What are you guys using who cut your own carbons? The reg. arrow saws are a little pricey ----surely there is a cheaper alternative?
I tried wrapping elect. tape around a shaft and using a hacksaw on an old, broken shaft------glad I didn't ruin a new one.
I bought some CX Heritages from a fellow TG'er and about 1/2 doz. were uncut---need to pare them down a little.
Thanks,
Dremel with a high speed cutoff wheel. I use one of the G5 Arrow Squaring devices to square it up.
Or, a lot of guys buy the little $35 cutoff saw from harbor freight. Works great, do a google search and you'll find it. You can search here on TG for some more options.
Harbor Freight cut off saw, works great.
dremel and carbide wheel, freehand. maybe a slight true up with a 120 grit sanding wheel or block. i've cut at least 10 dozen carbons this way and never a problem during or after.
I have used the same as rob.Now I only use wood arrows.But the dremel is great
for wood arrows, i roll with a sharp knife
1 more for the harbor freight saw. Just today used the little saw blade for a dozen woodies then switched out to the abrasive wheel and cut a dozen carbons.
Hand held hack saw blade.
Been doing this since 1995 when I first started shooting carbons.
You don't cut straight through or you'll split the top layers on the bottem side as the saw comes through,,you need to cut right around the shaft so the top layers are all cut through before you get to the inner layers.
I've used a dremel type tool as well, but it's noisy an creates dust I just can't be bothered with.
Dremel tool works for me,just clamped to my work bench.
A Dremmel and a cutoff wheel. Set up a nock receiver just like a regular arrow saw. Cut through one side of the shaft and rotate it to complete the cut. There's no need to square it off if it's cut correctly.
QuoteOriginally posted by Earthdog:
Hand held hack saw blade....
I've used a dremel type tool as well, but it's noisy an creates dust I just can't be bothered with.
Ditto.
Thanks, guys!
The dremel and harbor freight saws are definitely cheaper and more versatile.
I'll have to get 1 of them.........
thanks
The Harbor Freight saw has a little vice built into the saw that squares up the shaft for a perfect cut ever time.Try one,you can't go wrong
Harbor Freight cut off saw with the standard blade that comes with it. It doesn't like aluminum so I would get a different blade for those.
the versatile dremel will have many many more uses than the hf cutoff tool.
Apple arrow saw. Got a great deal on it.
I use a Dremel, but when I cut a couple MFX Classics the other night it was all it would do to cut through those.
Ben go down to Woodbury outfitters, I bet they would cut them for you. For a small fee
(http://i547.photobucket.com/albums/hh472/ishoot4thrills/Arrowsawtarget006.jpg)
(http://i547.photobucket.com/albums/hh472/ishoot4thrills/Arrowsawtarget008.jpg)
(http://i547.photobucket.com/albums/hh472/ishoot4thrills/Arrowsawtarget010.jpg)
Made from scrap pieces of wood laying around. I use the fiber reinforced cut-off wheels available at Sears. They last much better than the cheaper wheels.
Now THAT's a set-up!
Very nice....
I think I'll go with the dremel just for versatility reasons---I've been wishing for 1 for a while just needed another reason to get one.
JMATT-----I've tried them 2x-----each time I've went in, they were "busy" with other customers's bow set-up and i would have to check back in a bit. After watching them talk behind the counter with no customer in sight for 15-20 min. ...I left.
Another vote for the mini chop saw. Before that, I used a metal lathe with cut off attachment.
Doug,
That is a nice cutting jig you have there. Simple design to build, thanks for the pictures.
I have one of the Harbour Freight mini cut-off saws and do a similar clamped set up on my work bench. I use a Bohning crester V-block for a rear support for the shaft. But after seeing you simple design - I may build one similar to mount my saw on to it. Hope you don't mind if I copy your design.
Chinook
Actually, it's not my design. I got the idea from another member here and then I modified it just a bit. I've used it several times and it works great. It sure beats going to the local shop every time I need to cut arrows to length.
