Removing Axis/MFX insert...no damage

[Bill Carlsen]

I've seen threads on this before and have,  heretofore, believed  that removing an insert from an Axis or MFX shaft was undoable, especially if they were epoxied in. I recently received some used Axis arrows in a trade that were 1/2 inch too long. So I simply started to cut that !/2 inch from the nock end of the arrow. However, one of the arrows was unfooted and the shaft was damaged at the point end. It couldn't be used as it was so I tried an experiment...and it worked!  I was able to remove the insert without damaging the shaft. I finished the rest of the arrows in the same manner andI took a couple of the redone arrows out for some stumping today. They showed no signs of weakness or damage. Here is what I did.

I had  a 2 1/2 inch 8/32 threaded bolt and so I tightened it up in my vise.

 

Then I screwed the damaged shaft onto the bolt until it was tight enough that I couldn't tighten it any more.

 

As you can see there was enough room to heat the bolt without getting too close to the shaft.

 

As I continued to heat the bolt I kept twisting the shaft as if I were tightening the bolt into the insert. After what I would guess to be about a minute I could feel the shaft begin to turn as the epoxy weakened. As I continued to twist I then started to pull the shaft as if I were pulling the insert out...and as it turned out that is exactly what happened. The insert was out. I cut off the 1/2 inch, replaced the insert, footed the shaft and shot it today.

 

Hope this helps. I am very pleased.

[longbowray]

That good to know . Thank you

[Bill Carlsen]

I wasn't sure how it was going to work. I have wrecked other shafts with over heating but my thought was that if the heat transferred from the bolt to the insert to the epoxy then it might only be minimal on the shaft itself. That appears to be the case. I went at it very slowly.

[JamesKerr]

That's an ingenious way to get an insert out. Thanks for sharing the tip Bill.

[BOWMARKS]

Have done this with one of those metal insert tools sold by most dealers.  Works great for me.

[JJB2]

Can do the same thing by heating the field point and not the arrow then use a good pair of vice grips or a vice and twist.

[WESTBROOK]

Good one Bill!  I've done it with a field point, but that is a better trick.    

Eric

[Bill Carlsen]

I've tried with a field point but it heated up the shaft too much because the shank of the point was in contact with the shaft and transferred too much heat and damaged the shaft. This seemed "safer" because there is no direct contact with the shaft so I just decided that there was nothing to loose.

[COOCH]

Thats some good ole fashioned yankee ingenuity there.  

[Guru]

Good stuff Bill!

[eflanders]

I 've done the same thing many times with great success but every once in a while it still won't come out all of the way without more heat and the risk for damaging the shaft accordingly.  So what I do then is to slip an old drill bit into the shaft from the nock end, then I whip the arrow in a safe direction to slid the drill bit down hard against the insert which it then comes out.  I usually do this into a box to recover both the bit and insert.  The "slide hammer" effect of this trick has never failed me yet.

[Bill Carlsen]

elfanders: A friend of mine suggested that trick. I tried it on several shafts and it did not work. What I found after I got the inserts out was that there was a glob of excess epoxy right behind the insert which cushioned my efforts. I actually had to use a chain saw file to remove the old glue and smooth out the inside of the shafts. So far, there does not seem to be any ill effects. I think is all has to do with how the heat is transferred to the epoxy without first having to be exposed to the shaft, itself.

[Razorbak]

looks good Bill..glad this way works for you

[ishoot4thrills]

Originally posted by Bill Carlsen:
I've tried with a field point but it heated up the shaft too much because the shank of the point was in contact with the shaft and transferred too much heat and damaged the shaft. This seemed "safer" because there is no direct contact with the shaft so I just decided that there was nothing to loose.

Exactly what I did many years ago which made me vow to never mix heat with carbon in any way!

But, this method that you describe by using the bolt instead of a screw-in point has caused me to reconsider my "old" ways.

Thanks!  

[tradtusker]

good stuff.
I used to use a field tip the same way.

Never had to do i since i started footing all my arrows though.

[Bill Carlsen]

Tradtusker: A lot of the shafts I had to do that to I got in a trade and they had to be cut down. I also have some shafts that have normal inserts in them that I would like to replace with heavier ones so coming up with this method was a welcome discovery for me. But, you are right, footing cuts down on front end shaft damage. The other reason I posted this is simply because I see posts from time to time about the "impossibility" of getting inserts out of Axis and MFX shafts. Lots of guys, including myself, sometimes need to add weight and the only way is to get new shafts or figure out how to remove old inserts.  One of the great things about this site is peiople's willingness to share ideas and techniques that have worked for them.

[tradtusker]

Absolutely, and i'd say thats the best way iv seen to do it.

Even buying second hand arrows and guys want the inserts out, this is a great way to remove them.

Another thing i do is to cool the shaft down after doing this by just dipping it in a cup of water strait after taking the insert out, i found the carbon hold the heat and i like to cool them down as soon as i can.

[owlbait]

Bill, the 8/32" bolt doesn't contact the inside of the Axis/MFX shafts? I had no idea that the Easton epoxied inserts could be removed with heat. This is good information. Should make it easier to trade/buy used Axis/MFX arrows. Thanks!

[Bill Carlsen]

owlbait....my thoughts, exactly!...and no, the bolt does not touch the shaft. I was looking at the damaged shaft and just happened to have the bolt on the work bench. It was the "perfect storm" in my brain...or so it seemed. I looked at the bolt, looked at the arrow, the torch was within reach and viola....a couple of years' frustration quelled.  I guess it was an "ah ha" moment for me. Hope it helps a bunch of you guys.

Tradtusker....the cold water is a good idea. Next time.