Does anyone shoot Poplar wood shafts? I think I have seen where Twig Archery use to carry them. I was wondering about weight and durability? Thanks for replies. Flint
There was an article in TBM about making poplar and birch arrows heavy. I've gotten the pvc and Watco Danish Oil and a few poplar dowels from Lowe's to give them a try. I might try some high quality ones from Twig or Allegany if I like what comes out of the pvc soak.
I use 3/8" poplar dowels as squirrel arrows out of a 55# longbow. I have to cut them 31" to spine out OK. Bill
I have and use poplar shafts from Twig. They make a great arrow. Lots tuffer than cedar. Weight runs a little bit more than cedar. I like the alcohol stains (like 3 Rivers sells) or Minwax better than the water-based alinine stains. Poplar is still a hardwood and water-based stains will cause them to bend more than the other type stains. They do straigten nicely and have more grain than ramin which is my favorite arrow wood. Oh yeah, they cost less than cedar. The only thing is they don't smell like cedar. Give John a call at Twig. He has great shafting.
I have quite a few poplar shafts and arrows. 3 Rivers used to carry some made here in MS. I can only second what SuperK had to say. They really are great shafts IMO, the only wood arrows I actually use.
I shot them when they were easy to get and I really liked them. Mine were spined 55# and were 31" long. They lasted as long as most and longer than some. I think with 125gr up front they were about 525gr at 31" long.
I used to use poplar before i used ash and there's no way I'd ever go back to poplar now. The poplar is far more brittle, and not much (if at all) cheaper than the Ash.
IMO-forget the poplar and buy ash :D