Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: Wooden Spring on June 10, 2014, 08:45:36 am

Title: Arrow material?
Post by: Wooden Spring on June 10, 2014, 08:45:36 am

OK, I'm sure this is posted elsewhere, but I don't have time this morning to search...

I just made some poplar shafts last night at 11/32" diameter, hoping they would turn out like my 3Rivers arrows of the same diameter, spined at 45-50#... They weren't even close. My 11/32" shafts were spined at 34-35# straight out of my shaft making jig.

OK, so I'm thinking I need a more dense wood.

What is an ideal wood that is dense enough to give me comparable spine weights? I love my 3Rivers arrows, but at $10 a piece, I can't afford to keep purchasing them!

Title: Re: Arrow material?
Post by: autologus on June 10, 2014, 09:59:03 am

I like tonkin bamboo or river cane.  There is a great how too as a sticky in this forum on using tonkin bamboo tomato stakes for arrow shafting and they work very well and are as tough as carbon.

Grady

Title: Re: Arrow material?
Post by: Pat B on June 10, 2014, 10:19:43 am

Send Charlie Jefferson(stringstretcher) a PM. He turns out some very nice poplar shafting in most mid range spines. I have some I shoot from my 55#@26" bows.
  Seasoning the woos is one thing Charlie will tell you.

Title: Re: Arrow material?
Post by: RBLusthaus on June 10, 2014, 11:54:05 am

I make poplar arrows with a range of spine from 35 to 70 pound.  Each board is different - - so shafts get matched up by weight and spine - - - but must be dried like any other wood (prior to cutting shafts).

Russ

Title: Re: Arrow material?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on June 10, 2014, 12:17:35 pm

Sounds like you need to turn a bunch out and just separate them until you get an adequate amount of a given spine. 

Title: Re: Arrow material?
Post by: Jim Davis on June 10, 2014, 10:48:21 pm

Douglas fir, spruce or yellow pine--usually available at lumber yards.

Jim Dav