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Author Topic: Poplar Board to Arrow Shafts  (Read 10131 times)

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OsageBender

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Poplar Board to Arrow Shafts
« on: June 12, 2009, 08:25:24 pm »
While sorting through the wood rack at Home Depot today, I ran across a very nice straight grained poplar board.  I bought it, and plan to rip it down to 3/8" square stock, than plane out some arrow shafts.  I have never tried poplar for arrows, nor heard much about it.  How does it compare to other arrow woods? Is it durable, and does it stay relatively straight?  Thanks for any feed back!
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Offline Hillbilly

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Re: Poplar Board to Arrow Shafts
« Reply #1 on: June 12, 2009, 09:59:47 pm »
I've made some poplar arrows, and they're pretty good quality if you start with a good piece of wood. I'd rate them above POC.
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gradog

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Re: Poplar Board to Arrow Shafts
« Reply #2 on: August 24, 2009, 08:50:48 pm »
I have made some Poplar arrows and was surprised at the toughness and ability to stay straight once straitened. My favorite arrow material is ;) Douglas Fir but Poplar is a very close second.  Since my source of Douglas Fir has dried up I guess Poplar is now #1.
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Offline ricktrojanowski

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Re: Poplar Board to Arrow Shafts
« Reply #3 on: August 24, 2009, 10:02:58 pm »
I've made some arrows from Poplar boards as well.  It makes good shafting.  Relatively strong and fairly heavy but still easy to straighten.
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Offline Bushbow

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Re: Poplar Board to Arrow Shafts
« Reply #4 on: November 06, 2009, 08:55:39 pm »
I have made many poplar shaft from boards and also by reducing 3/8 dowels until the required spine is achieved. I agree better than POC. With any wood good arrows require straight grain. My favorite woo is Douglas fir.
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Offline nugget

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Re: Poplar Board to Arrow Shafts
« Reply #5 on: November 07, 2009, 12:47:55 am »
Very easy to straighten. Mine liked to warp easily, but that may have been a sealing problem. Very durable arrow material.
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Offline adb

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Re: Poplar Board to Arrow Shafts
« Reply #6 on: November 07, 2009, 09:51:29 am »
I've used poplar to make 3/8" and 1/2" warbow arrows. Poplar was historicaly used during medieval times, and many poplar shafts were recovered from aboard the Mary Rose. It's good wood for arows.
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Offline zeNBowyer

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Re: Poplar Board to Arrow Shafts
« Reply #7 on: November 07, 2009, 01:56:16 pm »
Wondering how  much  total  arrow  weight these  poplar  arrows are  coming  out to 
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Offline Bushbow

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Re: Poplar Board to Arrow Shafts
« Reply #8 on: November 07, 2009, 09:53:52 pm »
They seem to come out about 20% heavier than POC. If a typical 50 lb spine POC is around 275 to 350 grains, an equal poplar is 325 to 375 grains.
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Offline The Gopher

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Re: Poplar Board to Arrow Shafts
« Reply #9 on: November 12, 2009, 10:28:09 am »
my bread and butter arrow shafts are poplar dowels from Menards, i have to sort through about 200 shafts and i'll walk away with maybe 20 useable ones, but its worth it at 18 cents a piece.

They are durable, easy to work with, take stains well, and stay pretty straight.

The stiffest 5/16" will give about a 45lb spine, great if i can get enough, but usually i get 3/8" and plane them down to my desired spine. its not uncommon to find nearly perfect poplar dowels, none or maybe 1 grain run-off in a 36" length.
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Offline George Tsoukalas

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Re: Poplar Board to Arrow Shafts
« Reply #10 on: November 17, 2009, 03:26:39 pm »
I've planed them out from poplar. I like poplar arrows. Jawge
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Offline ken75

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Re: Poplar Board to Arrow Shafts
« Reply #11 on: November 22, 2009, 10:57:54 pm »
most of the shafts i use are popular , i bought the 3/8 dowel cutter from lee valley tools and once cut to 1/2 by 1/2 by 36 you can turn an arrow in about 7 seconds. spline is consistent and they straighten easy .
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Offline Loki

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Re: Poplar Board to Arrow Shafts
« Reply #12 on: November 29, 2009, 06:50:19 pm »
Poplar and Cedar are my favourites,I always use Poplar for War Arrows.
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Offline boo

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Re: Poplar Board to Arrow Shafts
« Reply #13 on: November 29, 2009, 07:25:40 pm »
Ive turned some poplar shafts, I think they are a great shaft. Better than POC in my book
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Offline tetaxidermy

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Re: Poplar Board to Arrow Shafts
« Reply #14 on: November 29, 2009, 08:20:34 pm »
I just bought some today, my very first wood arrow the shoot great. getting ready to try on some deer.
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