tester to check straightness when I sraightened my wood shafts.

[Pack]

I have found that using a heat gun really helps the straightening to stay in place.  Compression straightening is like magic, but I have found if you use too much on the rift side,  (I think that is what it is called) it can damage the arrow.  I like to roll my arrows on a piece of flat board that is painted black, this helps you watch the band of light underneath as it rolls.  It really helps you see all the smaller bends.  Yes, you can drive yourself crazy trying to get them near perfect, but I think it makes a difference with broadheads.

[rraming]

anything to heat and compress the "high side" - do it for three days (or three different times) and wrap them together with rubber bands between each time. I've only been doing it for a few years so it's fresh in my memory how poor I was at it at first. I've make a few hundred arrows and my most recent I believe are the best. I do roll them on a table to find the high spots - I don't ever go with the eyeball approach unless I'm checking an old one that flew funny

[SuperK]

The Ace roller straight (?) or whatever they call it has worked better for me than hooking or any other way.

[Jim Curlee]

Actually when you use a hook, you are crushing the fibres in the wood. By compressing the strong side you are allowing the weak side to equalize. The strong side is always the hump up side, of the shaft.
I've been doing this for better than 25 years, it is the quickest, and best method for straightening cedar arrows.
They will stay pretty darn straight.
We are talking a piece of wood, so I'm not going to tell you that they are going to stay perfect, but mighty close.
Jim

[Bjorn]

I use the method in the how to section. Just finger straighten a bunch, and put them away.
You will be happy to see how straight they all are a few months or years later.

[Jim Curlee]

Actually you can shoot a crooked wood arrow, and they will still shoot alright.
Don't know why, but they will
Not so with tin-cans, or carbons.
Best to have them straight, especially at the crester.
I wouldn't have them any other way.
Jim

[snag]

Now that I buy Surewood shafts I can just hand straighten the few that need it. Most all are good to go when I get them. Then if there is a coupld that need some persuading you can just hand straighten them. That is another reason that I love douglas fir...easy to straighten and to keep straight.