I have been shooting POC shafts for some time now,Lately I have been thinking of going to hardwood shafts...Ash...Hickory..etc...what is everyones opinion on the hardwods and what type of weight gain can I expect over cedar.What are the good points and the bad points...Which shaft wood is best?
My tapered ash shafts cut to 27.5", and tipped with a 125 grain head average 600 grains. I am happy with ash, and so have not tried hickory or lambirch. Hickory intrigues me, though, maybe it is just the spirit of the wood that calls. But ash is fine for now! :)
I generally only use aluminums, cedars or Sitka spruce arrows for 3D shooting, when the light weight (flat shooting) and reduced penetration are a plus.
Killdeer :campfire:
I like ash, hickory, laminated birch and maple, depending on which bow I'm shooting. The 29" maples, with 160gr up front, weigh between 800-805gr. Up here, the woods are THICK, so a shot over 20yds doesn't come my way too often.
Like Killy, I use POC for 3D, but hickory stumpers are a lot of fun in the summer, plus they're nearly indestructible.
Kevin
First choice would be forgewoods if you could get them, hickory
in 11/32 is tough as nails and from a good arrowsmith will work great. Lam Birch is also a very good strong arrow but getting up in price. Good maples are also a great arrow.
Bill
I have used lam birch with good results. I just picked a dozen tapered ash arrows. They are 11/32 tapered to 5/16 and weigh in at 535 grains. With points thats 660 grains. I tapered a couple nad boy are they hard ! They fly great and shoot real quiet from a 52lb bow. They weigh about 125 grains more than my ceders. I think I know why they call them pass through hardwoods.
Some hard wood shafts require more attention . Initial straightening and continuous straightening after they are finished. Best to us a heat source when trying to straighten for the first time.
Look at poplar and ramin. Poplar is lots tuffer than cedar and it weighs a little more than cedar. It is easy to straighten (compression) and is easy on hand-held tapering tools. It does show grain (not as much as cedar) and makes a real tuff,pretty arrow. Ramin is heavier, tuffer and harder to taper with hand-held tools. I don't have a problem straightening them using compression. It doesn't make as pretty an arrow because it really doesn't show its grain. Give John at Twig Archery a call. His arrow shafts are tops in my book. Great prices too! Oh yeah, he also straightens them before he sends them to ya. You might have to "touch one up" but you ain't going to get any "snakey" wood from him like I have from some "others".
Thanks for the replys....at the present I am leaning toward Ash.
Hexshaft is the way to go for me.