I've decided to go and try making up my own woodies, I ordered shafts and I have a taper tool and fletch jig. Now can anyone point me in the right direction. Anyone have a how to make a wood arrow anywhere ?
Lots of how to's here and elsewhere do some searches.
Down the forum categories is a forum called "How To - Resources". There are several posts on making arrows up. Read through them and glean what you need. Here is a direct link:
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum;f=2
There are a great bunch of How To's there for all sorts of things we do or need. Best wishes on your new arrows!
Archives are full. First, orient the grain so you can install nocks perpendicular. Mark grain w/pen dot or whatever. Straighten the shafts w/heat from a hairdryer. Each end will now require a different bevel. Check spine & match. Stain, dry, sand, stain again (?). Paint if needed. Varnish. Nock, add point, shoot.
You are in for a lot of fun and enjoyment. nothing is quite as much fun as making a dozen matched arrows of your own creation. make sure the grain is parralel to the earth. the grain will look like little pages of a book or like looking at a deck of cards from the end while they are laying on the table. when the grain is parralell to the earth the shaft is the strongest. start with port orford cedar. if you want to use other woods, buy them a year or so in advance and let them dry in your furnance room of the house. hickory and ramen and ash and birch and chundo and the other arrow woods are mostly sold green now a days. let them dry for a year before working. it will save you a lot of grief with crooked arrows later on down the road.
Here's a dumbo question, how do you use the taper tool to get the nock and point end, do you just use it like a pencil sharpener?
And what do you use to seal the arrow ?
The taper tool should have a slot for the nock end which is smaller and the point end slot is longer! I have just got into woods in the past few months, I have done up mostly Cedar, easy to work with! Takes most stains real well, fairly easy to straighten to! I have been using differant colors of Minwax stains and sealing them with Polycrylic gloss finish! Many people use a dip tube and gasket lacquer to finish arrows!At some point I am going to go this route as well! I also want to invest in a crester! Arrow building is a real addiction! Good Luck!
first, always check the how-to resources forum.
second, post here if you require further help, AFTER reading through the resources forum.
thank you.