Cheap DIY arrows for a 60+lb bow?

[Tradtical Commando]

I was in the how-to section trying to find out about a way to make cheap arrows, but the $.92 arrow build I saw only addressed arrows up t 50#.

 Anyone know a way I can make some for a 30" draw shooting 60-65# bows?

[Matty]

 
Pretty sure that's not possible....

[Pine]

[Tradtical Commando]

Was that last link for bows over 60lbs?

[Prairie Drifter]

You can do the same as in the $.92 thread, just use 3/8" dowels instead of 5/16"

[Tradtical Commando]

Ok cool, so would I just taper the ends down to fit heads and nocks?

[Biathlonman]

Unless your time is worth nothing I suspect aluminum arrows are probably the most affordable.

[Tradtical Commando]

You might have a point!

[Biathlonman]

The idea of DIY really appeals to me but I'm finding more and more that my time is the commodity I have the least of and hold most precious.  I suspect an hour if overtime at work could probably get me at least a half dozen very functional arrows.

[Tradtical Commando]

I priced them out. Big Jims GT blemished arrows are the way to go and not much more than Aluminums, if at all.
 I am wanting to make ALOT of them if I can do them myself with cheap materials. I have a tendency to lose/destroy arrows like no one else I have seen. Plus I would like to experiment making my own wood arrows.

[Rob DiStefano]

as already stated, 3/8" dowel, i like birch.  it will be a Very Heavy arrow, too.  you can pretty easily taper the ends (or for that matter, barrel taper the entire shaft) by chucking into a v/s drill and coarse sanding to a proud 11/32".  should also be one Tough arrow.

[Tradtical Commando]

Awesome, I am  gonna have to find some around here.

[Pat B]

Have you thought of cane?

[Matty]

Originally posted by Matty:
   
Pretty sure that's not possible....

I stand corrected. I don't even know where you can buy 1 feather for $.45 so in feathers alone I'm already over a buck!

[Rob DiStefano]

make yer own fletching.  nothing special required other than a sharp knife and some sandpaper at the least.  one of the Best feathers for arrows comes from canada geese - and they're free.  next month is the moult, and the ponds and golf courses (amongst lotsa other places) will be strewn with goose flight feathers.  too boot, they have built-in natural water repellent.  :cool:

 goose feather fletching

 

[Tradtical Commando]

Originally posted by Pat B:
Have you thought of cane?

Theres tons of it around but I wouldn't have a clue to know how to spine it

[Tradtical Commando]

Originally posted by Matty:
 

Originally posted by Matty:
     
Pretty sure that's not possible....

I stand corrected. I don't even know where you can buy 1 feather for $.45 so in feathers alone I'm already over a buck! [/b]

I have a lot of turkey wings and just bought a low profile banana chopper that can do both right and left wings.

[Prairie Drifter]

Originally posted by Matty:
 

Originally posted by Matty:
       
Pretty sure that's not possible....

I stand corrected. I don't even know where you can buy 1 feather for $.45 so in feathers alone I'm already over a buck! [/b]

Then you didn't read the post for the $.92 arrow. Mike tells you where to get feathers cheap. When the post was made 4 years ago, Sagittarius was selling full length feathers for $25/100. They are now $35/100, still a good deal.

[arrow flynn]

carbons from big jim just glue the feathers on and go of course you will have to play around with point weight but they will loutlast wood so in the long run they are cheaper mho

[Hackbow]

I love to stump shoot with friends and thoroughly enjoy taking risky shots that will eat arrows if one is off target a bit too much.

When I shot 55# +/- I made-up a bunch of nutters and had a ball. When I stepped-up in poundage, I was busting arrows right and left and couldn't make enough to keep me shooting at suspect targets, so decided to give carbon a try.

Well, let me tell you, it hurt to bust those babies! Then someone on here suggested footing the carbons with pieces of aluminum arrows. There was a great thread with a video,  http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000112  in the How To section, but it appears the vid is no longer accessible. I'm sure if you searched the site some you could find pics and other threads that show how it is done. Maybe PM the original poster and he may have the video saved somewhere else.

Bottom-line is that I started footing my carbons on both ends and don't break arrows very often any longer. My bow is 71# at my draw and I can confidently be stupid with my target choices. I still break a few, but total cost of arrow ownership has dropped significantly since footing both ends. I usually carry a few extra nocks with me as they will occasionally pop out from the force.

So, it isn't exactly a "cheap" option when starting, but over time it has been the least expensive way for me to launch arrows at hard things or into suspect areas.