Need advice on testing various footing lengths

[Don_G]

I'd like to do an arrow tune, but in reverse from the usual. I want to make a heavy head/high FOC setup, and would like to tune one from "too stiff to too weak" using a series of ever-shorter footers until it's too weak, then trim the arrow for the final tune.  The 400 grain head assembly is so far outside of normal I'm not sure where to start.

I want to go this direction because the arrows I'm using are only 32" full length and I have a 29.5" draw, so there's not much trimming range.

This method will obviously be painfully tedious, but to make it practical at all I need some easily removable temporary glue for the footer.  Will the normal hot melt glue turn loose at a temperature that does not damage the carbon shaft under the aluminum footer?
   
Is there a better way to do this?  

[Rob W.]

Good luck. I bet the footing will be way longer than you expect it to be to make a difference.

[Trumpkin the Dwarf]

What draw weight do you plan on setting up for? I have 360 grains up front of my GT 7595's at 32" with no footing at all. I draw 31" and my bow is 55@28".
As for glue...you could try saran wrap(like one does with inserts) as a compression fit and poke a hole in it to insert your point.

[wtpops]

Low temp hot melt. Its blue in color and can be had at 3rivers.

[tradtusker]

Don we have played with that to try and change the spine of the arrow and its quite tricky and it will take a long footing before you notice any difference. eg 10" + it was just not practical.

So then we tried to sleeve the center of the shaft, with a section of footing.
E.g marked the center point of the arrow. then sleeved it with say 4" of the alu footing, having 2" each side of center. This stiffened the arrow but its also not practical at all.

So then we played with internally doing the same thing, with some of those really skinny target carbons, tricky to do but it can work, Adds a bit of weight so you loose some of your EFOC.

Are you shooting Trad bow or Compound? what are the specs, there are also things you can do to the bow to tune an arrow to it.  I have a compound set up, thats 80lbs at 28" and its tuned to a 30" Kenetic .200 big game shaft, with 100gr brass insert and 300gr VPA head.

[Forrest Halley]

The blue stuff is called cool flex. Absolutely great stuff. Boiling water is all it takes to get soft again. I use it for tuning arrows as you can reheat it and out it comes with no damage to arrow or insert.  Please post your results. I'm in a similar boat and will need to foot some arrows soon.

[Don_G]

I'm an engineer (I know, I know, but I try to make sense every now'n'then.)  

I'm gonna try going to longer footings on the 300 spine Axis ST arrows I already have.  The arrows are for the ACS CSX in my sig. I'm forced to use .204 ID arrows that I can foot to 5/16 OD by the broadhead design.

Cool flex sounds like just what I need.  I'll share the results, whether they make sense or not!

[tradtusker]

Also Don,  Victoryarchery make a VAP 250 arrow  which is a .250spine micro diameter shaft, if you need something in-between the .300s and the .200s

[Don_G]

Yep, Andy, I've looked that one up. I think you could use an 1817 and a 2013 to bring that one up to the correct OD at the tip. That 250 might be a good bet for many trad shooters in the 45-60 lb range that want high FOC. There is no custom insert for that one, but I think a careful man could get an 8-32 cap screw with the head cut off to work.  They are available in Grade 8, so thread strength would not be an issue.