Size of Cedars???

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I'm looking to get some cedars in 65-70 but noticed they come in 11/32 and 23/64. I know the difference is the diameter, but dont know the advantages or disadvantages. I'm a newbie to cedar arrows, sorry. Justin

[SlowBowinMO]

Generally, if I can get the spine I need in multiple diameters I'll always opt for the smallest possible.  Many others feel the same.  Smaller diameters often penetrate better.

[Bill Carlsen]

Justin: Chances are pretty good that you will have a hard time finding 11/32 wood shafts in that spine range. I have always preferred a more slender arrow as opposed to a fatter one so my recommendation is to go with 11/32 if you can get them.  I made custom arrows for quite a few years and would also suggest that you might want to look at shafts that are in the 70-75 range unless you are actually shooting an arrow shorter than 28". The general formula for arrow spine for a center shot recurve would be to add 10 pounds to the weight of the bow for a 28" arrow. Add 5# for every inch over 28" of actual arrow length and add an additional 5# in spine if the bow has a fast flite or similar modern string (as opposed to dacron).

Just so you know why the preferemce for the slender shaft is that the smaller diameter actually means you have a denser wood shaft which makes it more durable. The more dense wood comes from the heartwood of the tree and that wood is stiffer, denser, has more resins in it and just makes for a better arrow.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Thanks guys for the great information. Justin

[Orion]

The smaller diameter arrow also sits a little closer to the center of the bow.  Makes it just a little easier to tune.  Or, said another way, the bow will take a wider spine range of the narrower diameter shafts.  I shoot 65-75# 11/32 cedars.  They're pretty hard to find, particularly 70-75#.  Above that spine, they're extremely rare.  Can go to compressed shafts though.  There are a few arrow suppliers around that that compress 23/64 shafts to 11/32.

[roper]

I have always liked 23/64 because of tapering down
the last 10 inches to 5/16 th. I've shot both and
can't tell any difference in penetration..Pass-through is still a pass-through with either size.
Dead is Dead! They won't know the difference.allen

[Bjorn]

I recently found 75-80# in 11/32 and immediately bought 100. High spine in 11/32 is rare these days.
But the difference is only 1/64 inch between 11/32 and 23/64 and not worth it if you have to compromise quality; like grain uniformity and straightness.
If the quality is the same get the skinnier one.