why wood?

[pergradus]

Just curious why so many trad shooters like wood arrows.

Is it because they are relatively easy to make at home, and people like the DIY aspect of it, or do they genuinely shoot better than carbon or aluminum?

I've read you have to constantly re-straighten wood arrows, and they are obviously easier to break. Seems like a lot of work!

[$bowhunter$]

i like them casue they just seem a little bit more traditional. but overal carbon and alum. are bothe straiter and more consistant than wood. ive never needed to restraiten shafts yet. im sure some real serious wood shooterrs will jump in on this.

[Spectre]

I don't know about easier to break, some of those woodies are tough as nails.

[Stumpkiller]

They don't shoot as well as aluminum or carbon.  But we do this bowhunting and archery stuff for the fun and challenge, don't we?

Used to be they were much cheaper.  Now I do it because I enjoy working on wood shafts.  It's relaxing and better than watching TV on February evenings.

And there is a great deal of satisfaction in harvesting game with an arrow of your own make.

Constantly restraighten?  Maybe that's my problem.  Once they're made up I may go . . . forever without straightening unless one happens to have a problem I notice.  Occasionally I get bored and check them for straightness.  I have hundreds of wood arrows and might straighten two a month.  When I buy raw shafts I straighten them all.  Then again before cutting the nock and point tapers, then after all is done.  If one needs a forth straightening after that it's a suspect arrow and gets on the little bus to the bunny quiver.

Why walk through the woods when you can travel faster on an interstate in your car?

Why fly fish when you'd catch more with bait?

Why homebrew beer when you can buy canned beer cheaper?

It's a zen thing.

[Grey Taylor]

I can make a wood arrow beautiful, something I'm proud to shoot and show off.
A carbon or aluminum arrow will never be more than a carbon or aluminum arrow.

Guy

[centaur]

Wood has 'soul'. As stated, no, they don't shoot as well as aluminum or carbon, but they are fun to work with, and when they break, they smell great (cedars). I have not had problems with having to straighten wood arrows over the years. Some of us are evidently in trad archery in part, at least, for the nostalgia and romance of it all, and wood just fits those parameters better than metal or carbon. Just my biased opinion.

[bowmac]

I guess I do mostly for the nostalgia. I rarely need to straighten one, I think they shoot quieter and I just like shooting a wood arrow out of a wood bow. I have tried again and again to shoot carbons and aluminums but its just not the same to me. To me they are also pretty forgiving on the shot.

[Bjorn]

I enjoy working with wood and the quiet shooting; don't particularly care whether it is trad or not.

[Recurve50 LBS]

Since long bows and recurves are considered "Traditional Bows", why not shoot "Traditional" arrows from them?

I have shot wood, aluminum and carbon arrows. I enjoy making my arrows and have done so with all 3 materials but IMO making my arrows out of wood is more satisfying to me.

[Bob B.]

For me, I guess it is like what Stumpkiller and Centar said.

Why paddle a wood canvas canoe?  Why use a cavas pack.  WHy start my fires with flint and steel or wear wool long shirt instead of a coat?  Same as wood arrows I guess. Might not be better, just feels right I guess.

Bob.

[David Mitchell]

For the same reason we shoot longbows and recurves instead of compound devices.  

[bofish-IL]

I like the smell of the wood and also if you do break a wooden one it rots away. Unlike all the aluminum and carbon arrows I see laying in the woods at the local archery ranges.

[stiknstringer]

Maybe aluminum/carbon are made more consistent, but my cedar arrows fly every bit as well as any of them imo.

[pergradus]

I think I understand.    

[Mike Most]

Not to mention those of mine with a little bend shoot around corners.....  :eek:

[ChrisM]

I have spent over 300 bucks on carbons and can't getem to fly as good as my woodies.  So for me it is a tuning issue.

[Lee Robinson .]

IF, and that is a big IF, one is willing to pursue perfection in producing a well matched set of wood arrows, they may not get absolute perfection, but they can indeed produce some excellent wood arrows that fly very well. Wood is very quiet and also very forgiving.

[LongStick64]

It may take more time to set them up, but they become part of the journey. They are perfect to be made up during the off season.
But besides that my bows love to shoot a heavy woody, and I really don't see a major difference in my accuracy at all.

[Notso]

Carbon and aluminum are straighter, but lack the "spirit" of the handmade wood arrow. Killing an animal with something you made and with a broadhead you coaxed into sharpness, adds immeasureably to the hunt and the taking of game.

[Rob DiStefano]

if you hafta ask "why?", you'll never understand the need to fling wood.