Splitting hickory

[MikaelMazz]

I have my eye on an 8 inch diameter hickory that I want to split into arrow shafts. I want to make big blunts like Eastern woodland
Native arrows. I have not cut the hickory yet but it is staight as an arrow.  I dont have the means to or want to saw them.
Is there a technique to splitting shafts from hickory?
Should I orient my splints with the grain in any specific way?
Thanks,
  Mikael

[Hillbilly]

Use a froe. A froe is very helpful, too. Oh, and a froe works well. It's the only way I have found to accurately split shafts from logs. I have usually split the trunk like you would for firewood or bowstaves to make shafts (or more like making shingles actually.) With the froe, you can keep the splits pretty even in thickness, then drawknife, hand- plane, tablesaw, joint, or belt-sand them down to 3/8" thick boards (or thicker for the big blunts). Split or saw the boards into square arrow blanks. Hickory is heavy, but tough.

[Little John]

Good luck Mikael, Now I see why I am forn of the canes and bamboo that are already round and the right size.   Kenneth

[MikaelMazz]

Thanks,
  I like dogwood arrows for those reasons as well.
I dont have a frore but I will try my best.

[Pat B]

If you have a large butcher knife or machete add a perpendicular handle to the point end and you will have a froe.

[Hillbilly]

If you have a large butcher knife or machete add a perpendicular handle to the point end and you will have a froe.

Like a pair of vise grips, for example. 

[MikaelMazz]

I cut the tree and barked and split it in half to let it dry. The grain is slightly spiral but I hope I can make it work. I will try to use my axe as a frore by holding the handle parralell with the wood and torquing it.
Thanks for all the help.

[billy]

I'd split the hickory in half, then split each half into halves, and so on.  Hickory is pretty straight and splits pretty easily.  It will follow the grain when you split it, so you shouldn't have to worry about violating the grain. If you don't have a froe, just use an axe or wedge.   I made a split hickory arrow and it flies great....it carries a lot of weight with it too. 

[MikaelMazz]

Should I let it dry in half and slit it more later? Or split it down more now?

[Pat B]

I'd split it in half  or quarters and let it cure out a bit first. If you split out your shaft blanks now there is a good chance of warping.

[billy]

PAt's right...split them a little bit so they'll dry faster, but don't split them down too much..otherwise
 they'll warp....

[Hillbilly]

I third the motion. I've had some thin split pieces warp badly.