Mark Hill Bamboo Shafts...Great Surprise

[markliep]

After spending a lot of time trying to standardize garden bamboo stakes into useful stumping arrows I ordered a dozen spined shafts from Mark Hill in the UK for about $4 each including the shipping ... wow, what a surprise, they came straight, stained & within a narrow spine range with 9/12 being within the 26-29g range. Setting up 6 arrows was as quick & easy as my spruce shafts (taper tool at each end was all that was needed) & I was ready to go to the target.

For a quick test (I'm used to bamboo shooting high & Lt) I put orange nocks on the lighter & slightly stiffer arrows & yellow on the slightly heavier end & also shot three Game Getters for comparison ... my only problem now, do I really want to use these guys for stumping, they seem too good - M.

BTW - for those with good eyesight 2 arrows don't have a 3rd fletch - was a quick glue job & shooting in -15C tends to test glues I find.

 
 

[Knawbone]

Sounds like a good deal, thanks for sharing your great find. How do I get a hold of Mark Hill?Those shafts look really nice-and straight.

[Matty]

Cool! Bamboo shafts are on my "to make" list this winter

[markliep]

If you search e--- for Tonkin bamboo arrow shafts you should find him under Mahill Archery - I ordered spine sorted shafts but I think next time I'll check out spine & weight sorted shafts if the price is right - M

[Richie]

Good looking arrows.  

[Woody303]

Ive shot cedar, aluminum, and carbon in the past.  I now use bamboo exclusively for all my shooting/hunting.  They are strong, hold up to tons of abuse, and shoot really nice.  

The natural taper makes for a quicker recovery, and a bit of natural FOC.  

I've tried footed bamboo, and they work okay also.  But, I've found that wrapping some silk bead cord behind the point keeps the shaft from splitting in the event of a glancing rock hit.  This is with a small diameter hardwood dowel epoxied into the end of the shaft, about 2" long.  

The bad thing is that they aren't as straight as man-made materials, and some of the shafts just don't shoot well at all.  But, that is to be expected of a natural material.  

Use steam to straighten them, or soak the bent area with lotsa water and heat with a hair dryer.

[David Yukon]

Can you shoot bamboo out of 60# plus bows?

[markliep]

When I contacted Mark he had shafts spined out to at least 100#,- think you're good to go - M