Cane shaft straightening

[sleek]

I'm using a heat gun to straighten tomato stakes and I'm struggling to get them exact. I can get all the nodes to align down an imaginary straight line,  from nock to base, but the inner nodes have a gentle wave to them that I cant get straight without spending hours on each one. How straight and perfectly aligned do the inner nodes have to be?

[DC]

I do the "inbetween the nodes" first. I think that helps. I try to get them as straight as I can but that's just me. I heat my barbeque up to 400 and stick the shafts in the rotisserie hole. Heat the whole arrow for about 30 sec or so and then do the initial straightening.  Wear gloves. After that it's just a few minor bends to get out. I know that an arrow can have a few whoops and still fly straight but they can also have a little wiggle and fly like crap. It just depends on the dynamic balance I guess and I have no idea how you can foresee if it's going to fly.

[jimmi the sammi]

I do it the opposite way from DC's method.  Using a propane torch for heat, I straighten the nodes first since they seem to be the hardest to play with.  Then I sand them to acceptable smoothness then straighten in between the nodes.  After all that then go through the entire shaft again.  Seems to take at least 3 sessions to get them right.  Have used purchased tomato stakes for years to make hunting arrows successfully.  Hope that helps.

[Deerhunter21]

+1 with sammy. The nodes seem to be the ones in need of the most correction. Takes about 3 broken shafts for me as it takes him three sessions.

[artcher1]

Never used a heat gun to straighten bamboo or cane, only a propane torch. Node areas require more of a spot heating which a torch easily provides. Like Jimmi, I'll hit the nodes with sandpaper before straightening, then a rough straightening of the nodes as needed, and then proceed to straighten the inner nodes. Then back to the nodes again. Repeat as needed.

To make the straightening process easier, and I'll not seen this mentioned before, there are only two planes to straighten on cane, bamboo, dowelled shafts and some hardwood shoots. For cane and boo, you need only to straighten the leaf scar side, and then rotate the shaft 1/4 turn and straighten it's side. So you only have to two sides to straighten here, instead of having to constantly rotating the shaft to locate it's crooks.

I made up a hardwood grooved straightening block to help with the process. Here's a pic...…...Art

[bownarra]

You are far better off straightening the mid sections first.
Then do the nodes.
I can get them perfect in one go with this method. Maybe a slight bend will still be left but almost nothing.
Fit points temporarily when almost perfect. Spin them in the palm of your hand to see if they are perfect. With enough practise you can feel where and in what manner they are off straight.
I've done a few thousand....

[Danzn Bar]

Start with the between the nodes first and dont backwards...Kevin get with me at Marshall or Mo Jam next year and I'll show you what I'm talking about.
It's hard for me to explain in print.  Can show ypu...

[Danzn Bar]

The cane can can be wavy between nodes but the issue is that you need the same wavy between end to end (imaginary center line )to balance out the spin of the shaft.
I have made very crooked arrows that shoot very good that was balanced between the ends of the shaft.
I hope I'm making since.
DBar

[Danzn Bar]

You are far better off straightening the mid sections first.
Then do the nodes.
I can get them perfect in one go with this method. Maybe a slight bend will still be left but almost nothing.
Fit points temporarily when almost perfect. Spin them in the palm of your hand to see if they are perfect. With enough practise you can feel where and in what manner they are off straight.
I've done a few thousand....

What part of the country do you live...would like to compare notes...there's a 100 ways to skin a cat.  I Can always learn a better way.

[gutpile]

i use a heat gun too.. best way IMO.. I get the major bends out first.. no matter where.. then start at one end and go to other.. they dont have to be perfect.. as long as both ends line up straight... but mine usually end up as straight as store bought haha... gut

[Hawkdancer]

Danzn Bar,
That would make a good presentation topic for MoJam, or at least, be a good training/bull session.  I'd like to sit in on that topic - this ol' dog can still learn new tricks!
Hawkdancer

[Danzn Bar]

Jerry
I'll make sure I bring my arrow stuff to MoJam.
DBar

[Hawkdancer]

I'm looking forward to it!  Hope to do a bit of experimenting if there is any down time during deer season.  Supposed to get a bit of weather Sunday, so it might be a stay in camp day!
Jerry

[willie]

so when spot heating the place to be straightened, does one then bend the shaft to compress the heated spot? or heat the outside of the bend?

[artcher1]

Heat the whole area to be straightened Willie. Then compress the high side with the back of your hand or lay the shaft flat with it's high side up and slightly apply pressure upwards while rubbing or rolling down the high spot...…..Art