G'day all,
Well I'm currently in many stages of the footing process. I did order some of Ted at Raptory Archery a few weeks back for a close mate of mine.
These were spruce footed with Wenge and I must say the craftsmanship was 2nd to none. These were footed straight but I thought I'd try out some spiralling to really bring out the eye candy. Thats what good mates are for arn't they?
Here is a few pics...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Longbow_lad/FootingShafts003-1.jpg)
And here is me footing my own in my workshop. I've just got to put the cuts into the foots and I'll be set for glue up....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Longbow_lad/FootingShafts003.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Longbow_lad/FootingShafts010.jpg)
I'll post some more when I get to the glue up stages.
AK.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Longbow_lad/FootingShafts018.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Longbow_lad/FootingShafts008.jpg)
Wow very nice!
"I love that glorious bastard" General Patton when asked about Rommel.
I'll be watching this one close! Footing has always looked like magic.
Do you have some sort of mini router you are cutting the grooves with or is that a dremel in the vise?
What is the jig you are using? Is it something available for sale or home made?
Check 3rivers arrow making section Dave.
Dave it's the footing jig from 3Rivers and I put in in a samll trimmer (router) and build a type of platform for it to run along. A bit of tril and error at the start, but in all it works rather good.
al.
Al....very very nice. I'd like to boast that i'd do the same if i had the time....but with all these thumbs i can barely glue my nocks on ! Remind me of the one's Rusty's Feet made. Jealous of the arrows and your skill in making them! Well done mate...they need to get pointed at some chital eh! Ben
Al....very very nice. I'd like to boast that i'd do the same if i had the time....but with all these thumbs i can barely glue my nocks on ! Remind me of the one's Rusty's Feet made. Jealous of the arrows and your skill in making them! Well done mate...they need to get pointed at some chital eh! Ben
Too deadly, Al!
Those are good lookin splices!
Al those are beautiful. So you do both right and left hand twist? :-)
Why naturally mate, to suit whatever wing feathers and bevel heads your shooting...lol.
You like the cap Jo-Jo?
Those look sharp, Al!
Looking good Al :thumbsup:
VERY Nice! :thumbsup:
Wow! Keep it coming Al. How about a how-to story?
That's some mighty fine looking craftsmanship Al. :thumbsup: :notworthy:
That's cool!! Now how did you get the twist in them?
Mike
Thanks Mike! I was afraid I was the only one wondering that. I just gotta see pictures of that process!
Impressive craftsmanship, especially the twist-it looks like magic. Were they done by Ted Fry at Raptor?
QuoteThat's cool!! Now how did you get the twist in them?
Yeah, what did you do? Steam them and twist?
Nice work!
QuoteOriginally posted by Dave Bulla:
Do you have some sort of mini router you are cutting the grooves with or is that a dremel in the vise?
What is the jig you are using? Is it something available for sale or home made?
You can make a jig yourself for less than $5.00.
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000011
Al, very nice indeed and as others have said let's see the twisting process. Flint
That looks awesome Al. Thats craftsman ship at in its finest form.
Al your craftsmanship is unreal. Looking forward to the finished product.
Hi fellas,
The footed shafts in the first pic came from Ted at Raptor, I just put the twist in 'em when they landed at my place.
Now to the twist; all I did was soak 'em in warm water for 1/2 an hour while I let a pot of water boil on the stove top. I then placed a shaft over the pot and held in place with a small towel so as not to let any of the steam escape. I waited about 5-10 minutes then pulled the shaft out and twisted it slowly buy hand with a rag as the shaft will be warm.
After I was happy with the amount of twist I then eyeballed the shaft to get it back to stright.
I'm getting the foots of my shafts cut this week so I'll put up a "how to" when I'm done.
al.
i feel embarrassed to ask but whats the deal with footing? what is its purpose?
The footing adds wt to the front of the arrow, strength at a common breaking point and it's pretty. Also it is impressive!
Come on Al! We want more!
I do like the hat, obviously I have been working to much to notice but I did catch the beard. Now if you would just let your hair grow out! :D
Al and/or Ted, what glue did you use to foot the arrows? It must be waterproof and flexible, which sounds like a demanding combination. How do the footings hold up after twisting? Any sign of joint failure? Anything that beautiful must come with some negative trade-offs (learned that from my wife...). :readit: :knothead: :banghead:
Sweet!
Woody,
Rusty Watson used weldwood plastic resin glue. Its a powder glue that you activate by mixing with water. Not sure what Ted is using, but Rusty made alot of twisted shafts and he swore by the stuff. dino
Nice :thumbsup: will be following this one.
Woody, I had no failures at all but I did twist 'em slowly so as not to bust out the splices.
AK.
just a question what is footing
Them are awsome looking!!
You are a true craftsman Al :notworthy:
As usual..top notch :clapper:
I sure miss messing with wood arrows
Goodolboy, footing is the splicing of a harder, heavier wood to the point end of a lighter, easier to keep straight arrow wood. It is either a 2 point footing (splice) or 4 point footing. Which gives it added strength and wt.
I believe the Weldwood Plastic Resin is very similar to Urac. I was told about it from a guy from Italy a few years ago and used it on a few backed bows with good results.
Nice spiraled footed shafts and build along, Al.
Pat