Bamboo Arrows

[Austin]

If I build anymore natural shafts, I plan on going with bamboo. Definitety a+ in the coolness and durability departments. I have a feeling I'll get the itch when hunting is over and things slow down this winter  

[Ed Q]

Beautiful arrows, NTD!  I'm a beginner at all this, so sorry if this is a dumb question, but one day I'd like to make my own bamboo arrows.  Anyway, when installing the field points, do you taper the front of the bamboo shaft like you would a solid wood shaft?  If so, what kind of tool do you use and how do you keep them from splintering?  Also, what tool do you use to make the self nocks?

[Davesea]

I have been building solid bamboo arrows from bamboo laminate flooring.  One piece of 6'x 5/8" flooring will make 14 shafts.  Cost for solid bamboo comes to about $0.50 per shaft.  I have been learning that the spine means nothing so my next batch are going to be built to weight.  They are so tough it is amazing.        

[Grey Taylor]

Dave, are you cutting square blanks from the flooring and then rounding them into the shaft shape?

Ed Q, sanding-type taper tools like a Woodchuck make short work of tapering for either glue-on points or regular plastic nocks. Some people reinforce the ends by gluing bamboo bbq skewers into the center of the shaft for a couple inches (may be necessary to drill shaft for fit).

Guy

[Davesea]

Yes, I rip them into 3/8" strips and then use a dowel maker (veritas) to make 3/8" shafts.  Sand them down from there.  BUT, I am bringing some stock to an arrow mill in a couple weeks and will have him make some precision shafts for me. If the bamboo is not too hard on his equipment.

[Grey Taylor]

Hildebrand?

Guy

[Eugene Slagle]

I have 2 hunting arrows from stringstretcher that he made from Bamboo, my GOD do they fly beautiful from my Sky Hawk, all I have to do is resharpen the broadheads.

After yesterday shooting these I'm seriously thinking hooking up with stringstretcher to have a dozen arrows made & hopefully he can give me some pointers on making em.

[Tom Leemans]

Labor intensive yes, but I'll probably only shoot cane arrows from now on.

[Steve G]

I am Loving this Post!  Great topic!

[Davesea]

Guy,
Yes Neil.
Dave

[Mechslasher]

here is a set i recently finish out of hill cane with apple wood foreshafts.

 

[MercilessMing]

Just finished a bucketful of arrows.  It is like going to golf driving range to bring this bucket to practice.

 


Both are reinforced self nock.  The one on the left uses canvas soaked in epoxy.  The one on the right is used PCB.

 

[WPAtrapper]

Beautiful arrows guys.

[stickhead]

Cane is great a good source is David Knight at primal needs archery he has really great,straight and grain weight matched shafts as well as finished arrows.as for cresting I like to use Feibings leather dye.

[NTD]

My shafts came from David Knight.

[NTD]

Originally posted by Ed Q:
Beautiful arrows, NTD!  I'm a beginner at all this, so sorry if this is a dumb question, but one day I'd like to make my own bamboo arrows.  Anyway, when installing the field points, do you taper the front of the bamboo shaft like you would a solid wood shaft?  If so, what kind of tool do you use and how do you keep them from splintering?  Also, what tool do you use to make the self nocks?

Hi Ed,
Thanks for the compliment.  Yes I taper them just like a wood shaft.  I use a cheapo pencil sharpener type and I wouldn't reccomend it.  Using that tool you have to be very careful not to splinter it.  As soon as I have the funds I will be getting a belt/disc sander and will taper that way with a jig.

For the nocks I use a ceramic tile saw and then clean it up with sand paper.  The nocks are wrapped with silk thread.

[Ed Q]

Thanks for the info, Grey and NTD.

What about self nocks?  What's the best tool to make a self nock with bamboo?  Is it preferable or necessary to insert a narrow bamboo/wood dowel in the hollow end of the bamboo to make the self nock?  Or can you cut into the hollow part and reinforce it with artificial sinew just above?

[Grey Taylor]

Either/or, or all of the above.
How's that for a definitive reply?
If you're tapering for a plastic nock it seems to work better with the bbq skewer filling up the center of the shaft right at the taper.
If you're making a self nock it will work fine with or without the bbq skewer. Wrapping the shaft at the nock with artificial sinew, real sinew, silk, small diameter nylon thread, etc. will give cheap insurance against a split nock and can easily contribute to the beauty of the arrow if a little care is taken.
For actually cutting the nock, there's a round blade tile saw that fits on a frame similar to a small hacksaw frame that works really well. Here is a   picture of the blade  .

Guy

[Ed Q]

Gotcha.  Thanks for the pic and info, GreyTaylor.

[DannyBows]

Great thread! I know what I'll be doing to beat the "Cabin Fever" after the season ends.