Just wondering if maple woods were durable, tough, and over all a good straight shaft for wood arrows. I want to get in the 650 gr range. I will be shooting a BW 58@28... Which I know they require a stiffer spine. Thanks :archer:
ttt
Mine are 11/32 29"BOP 60-65 and the total weight with 160gr up front is 800gr+/-. They had to be straightened in the beginning with heat, but have held up well. I tweak them every now and then, but they've stayed pretty straight.
For the weight you want, I'd look to ash, IMO.
Maple is good and tough. So is ash. My ash arrows are 11/32" 31" BOP 65-70 and with 125gr up front come up to 680-690 or so (shaft alone is 550-560gr).
how do you get maple down to 11/32 without a dowel maker?
cd i run my 3/8 maple dowels through a 7/16 die like you find in a tap and die set. and the sand off the grooves and they are usually real close to 11/32. chuck it up in a drill and spin them through. support the end that comes out cause it will whip around. run it through back and forth a few times and it will take it down. not very scientific but i have been using maple dowels for years made like this. raw shafts will fall in the upper 600 to 700 grains weight range. i usually shoot a bow in the low 60's for weight and 160 on the broadhead. they fly great. dont know the spine but they are stiff. i should spine them but i dont have a spine tester.(i know safety reasons).i love maple really tough and heavy.
bruce
I used maple some, they are heavy and durable but their weak point is straightness from my experience and unless you make your own the supply is limited and sporadic.
I would suggest ash as a better alternative IMO. 11/32 will meet your requirements.
5/16 hickory will give your spine and 28" raw shaft will weigh 500-550. Super tough but straightness is not a strong point of hickory either.
Maple, Ash, or hickory will work fine if the shafts are fairly straight.
ttt
Ash rules.