Scorch/burn marks on wood (douglas fir) arrows

[Ruttinghard]

Hi all, has anyone added scorch or burn marks on the shafts of their wood arrows? Particularly Douglas Fir? My main question or concern is, did it weaken your arrows at all? Make them more prone to breaking at the burned points? Thanks for any insight and experiences!

[Terry Green]

I did this with leather dye and fine steel wool...

Sorry for the terrible pics, those were from year 2000.

Give me a bit and I'll post some new ones...

[Terry Green]

The steel wool didn't remove any wood to speak of, but it only removed enough dye for this look.

Now the bow has darkened with age.....

Here's another leather dye job with no steal wool leaving it solid.

[Pat B]

I've used scorch marks on shafting, POC, different shoot arrows and cane as camo with no problems. These were for 45# to 60# bows. 

[dhaverstick]

I have been doing on every set I make for 20 years or so with no adverse effects. My wife helps on the process now. I burn them and stain them. Then she hand paints them using various methods before I seal the shafts.

Darren

[M60gunner]

Didn’t seem to affect the wood arrows the old guys shot years ago when I first joined club in 1977. That’s what they liked for camo

[Terry Green]

Nice guys, since it doesn't effect the arrow, how do you scorch them?

[Pat B]

I use our gas cook stove while straightening hardwood shoots and cane and just for camo on POC or other bought shafts.

[Wudstix]

 

[STICKBENDER98]

Some doug firs and poc I have done, I use a propane torch to get the effect I want, light steel wool then seal. I haven’t had any issue with either. The doug fir tend to show their grain more than the cedars do, so you can pretty much create whatever pattern or design you want. There are templates you can buy also, think I’ve seen them on 3Rivers site.


Jason

[Ruttinghard]

Beautiful work, thanks guys! Glad to hear you haven’t noticed breaking on the burns. Would an alcohol burner (i use one for gluing on points) work okay? Or do I want a “dirty” fuel source to put soot on the arrow?

[Stumpkiller]

My bowhunting mentor operated under the firm "Burnt Arrow Archery" and had metal stencils to place over shafts to make propane torch singed lines and emblems (hoof prints and such) for customer orders. This was back in the 1980's.

[dhaverstick]

Beautiful work, thanks guys! Glad to hear you haven’t noticed breaking on the burns. Would an alcohol burner (i use one for gluing on points) work okay? Or do I want a “dirty” fuel source to put soot on the arrow?

I use a small butane torch for more precise burning.

Darren