Cane arrow question

[Bob B.]

I am just wondering how difficult it is to make cane shafts for my self bow.  How does one determine spine etc.  I am guessing it is nothing like making wood arrows?

Bob.

[macbow]

Bob jump over to the arrow making page. You'll be able to search and ask questions.
I love the cane/bamboo arrows. It takes some time to straighten and they are good for a wide range of spines.
Ron

[Art B]

Spine 'em the same as your other arrows if shooting "around" a handled bow Bob. For bows cut closer to center then you'll need to add spine to compensate for cane's natural taper which produces weight foreward.....Art

[macbow]

Sorry Bob got my sites mixed up the arrow one is on
Primitive Archer.
You want about 3/8 thickness on regular bamboo arrows.
River cane is about the same. It's been suggested to use a 3/8 inch open end wrench as a guide.
Ron

[shawnee]

Difficult, no. Time consuming...very! When straightening, start by heating the nodes and straighten them first.  Let arrow cool, then go back and straighten between the nodes.  Often you will have to repeat to make minor adjustments.  Use gloves, and the heat source of your choice.  A heat gun works great, but a stove burner or open flame will also work.  For me, straightening is done over a 2 or 3 day period, letting the shafts cool between steps.

Cut your shafts long, and many spine adjustments can be made by using a larger or smaller part of the shaft.

How the shafts are oriented to the bow will also affect spine.  

Most people glue a small dowel insert into the hole in the shaft at the nock and point ends.  
Many use a wood foreshaft to add weight up front and to make it easier to taper if you are going to use field points or glue on broadheads.

[sweeney3]

Very time consuming, but not hard.  

spine will be very forgiving due to the weight forward nature and the natural taper of the shaft.  

Real sinew rather than artificial is really handy to wrap the joint from foreshafts and to reinforce self nocks.

I use a 3/8 open end wrench to help gauge size (on the front or big end of the shaft) when harvesting.  They'll shrink a tiny bit as they dry, giving you a good starting point.

Overall, they are very good, tough, attractive arrows.  Very time and labor intensive to produce.

[JDinPA]

I used this to learn:
 

[neuse]

I recently made some cane arrows and was amazed at how well they shoot.

I am used to making wood arrows and getting them perfectly straight, were as the came were not perfectly straight but still shot great.

I will be making more cane arrows and I am looking for a place to buy bamboo if anybody knows were to do so.

[tenbrook]

Here is a tutorial I did that you might enjoy.  VERY detailed info on making your own Boo Arrows out of Home Depot Garden Stakes.  

All the same info applies to River Cane.

Feel free to ask any questions.      

  http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000128

[Bob B.]

WOW!

Tenbrook,

that is really cool, thanks for the link!!

Bob.