Bamboo arrow builders

[DXH]

Need some recommendations for how to prep wild bamboo for arrow shafts. Will be shot out of a 50# Osage self bow.
My room mate and I are challenging each other to a squirrel shoot this winter.
We have to use our self bows.. And he's added the stipulation has to be old school everything except stone points

[ranger 3]

First let it dry bundle up and then you can heat straighten it and work down the nodes. This one is river cane.
 

[Pat B]

When straightening start with either the nodes or internodes(one or the other) and heat and straighten the worst bend in that area and place the shaft on a flat surface to cool. Then go to the next cane and do the same. After that do the next worst on each and so on until all of the nodes(or internodes) are straight then start the others areas. If you don't let each section cool completely they will go back to the original shape.
 Take your time. It is a labor of love but you'll love cane arrows when done right.

[DXH]

How long do you let it dry?

[2fletch]

What Pat B said works for me. I like to work the nodes first. There is usually a hard angle there at the nodes, and then a correction in the area between the nodes. If I'm working a dozen arrows then I first heat and straighten the node areas, and lay them on a flat area to cool. After going through the dozen shafts then I will start over again straightening the area between the nodes. It usually takes about 2-3 times to get them to where they are acceptable.

[Pat B]

You can work them after a month or so but the longer you let any natural arrow material season the better shaft it will make, more stable, less warping.

[Soonerlongbow]

What are you using to straighten them? And are you guys sanding down the nodes?

[SKITCH]

Hey Al.  There's an article on this in he recent Traditonal Bowhunter magazine you should check out. Some good info for you.  It got me thinking about bamboo arrows too.  

Hope it helps.

[Soonerlongbow]

Just after I found this thread I found a full build along.

 http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=132427;p=0&r=actu#000000

[rainman]

Watch this video, not in English but you can see what he is doing very well.     .   traditional handmade Japanese arrows.

[Jon Stewart]

I also use dollar store bamboo skewer sticks on the tip and point ends of the arrow.  I cut about 2" of the skewer stick and use titebond II glue it into the ends.  Kind of an inside footing to beef up the ends and it helps from the ends splitting. You can self nock or use the pencil type tapering tool when you do this.

Some don't agree with this method but it doesn't hurt to beef up the ends of the shaft.

[M60gunner]

Has anyone tried using a torch to flame them? Flaming would temper them as well as release any moisture?

[Pat B]

I use our gas cook stove to straighten cane and hardwood shoots for arrows. Once I straighten the shafts I go over the entire shaft from one end to another tempering them. At this time I also add color for a camo effect.
 You need to allow most of the moisture to release naturally or the shafts can check by forcing the moisture out.