Footing 3/8" dowel rods

[RonnieB]

My wife has spent the last couple days out of town, so while the kids are at school I've had time to think.  Yeah, dangerous I know!!

Well, while out in my garage I uncovered a bunch of screw-in field points from my compound days.  I hate to throw them away so I got to thinking about footing my 3/8" ramin dowels I have.  I did a search here to see if there was any build alongs, but unfortunately I did'nt find any!!

Now, not being much of a math student, is there anyone out there who has done this?  If so, what size aluminum shaft did you use?  I just plane to use them for stumpin', but who knows?

Thanks
Ron

[Bowspirit]

I have a few laying around that I planed down abit and footed with a 6-inch 2315 shaft. Have yet to break or loose one, too...

[macbow]

Ron that would be a wopper of a shaft. Of coarse you'd be reducing it down some.
The way aluminum shafts were numbered was like the 2315 example above the 23 is diameter in 64's so it would be 23/64 1/64 shy of your 3/8 diameter. the 15 is thickness in .001's of an inch so it is .015 in thick.

So the best aluminum would be 24something maybe a 2413, then you would reduce the 3/8 dowell by the .013 and the outside would mathc the dowell.
Ron

[Bowspirit]

I agree with macbow about the best being a 24xx aluminun shaft. I just used 2315's cause I had no 24xx's at the time...

[RonnieB]

Thanks Ron, you too Chris!!

I knew this was the spot for the answer!!  Yeah, I plan to sand 'em down a bit.  I'll just mainly be whacking stumps and such, so I won't get too fancy.

I'll post some pics when I get 'em done

Thanks Agian!

Ron B

[SCATTERSHOT]

In keeping with the cheap nature of dowel arrows, why not drill a hole in the point end to accept the points, and then wrap the end with carpet thread reinforced with epoxy? That works, too. You could also slip a .38 Special case over the end and drill the hole. Instant footing, and the hole would be already centered for you.