Carbon Arrow Damage

[Sarah]

I've had carbon arrows that were obviously damaged and I de-commission them immediately, but what about arrow damage that is barely visible? I'm talking scuffs/discoloration from friction or even the tiniest nick?

[Dale in Pa]

Flex them vigorously between your two hands while rotating them 360*.Often they will be OK until you rotate them to the exact position and then they will crack or break.

[Alexander Traditional]

I have some that were damaged from hard impacts,and I was able to cut them down a quarter inch and still use them. As far as what you are talking about i've also had that happen. I've taken Gorilla super glue and let it seep in areas that are scuffed or nicked.

[Sarah]

Bingo - Thanks Dale. As soon as I bent the shaft and rotated it the scuffed area flexed away from the rest of the arrow. Like a blister. This one's a goner.  :(

[reddogge]

It helps to have a young person with good ears listen for cracks in carbons. I was shooting once and a young guy bounce one off of a tree and then flexed it and pronounced it a goner. I flexed it and couldn't hear a thing. Young ears are a blessing.

[McDave]

Our targets are enclosed in wood structures.  Sometimes I will glance an arrow off the top or side of the bale and it will hit sideways on the wood structure.  On a number of occasions, this has caused a fracture near the fletching.  Be careful if you get any kind of sideways impact on the shaft.  Also be careful of carbon arrows that have a wood grain covering, because the carbon can fracture underneath the covering without being evident unless you flex the shaft.

[BrownA5]

As always, great advice being given here!