Talk Me Into Wood Arrows

[Tsalt]

Trumpkin,

Rob DiStefano, Trad Gang Admin guy, did a great tutorial that shows everything you need to make woodies.  I made my first set a couple months ago and followed his instructions to the t.

Here it is...   http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000119;p=1

[Tsalt]

I guess I should add that I just bought a dozen GT Blems from Big Jim though...    :rolleyes:  

I just havn't been able to get the woodies to fly quite right yet.  I'm not giving up, I'm just not ready to fling them at deer yet.

[NEKarcher]

Wow, I'm excited to see that Forester does Mahogany shafts. Too bad I have 2-dozen port oxfords hanging in my booth as of yesterday. I was thinking that black walnut or mahog would make for good a good spine for my 55# bows. Now I get to find out. Thanks guys!

[Shakes.602]

HINT: IF  you get 36" Dowels, I hope you have a Heat Gun!     They are a  BIG  Help when Straightening Dowel Rod Arrows!! Been There, and they work Great! Of course mine were only 27.5 long too,  BUT  I would think that would help too!!

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Trump,

To answer your question, All you need essentially is a fletching jig, yes tape works so does glue. And a taper jig.  I have used the pencil sharpener style but now use a disc sander.

Let your imagination fly, I like to  use spray paint for the cap, stain the shaft and clear coat it with a spray clear coat polyeurothene.  Follow some of the tutorials and you will be set.

[Echatham]

x2 for surewood for heavy spined shafts.  for finishing i use gasket lacquer and the squeege system... big dipper i think its called, and its super fast and easy.  if you have a protractor and a disk or belt sander its super easy to make a taper jig for nock and point tapers.  the pencil sharpener type taper tools are ok for cedar, but tear out the grain on fir.  for cresting i use a very redneck rig i made with a drill.  hot glue stick for points.    here is my supplies for wood arrows:  prices are approximate and based on my memory.

big dipper   $12
gasket lacquer  $24 a quart
taper tool   made from stuff i had
crester     made from stuff i had
cresting paint     $1 tubes of craft paint
digital grain scale    $30
hot glue stick  $3
alcohol burning lamp (for melting glue)  $6
arrow straightener     screwdriver i already had
fletching jig    $50
feather chopper   $25

once you got all that stuff, it don't cost much to make a dozen,  i get surewood premium shafts for $50 shipped,  and full length feathers from Sagittarius archery for $30/100

ps.  i have used leftover wall paint sponged on thin for cap dipped effect.  works great.  i use masking tape to mask off the area not to be "dipped"  then crest over the transition. and leather dye works beautifully too.

here is a sample of last two dozens i made up. green one is house paint, brown one is leather dye.  
 

[Herdbull]

Footed hexshafts from wispering winds, Bob Burton, works for me with 32inch arrows. Mike

[TRAP]

Add a long hardwood foot and solve both issues.  Increased FOC and increased length.  

Trap

[TRAP]

Add a long hardwood foot and solve both issues.  Increased FOC and increased length.  

Trap

[Machino]

Woodies are the best.  Certainly the most quiet and aesthetically the most pleasing.  This is an artsy photo of my shooters.  Grousing arrows are always a little simpler of course.  I'm in missoula and would be happy to show you the "deal".  It's like flyfishing.  Eventually you hate using anything but you own creation. I became the same way with the bow.  

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[Trumpkin the Dwarf]

Machino,
that Toelke is almost identical to mine! And those woodies look sweet. I ordered some more carbons the other day, but thank you for the offer.

[straitera]

Switched to natural woods a number of years ago w/no regrets. Can make up a dozen in no time. Fly great from my big bows & pack a punch. Also have a router & jig to make my own shafts pdq. You can even burnish at the same time as you whittle down the shaft to any length you want. Plenty of wood options & stains & fletch & even add-ons for FOC weight. Good luck

[rainman]

Not wood, but you can get bamboo spined up to 100lbs and 39 inches long.

[hitman]

Wood arrows are awesome. No need to say any more.

[Shakes.602]

Have We All convinced ya yet???

[Don Stokes]

Mr. Dwarf, It won't be easy to find woods spined heavy enough for a 68# bow @ 32". My chart suggests you will need 100-105# spine for that Whip.

[hitman]

If you need extra length get someone to foot you some shafts.

[TSP]

Jim is right, Reparrows are a good option for adding a few inches to a standard length shaft.  They are tough, and work very well for repairing broken arrow tips, too.

[slowbowjoe]

I'll put in my two cents worth of response to the questions:

It isn't hard to make a good batch of wood shafts. It does require more than a little time and patience, though, and a bit of reading to get started on the process.

You'll need a fletching jig ( which you've already got), a point and nock taper tool, some Duco cement, hot melt glue (or epoxy), and your choice of a sealer for the shafts (oil or water based poly, tung oil, or similar). Stain if you want it. Likewise for cresting (these or of course optional).

Personally, I have found it way easier to get a good flying wood shaft, than a carbon. But carbons end up with high foc easier. Woodies do fine with moderate foc; I easily get good flight with 125grn points.

Spine will be no problem.

I've fletched up several dozen shafts now with tape, do a whole lot of roving in rough woods year round, and don't recall having any problems due to the tape.

Others have offered great advise on length.

Now I am no expert by any means. Shot wood for a few years, tried a couple of sets of carbon, went back to woodies and learned how to make them, this was just a year or two ago. I find it very satisfying to make them, and much prefer shooting them.

Enjoy your journey.

[jeffg]

I have been shooting Doug Fir from Sure wood for a while now. Great people He can fix you up with stiff enough arrows. They list them 100-105 spine way stiffer than you need Give them a call. They are also a sponsor.