I'd like to try wood arrows again. Just wondering which wood type to use if I want to have a 600 grn. 26.5" - 27" finished product with a Woodsman at the business end. I know it will have to be a hardwood to get this kind of weight and I had a tough time straightening cedar which I've read is easier by comparison.
laminated birch
Hickory, purpleheart, or ipe.
Laminated birch will give you that if not a little more.
James:
You can achieve that weight with some soft woods also. Lodge Pole, Hex-shaft, Larch. And you will find that soft wood shafts overcome paradox quicker.
Bob
ASH,from silend pond. Incredible t, I shot them on concret several times and since they hit perpendicular they don't brake.
Lam. birch
I like ash,it will give you a good heavy arrow as will the laminated arrows.
Laminated Birch or Ash.
Ramin wood is heavy and tough
Larch or tamarack, I have a few doz that are 600 gr. plus, shaft only. 11/32
What spine are you shooting? I have 50 lb 5/16 lam birch that are 600 gr in a 26.5" shaft. You can also do this with ramin in 11/32 if you can find them. Check with Aromkr, he may have some hexpine that will give you what you are looking for. You may be able to get it with Surewood fir, too.
James --
Don't know your spine but I know Tamarack (Western Larch) would be a great choice for that weight. Very tough shafts also.
Kye.
Thanks to all who replied. For spine 55-60 or 60-65, not sure what will fly the best. I'm shooting a Black Widow recurve, Fast Flight string 55 lbs at my draw of 26", Wensel Woodsman at the end.
Anything footed would work as well.
James
FYI
Speaking for Doug- fir only.
55-60 lb spine 11/32"diameter 32" long raw shaft , expect a common mass weight of 400 grains +/- 30 grains(11.5 to 13.5 grains per inch). Not quite as common but possible is +/- 50 grains (or 11 to 14 grains per inch). Even less common but do- able is up to 480 grains or (15 grains per inch).
A marked increase in mass weight occurs at the 60-65 lb spine range. Expect the common mass per shaft to be 430grains +/- 30 grains (or 12.5 – 14.5 grains per inch). The same 50 grain spreads still applies or (12-15 grains per inch) but not quite as common.
I'm not sure what a woodsman weighs, nor how much you plan on cutting off or adding back on with your build process , I leave that math up to you, but these numbers should give you information you need to aid in your decision process if you are considering Doug-fir as an arrow shaft medium.
You may want to review your selected spine range if using fast flight string material on the widow. If You increase the spine range of your shaft by 5 lbs spine(60 lb+) it would increase the available mass weight for it on an average of 20 grains per spine group. Ie. It would not be in the "uncommon range" to have available 450-500 grain (14-16 Grains per inch) raw shaft if you selected 70-75lb spine.
As Aromaker pointed out the softwoods recover from paradox quicker than the hardwoods.
Good luck
stump