My new arrows (edited with PICs of materials)

[KellyG]

Well that is good to know. I am taking the wife out of town this weekend but when I get back arrows and my bow are going to be made next week, between time in the woods.

I have spooked a lot of deer this year. Been out 4 times and spooked deer on 3 of them. Heck on trip I spooked a deer under my stand in the dark going in. I had planed hunting for the ground that day in big old oak not far from my stand. Spooked turkeys just after sun up. Add brush to it just before I left for the morning was easing out and had a doe under my stand again.        OH well, I was able to get an arrow knocked and get a range on her before she notice. 30yrds; 10yrds to far. Should have eased behind a tree first, just sunk down into the vegetation. It worked for a about a minute before she noticed something out of place. Well I guess my attempt at bone arrow heads will have to wait.    

[KellyG]

Ok I got my heads rough cut out. Now I got my truck up and running. Darn rodent built a nest and it caught fire, but was not nothing I couldn't fix. Now I will work on arrows and bows after my hunting season.

Ok about the heads. I used the Magnus just to get the angle of the heads. I don't know what the weight is I will find out I imagine they are around 150grns but not sure.

 

Well they will have to do. I need to make me another shaft wrench to straighten them. Mine broke. I also got some flint today too. So my venture down that road should begin.

[Roy from Pa]

Look nice Kelly.

[KellyG]

Ok got some more shaft straighten up.

I have them next to finished arrow that Pat made and the rest of the crooked ones. I will sand them down to get them smooth and the limb knots off. then (correct me if I am wrong pat) I get them down to about the same diameter after I sand them?

 

[Pat B]

Kelly, each one is a little different so you will have to get a feel for them. They usually do come out close in weight and size. Just reduce the diameter of the butt end a bit with the thumb plane. I usually bring them down to 11/32" to 3/8". If you are going to use a field point or store bought arrowhead this size makes it easier to fit.
 FYI...the arrow in the picture has a viburnum shaft(notice the opposite leaf/branch scars along the shoot) and not a sourwood shaft(alternate leaf/branch scars). I sent it along to Kelly so he could see how I made arrows. Each shafting, sourwood and viburnum has its own dos and don'ts but their arrows both shoot well.
 Did I send you any green shoots? If so, go ahead and scrape off the bark. It is a lot easier green. Most other shoot material will check if you do this right away(at least in my experience)but not sourwood.
 Steve Parker(Hillbilly) planes his sourwood shafts down to 5/16" and shoots 45# to 55# bows. BTW, they look like machined shafts! I, personally, prefer the more natural look. They all shoot well if made well!

[Roy from Pa]

Looking nice Kelly, fun isn't it?

[George Tsoukalas]

Kelly, looking good. Sometimes I use the ground end for the point and sometimes I use the upper end for the point. Depends on the mood I'm in. The advantage to using the point end on the upper is it allows to keep after it for straightening after the arrow is fletched. That's the trouble end for me. It is hard to straighten that part when fletched. With the point on the bottom end the arrow is tapered nicely for good flight. The disadvantage is not enough meat for the nock end so cut selectively with that in mind. Jawge

[KellyG]

Pat not green ones, but I have them all debarked. Pat when I start shaveing them down, I check sand them again, then spine them, correct?

Roy don't know if I would call it fun or not.

George this is my first time so I will stick to Pat's guidance on this batch and hope I get 3 or 4 shooter out of the group.

[Roy from Pa]

Kelly, it will be fun when you shoot the first one, I promise:)

[Pat B]

That's right Kelly. I have a piece of wood with 5/16", 11/32" and 3/8" hole drilled in it to use as a diameter guage. It helps to keep things similar.
  When I spine hardwood shoots I do it to find the stiff side and make the arrow so that stiff side goes against the bow. Generally I don't spine them to a specific spine weight.

[CherokeeKC]

yes you def want the big end to be the end you haft the point too.  check out this page for some i did recently  

 http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,28563.0.html

you might have to register to see the pics if your not already a member

[Trad-Man]

That's fine workmanship!  I would be proud to have made arrows as nice as these!  I trust you're g'na use tem this year for a buck or two?

[Shakes.602]

Making Your Own Arrows is a Great Downtime Activity, and a Great Thing to Learn!! Looks like You have some Fine Components and some Awsome Teachers!! Enjoy!!

[KellyG]

Thanks for the encouragement, plan on using them to hunt if I can get some finished. I have 3 craved down to 3/8. I am using a knife and it is going slow.

Pat how do you use a thumb plane to do it?

Trad-man that one completed arrow is Pat B made it, if I can get a deer to stay around long enough.

[KellyG]

Ok I have have about 1/2 dozen shaved down and sanded to about 3/8".

Now I spin them to look for the stiff side. Since I don't have a spin tester I will just us a ruler and 2lbs of weight.

I have the plans for one but that is a project for another day.

[Roy from Pa]

Ok Kelly, that's close enough. Ship them to me  now and I'll finish them up for my BBO:) LOL

[Pat B]

Kelly, place one end on a counter top and hold the other end in one hand while pressing down in the middle with the other hand. Rotate and try all 4 sides. You should be able to feel which side is the stiffest. This isn't brain surgery! d;^)

[KellyG]

Okay pat will do.
Roy now how am i too learn if I send you them and you finish them off and break them in for me. I guess you would have to send me some of your cane arrow to hold me over.  

[Roy from Pa]

Never mind Kelly, I don't like them now:) LMAO

[KellyG]

Ok Roy if that is your final answer. I have the determined the stiff side. I guess now select the best and straightest part for the arrow, and cut them down. Let me know if that is not the next step.