Tru-center taper tool

[Pig Sticker]

Anyone used the Tru-center arrow taper tool
3 rivers sells?

Is it battery operated? Do you have to change blades often?

[Chad R]

I tried it and returned it.  They adjusted it.  I tried it again and returned it.  Couldn't get a good taper with it.

[JRY309]

I tried one many years ago,didn't care for it.The shaft would not fit in it after you put finish on the arrow shaft.I prefer to finish my arrows before I cut them and taper.

[Pig Sticker]

Wow,

Just ordered one. May be wishing I hadn't

Any good reviews?
 
What works better?

[Dan'l]

I've used the Tru-center tool for a couple of years.  Finding the proper adjustment for the blades is the key to a truly centered taper.  Otherwise, the taper can easily be off center.  If I weren't so cheap, I expect I'd find a sander setup, either the Woodchuck or some kind of juryrigged sander with tapering jig, would be better.  Good luck!

[dino]

I've used one for years, no problems.  Tapered poc,sitka,yellow cedar, ash, hickory, purpleheart, wenge, basswood, tamarck, laminated birch, maple, poplar, ramin wood, and a few others that I don't remember.  Once their set up properly I've never had an issue.  I've also taken several that people said were "defective" or "can't work" and set them up to work.  The biggest problem is that the come in pieces and have to be assembled.  If you read the directions and have a little patience there shouldn't be an issue.  Just my perspective.     Good luck. dino

[Aaron F.]

Set up they work fine.  Especially they are better than the standard cutters for hardwood shafts, hickory, ash, laminated, etc.  The little plastic ones don't cut the hard stuff well, but it will.  The hardest part is setting up the angle of the cut.  I took a cheap plastic one made a taper on a wood shaft and then put it in the tru-center and copied it.  My preference would be for them to machine in a slot for the blade with the correct angle.  But that said, they can and do work.

Aaron

[John3]

I've used one for years.. Good tool..  The "wiffen" tool, now sold by 3R is about as good as a taper tool can get for 7$.. No adjustment,,, just taper.


John III

[Bill Skinner]

I have one, it works well on POC.  It works well on hardwoods also but I got a blister when I did two dozen in on sitting.  You may want to put your tapers on before sealing, if the shaft is tight with clearcoat, it tends to stick.  Bill

[Pig Sticker]

Thanks for the input everyone.

[Pat B]

I had one and didn't like it. I gave it away.     Pat

[Tree man]

I have one and use it but it is not my preferred tool. The realities of variable shaft dimensions and differing woods mean that if you make a lot of arrows you will find that multiple tapering tools are desirable. I have lots of Whiffen  tools-they are excellent for their cost. The BearPaw taper tool is even better in the little compact tools. The Tru-center has a nice depth stop for cutting broad head tapers but is rather mediocre in cutting nock tapers-adjusted to the correct angle mine doesn't cut very well. Where it serves best is on undersized shafts that you can shim with paper-the long guide hole helps center things up.
My Favorite taper tools are OLD Accurate tools with plastic interchangable guide inlets.-I wish that one was still made.

[Ssamac]

3 rivers has a handheld tool, actually two of them one the Wiffen mentioned above and the other called the Bear Paw. They are like pencil sharpeners. Do they work?

Sam

[cedarshaft]

I had one, and luckily I was able to trade the set for a wide nylon belt to hang my quiver from. Definitely got the better part of that trade.

[Buckeye Trad Hunter]

I have one and I use my $5 taper tool from 3 rivers instead.  First it had a burr that caused it not to cut right then it was out of adjustment then when I tried to taper ash the blades kept breaking then the screws stripped out.  Not saying it's a bad product, as with anything you get good with the bad.  As far as the blisters, chuck it up in a cordless drill.

[Steelhead]

some like em and get good results and some dont.I have one and have done 3 dozen shafts with it.All turned out perfect for me and spin perfectly straight.It does take some elbow grease after you do a few.I dont make alot of wood arrows.If I did I wouuld definatly get a machine style one though.This tool works well for me though and my needs.

[JRY309]

Like said I bought one and the first time I tried to use it I couldn't get my finished shaft to fit inside of the tool.Didn't even get one use out of it.Did my first dozen when my buddys pencil sharpener until my Woodchuck came in.Been using my Woodchuck for over 15 years and have done over 30 dozen arrows for myself and friends.

[Leo L.]

I bought one and could never get it to work right for me either.  I'm sure it's operator error seeing as the other fellow on here claims he gets straight tapers out of his.  

I sold it and bought a benchtop disc sander.

[M60gunner]

I have used one for alot of years. I have mine set up to make a flush match between the shaft and point. It does have it problems but so does every other product out there.
I still have one of the old accurate taper tools as well. I got mine from Don Brown years... ago. I was into real heavy bows then and the one adapater did 3/8" shafts.
I also have the woodchuck and would not be without . My hands cramp up holding the Tru-Taper for more than 6 shafts. The woodchuck allows me to do as many dozens as I want at a time.

[Old York]

I had one, never could get it to not  tear the wood grain especially on the low angle point taper. I turned it into a heavy-duty muskie lure & it's now out in the middle of Sand Lake, near that drop-off where the loons always nest.