Cedar Arrows won't stay straight

[Allen Wood]

Straightened some out a month ago with one of those straightners that you run by hand and put pressure on the arrow. Was real straight with very little wobble on a cresting machine. Did not crest or paint them though. Started working on them yesterday and there is quite a bit of wobble. Had them rubber banded together and laying on a table.

[moebow]

After straightening, did you finish them??  If they were still unfinished then moisture combined with the rubber band put strain on them and they warped again.

I have finished arrows that are 30 years old that have NOT warped at all but they are finished!!  Re-straighten the shafts then get them finished ASAP and you should have no further problems.

Arne

[ron w]

Yep......once straight you have get something on them to keep moisture out. Get'em straight and seal them!!

[macbow]

Usually I would straighten the shafts then do any tapering and point tapers then straighten again.
Then finish and check straightness one more time after they were dry.

Last forever. More damage is done to aluminum and wood arrows pulling them from targets if not pulled,straight than any other time.

[JRY309]

I would seal my wood shafts right after I straighten them to keep moisture out.They stayed straight after sealing them.Moisture in the air can affect wood especially arrows.

[Hud]

Try rolling them on a glass top table,or flat surface, mark the end where the high spot is so you can check later after straightening.

If you have nice wood without a lot of runout, use a screw drive metal shaft and stroke the high spot, light pressure compresses the wood and it will stay straight longer. If there is runout, too much pressure will pop the ends loose. You may still have to do some a second time until you get use to the technique.

Wipe, or dip a clearcoat of Mini Wax Wipe on Poly, or whatever you like and get the ends. I feel it is important to do this if you live where it is humid, or rains. Especially if you are taking your time in finishing the arrows.

[Allen Wood]

What I have been doing I straighten, then stain the lower half and paint the upper 10 inches and let it dry. Then crest and then seal. Previously I tried sealing the shafts first full length but then the paints did not work as well and don't think they would stain at all.

[snag]

If you are using a waterbased paint you are adding moisture into one half of the shaft. I like to straighten, stain, seal and then paint and seal over it all again.

[The Ole' Bowhunter]

If I am not mistaken it's best to store stragihten shafts in the vertical position while bundled tight with a rubberband.

[Hud]

If you mix your own stain from Rite dye, or other, mix with alchol, not water. Like Snag suggests.