Nothing like a good piece of A$$...I mean ASH! Loved the ash shanks I used to get from silent pond. Met him numerous yrs at the ETAR. His trick for straighteing an ash shaft was to rub with olive oil and then put in oven for 10 min or so at low heat 150-200. Makes them pliable as heck and allows you to get super straight.
Once they cool they set themselves and lock in nice and straight. I then start the building process by sanding and steel wooling, followed by staining, followed by cresting, and then fletching.....done!Have been doing this for 20 yrs now....works great. have lots of pics but not on my work computer.....let me know if you want to see some..PaLongshank