Can I use this for arrow shaft?

[Boatriga]

Rookie question here...
I have a vitex or "chaste" tree in my back yard with nice straight branching all over.

Anyone ever used this? Or does anyone have info on what trees can/can't be used?

Here's a link to tree, this stuff grows all over Fort Worth

http://www.delange.org/ChasteTree/ChasteTree.htm

[Wiley]

Why not try a few and find out?

If its straight im sure it will probably make an arrow. Whether it makes a durable arrow in terms of staying straight and not breaking is probably only going to be answerable by someone that has tried it. If no one can give you an answer, there isn't anything stopping you from answering your own question.

[stickbender]

     Ditto to what Wiley said.  Try a branch, and see how resilient it is.  Try bending it.  If it breaks, or if it springs back, to original shape.   Cut a limb and let it dry, and see if it will with stand bending, and see how it returns to shape.  Also check for checking, etc.  See how it responds to heat straightening, and how well it retains it's straightness.  Just treat it like any other possible arrow shaft.



                                                                                Wayne

[Newindian]

I admired the straight branches to, I'm not much of an arrow maker but I did make an arrow from it as a throw together thing I might have a shaft laying around. My opinion is that it works good enough but there are better materials