Heres a design I borrowed off of Brock Wardle at Bull Mountain Archery. A solid base, 1" x 1" aluminum angle iron, and a metal ruler I had sitting in my shop a few screws from the shop as well added the to saw and I had a professional grade chop saw. It works great and makes light work of cutting the arrows.
(http://images.imagelinky.com/1269233671.JPG) (http://images.imagelinky.com/1269233671.JPG)
(http://images.imagelinky.com/1269233694.JPG) (http://images.imagelinky.com/1269233694.JPG)
(http://images.imagelinky.com/1269233716.JPG) (http://images.imagelinky.com/1269233716.JPG)
(http://images.imagelinky.com/1269233741.JPG) (http://images.imagelinky.com/1269233741.JPG)
An Apple arrow saw is so much better than a dremel or a harbor freight POS. I cut carbon, aluminum, wood and fberglass with mine.
Fast, accurate and well worth the cost, even more so with the high cost of quality arrows.
Seein' as I don't have a dremel tool, but do have a die grinder, I just clamp it into my vise with a dremel carbide disk, set my distance with whatever is handy (usually an old motorcycle battery) and cut away. It really doesn't have to be fancy, just consistent. I only cut maybe 2 doz arrows a year, and can get them within 1/32 of each other this way. Works for me and I didn't spend any money or time on it.
Hi, I used a dremel with one Carbon freight... but after some impact most of the arrows opened like a flower... now I use only the high Speed Arrow cutter bought from my club....
Nice day
Carlo
My "Dremel" is actually a Sears brand tool and it goes up to 30,000 RPM, which is what I use when using my homemade cut-off jig as seen above in another post.
Is that "high-speed" enough?
I freehand with a dremel. After squaring them up some are a solid 1/16" shorter than the rest. I don't care, honestly. My shooting isn't good enough yet to know the difference.
The dust does suck. It's an outside chore. For some crazy reason I never though of just using a hand saw. I'm trying that way next.
Yep, Harbor Freight Saw.
I didn't like the price of the Apple arrow saw either so I made one. Here it is in the background.
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4068/4437235716_3230586118.jpg)
I tried the Dremel and was not happy with the finished product so I spent the extra money and bought the Apple Cut off saw. It works great, easy to adjust the length of the arrow, and easy to use. Just be sure to wear safety goggles sometimes the cutting blades break on starting or stopping the tool. It scared the hell out of me when it happened to me.
I've used a HF saw for years now. No problems with it. No way I'd pay what they want for an Apple saw when the HF saw works so well for $20 somethin' dollars.
Yeah I've used the dremel tool too, but I'll stick with the HF cut off saw. I'm happy with it.... :goldtooth: see.
Another Harbor frieght user here.
I have used the last few years a 9" bandsaw. I already had it so figured I might aswell use it.
Harbor Freight cut off saw. The little vice on it does give a nice straight cut. It only costs $25. I removed the guard and put on an abrasive wheel. It cuts carbons nicely and I am challenged at making almost everything!
Harbor Freight also has a 6" cut-off saw for just over $40 and it has an adjustable clamp to hold whatever you are cutting.It works great for carbon arrows but is also good for cutting fiberglass or metal.You have to buy the 6" abrasive wheels seperately.Three for $6.I use mine to cut arrows and cut all the glass I use in bowbuilding.Great little tool and substancially tougher than the mini-saw. Bob
Thanks to this thread I bought a Harbor fright saw also. Does a great job.
I also use the Dremel 5000-25000 rpm, and it is usable tool for many other things as well :thumbsup:
I take a piece of masking tape and wrap the arrow so the edge of the tape is at my cutoff length. Then I fire up the Dremel and walk it around, using the tape as a guide for a square cut
Dremel has worked for me
Encino Man- just emailed you. We are both in Dallas. Nice arrow saw. So far the HF setup is a bit lightweight and plastic for me.
My bud, "Ric O'Shay" and I purchased a knockoff of the Apple arrow cut off saw off the auction site a few years back. Works just fine on wood, alum. and carbon.I'm pretty sure that the saw itself is the Harbor Freight saw mentioned above. :thumbsup: