Build-along: Four-Point Arrow Footing Jig, Part 1
Before we get into specifics, a little background. This was a jig I designed, built, and posted to the Stickbow.com site in August, 2000. Shortly thereafter, I posted a how-to online on making this jig, but the hosting site recently ceased services. As a result, I am doing a new build-along for TradGang.com. Please feel free to contact me with any questions that you may have.
Instead of simply posting photos of my original jig, I figured that a true build-along would be better. That way, you can see step by step how to make one of these jigs. The only materials you will need are some scrap ¾” thick hardwood (oak or maple are fine) and two screws (1 ¼” long is perfect). Tools will be discussed as we go along.
The first step is to layout the dimensions of the jig. You want to make both sides 6” long, 2” tall on the front, and 1 13/16” on the back.
Cut out both pieces, clamp them together and drill two holes through them. The holes should be smaller in diameter than the threads of your screws. Unclamp the pieces and enlarge the holes in one of the two pieces slightly larger than the threads of your screws. This allows you to use the screws to “clamp” the arrow shaft within your jig—loosen the screws to remove, replace, or rotate your shaft; tighten them to clamp the shaft in place.
Once that’s done, you may wish to screw the jig together and clean it up on a belt sander to get the top, bottom, front, and back evened up.
For the next step you will need a drill press with a fence and a 3/8” 90-degree V bit (common router bit). You will ultimately need these tools to make your footed shafts anyway.
There are two steps to milling the groove in the jig. The first one is as follows:
Set your fence so that it is 3/8” from the center of your V bit. Set the depth so that it cuts into the jig as shown. Now mill a grove down the inside of both halves of your jig, one at a time, with the top of the jig against the fence.
Reassemble your jig. It should look like this:
Now for the second step, adjust your fence and bit depth as shown. This is the front (tall side) of the jig. You want the bottom of the V bit a little deeper than halfway down the grooves you milled during the first step.
Make one pass, front to back. Draw a guideline horizontally across the front and this is what you have…your finished jig!
As it sits, it should yield wings of around 4 ½” in length. You can adjust the length of your wings by “tuning” the jig on a belt sander. For longer wings, sand the bottom to reduce the angle of the jig (reduce the front height). To decrease the wing length, sand the bottom to increase the angle of the jig (reduce the rear height).
Topic: Build-along: Four-Point Arrow Footing Jig (Read 543 times)
