Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: Diligence on February 19, 2009, 03:51:19 pm
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Well - been lurking for a while, thought I would make my first post a question:
Looking at making myself some arrows via the thumb plane method. I purchased some nice tight poplar and found some very straight grain hemlock in the "trim section" of Home Depot. Already 3/8" thick by 1.5" wide.
I cannot find any web references to people using Hemlock for self made arrows. The grain is not very dense, but it is super straight.
These will be primitive arrows to be shot from my first selfbow (which is almost finished) as such, I'm not too concerned with spine or technical considerations. I just want to be able to say "my bow works"....at least for now.
Any concerns, tips, considerations regarding hemlock for arrows?
Thanks in advance for your comments,
D
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If it has straight grain you should have no problems. I've never used hemlock for arrows but if it ain't too expensive you could do a test and let us know how it works. Pat
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Hemlock should work fine, I know from experience when it gets dry it gets harder than heck and makes one helluva hot fire :)
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All of our hemlocks are dying. An invasive wholly adelgid(aphid) is sucking the life out of them. If it makes good fire wood I need to start cutting it. I'm so used to good old red oak I don't hardly think of other woods, especially the softwoods.
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Pat we have the same problem up here, seems like every tree in the woods has a disease of bug killing them.
Emerald ash borer, oak wilt, spruce bud worm, dutch elm, the beeches got something, the pine borer and so on >:(
Pat hemlock is a soft wood so it will generate more cresote than hard wood, careful ya don't burn da house down eh :o
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Pat, hemlock burns good, but man does it pop and crackle and throw sparks all over the place.
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Pat, hemlock burns good, but man does it pop and crackle and throw sparks all over the place.
Now why did ya have to go tell him that Steve, ruining all my fun ;) :D
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;D
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I think I'll stick to tried and true red oak!!!
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Well, as an update, I finished the first of my six hemlock arrows. Cut them into 3/8" square stock, then planed and sanded to about 3/8" diameter. The one I finished was 33" long.
I shot it out of my newly finished 58# chokecherry bow, and WOW oh WOW...I couldn't believe how fast it lept from the bow string. I shot it without any point, just a flush cut wood end, and it stuck 1/2" into my 3/4" thick plywood target backing! It's way faster than the aluminum 2216 eastons I was using. I haven't spined them, but will get around to that eventually.
No pictures, but I did use pigeon feathers for fletching, and all 3 fletches are almost destroyed after 4 shots (it's dark here right now and I was scared I'd lose the arrow in the snow).
I will be making many more of these I think, just with better fletching. I bought the hemlock trim at Home Depot, 3/8" thick by 1.5" wide. Super straight grain, running the full length of the shafts.
I think I'm hooked!
Thanks for all the help!
D
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I never used hemlock for shafting but its a wood known for taking all sorts of twists and cups as it dries. On the other hand, its strong and light and rot resistant. Just keep an eye out for their straightness.
good luck
Matthieu
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These ones are dead dry right now and are "arrow" straight.
Just broke off a self nock this afternoon. I was in a hurry to shoot some of my new arrows I made, and I don't have any good fletching left so I ended up shooting a two fletch (duct tape) arrow without nock wrappings....and sure enough, it sheared off about 7" of arrow....still shot forward fine, but wrecked the arrow.
So, jury is still out on the suitability of Hemlock for arrows.
D
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My experience with hemlock for other uses is that it is pretty brittle. I would think it dangerous to the shooter.
Reparrow man
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I recently aquired some very old hemlock boards and was going to make arrows of it. I dont see why its any more dangerous than cedar.
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Hemlock splinters easily. Not all conifers are alike- at all. Be careful
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We have a lot of hemlock up here in southeast alaska,not the best firewood,gets real hard when it cures,makes a good arrow shaft,but I have been favoring the Sitka spruce,seems to just make a nicer arrow,very straight grained,flexible and strong(Sitka spruce).Hemlock Makes a pretty good trim wood because it is so straight grained.(That's what the mill up here does with it) ' Frank
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Thought an update on the whole "hemlock for arrows" idea was warranted.
I've made half a dozen of them, fletched with goose feathers, or goose feathers and a turkey cock feather. Shot them a bunch, and all of them are holding up really well, no breakages so far. Sinew wrapped nocks and fletching with field points.
I can't tell you the spine, but I reduced the diameter from 3/8" down to 11/32" and they fly much better. Kept playing with one arrow until I liked it, then are making the rest to match.
I think I'll make a bunch more this winter as the grain is so straight and it was dirt cheap from Home Depot. Might be worth considering if you are on a tight budget and don't want/can't find wild shoots for arrows.
Cheers,
D
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wow after everybody trashed my hemlock arrows idea here we are with a success story..... Im gonna go ahead and make mine now.