Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: jimneye on February 08, 2007, 08:41:00 AM
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I'm trying to make the switch from aluminum to wood but don't want to use cedar, I stump shoot a lot. I have the following questions.
What is the best method for straightning hardwood arrows (ash)?
Some say use heat, well how does one heat the shaft?
Would compression straightning also work?
Once straight will they stay straight?
Thanks Gentlemen
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For straightening would arrows. See the how-to section. Some heat by stove top, heat gun. You can make a heat chamber by using stove pipe and a light bulb. Heat combined with compression works well. Will they stay straight? Sometimes yes sometimes no, mostly yes when heat is used.
I am currently useing cedar hex-shafts (put together like fly rod, whisperingwindarrows.com). I am happy with durability and straightness and weight. I also stump shoot quite a bit, plus being a bad shot makes it hard on the arrows also.
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When I got my ash shafts, there was a recommendation that they be straightened by heating in the oven, then bending by hand to work the bends out. Mine have stayed pretty straight, but not as straight as cedar.They are tough as nails, though, and I recommend them.
I have also played with hickory, and actually like it better, but it's hard to find.
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A compromise wood is doug fir-pretty straight and surprisingly tough. I tested it against my birch shafting and it did well. Shot it at a cinder block wall from 30 feet and good as new! Didn't try it a second time though! LOL!!
Storing finished arrows standing up in a rack helps to keep them straight.
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I'm a big fan of ash shafts both for their durability and their weight. I straighten mine with a heat gun and a heavy roller-type straightener. Ash are also easy to get the nocks set up correctly because the grain is so pronounced.
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i like hickory shafts , tough as nails
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i just made an osage arrow.....940 grains with a brass field point!!!! very beautiful and pretty cool but some work...hand planed and scraped from a 3/8 square cutout. i have shot with a friend that uses walnut and hickory and they are always needing straightening.
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I use a screwdriver on my barrel tapered ash. Find the high spot and apply moderate pressure over the spot until the shaft is straight. You have to tweak ash more than but they are hard to beat for toughness and penetration.
I keep my ash arrows in foam dividers in boxes after the season and they stay straight all year. I also don't expose them to high humidity areas either. My longbow arrows are 540-550 grains (55# bow) and my recurve ash run 630 grs(57# bow).
Ash has nice grain and takes a nice stain.....
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a281/sf1oak/scan0002-3.jpg)