The trials and tribulations of making footed arrows

[Stefan]

The only reasons I've been able to come up with for why the footing is normally split is that many people add the footing to an already rounded shaft and to keep the overall weight down.

I don't quite understand the statement above. I make footed arrows using the footings from 3 riverarchery, a jig and an already round shaft (5/16 port orford cedar) I use footings beacause they are beautiful but also to improve FOC, it sounds silly to me that when an footing is added to a round shaft this is done to keep the weight down..Hardwood is heavier than cedar, pine or spruce either way it will improve FOC,..

I rarely have an footing split, If it does i haven't made the glue surface of the shaft thin enough or the cut in the footing is to irregular, I always use sandpaper to make the cut in the footing smooth...

I'm interest how your reverse footings will be holding up, would be too bad when the shafts aren't durable with the time invested in them, Post some pics when you have one finished.

greetings

stefan

[RBLusthaus]

I too would love to see the look of the reverse footing.  Please post a pic if you can.

Russ

[Bernal]

The only reasons I've been able to come up with for why the footing is normally split is that many people add the footing to an already rounded shaft and to keep the overall weight down.

I don't quite understand the statement above. I make footed arrows using the footings from 3 riverarchery, a jig and an already round shaft (5/16 port orford cedar) I use footings beacause they are beautiful but also to improve FOC, it sounds silly to me that when an footing is added to a round shaft this is done to keep the weight down..Hardwood is heavier than cedar, pine or spruce either way it will improve FOC,..

There's a small difference in the amount of hardwood footing versus the shaft with the reverse footing containing a tad more hardwood and thus a tad more weight. Since this is my first time making footed arrows and thinking about FOC, I'm not sure if the difference would be noticeable or not in the FOC calculation. In any case, that's what I was referring to.

Delivery of the dowel cutter is scheduled for tomorrow, so I hope to have some samples finished by the end of the week.

[George Tsoukalas]

Make the saw cut at right angles to the grain on the footing. Clamp behind the cut. Take your time making the v cut and get it small enough to fit. Glue. Add more clamps as needed. Footings can be done with hand tools. More on my site. Jawge
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/archer.html

[Bernal]

Here's a photo of the reverse footing. I can't wait to see how the color of the bloodwood brightens up when it is finished. This weekend we're going to make up a bunch and hopefully be able to start barrel tapering them also.

[RBLusthaus]

Before you go to any great effort to make more and finish these off, I would suggest that you shoot a few shots at some semi hard target to see if there is any ill effect on the shaft itself - as I fear you may end up splitting the shaft itself.   Hopefully I am wrong - but - i cant help thinking that the hard footing "wants" to open the shaft with every impact. 

Looks good, though - I am sure they will finish up beautifully.

Russ 

[Bernal]

Before you go to any great effort to make more and finish these off, I would suggest that you shoot a few shots at some semi hard target to see if there is any ill effect on the shaft itself - as I fear you may end up splitting the shaft itself.   Hopefully I am wrong - but - i cant help thinking that the hard footing "wants" to open the shaft with every impact. 

Looks good, though - I am sure they will finish up beautifully.

Russ

The only way that would happen is if the glue fails and if the glue fails it wouldn't matter which way they are made. But yes, I plan to make and test some before making all of them.

[JW_Halverson]

The glue is the pivot point in any test of a footed arrow.  Two wing, four wing, 12 wing reversed with a half sumersault matters not if your glue up is bad. 

Good luck with your project.  The first one looks mighty eye candy-like. 

[rmcpb]

That is a lovely job!

[Stefan]

Looking good!! I made a bloodwood (massaranduba) flatbow and it gets a beautiful colour when finished, not as pretty as purperhart but working with purperhart sucks. Did you use the dowel cutter? If so, do you like it?

Stefan

[Josh B]

Looking good! Can't wait to see em dolled up and finished.  Josh