Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: tnbuckskinner on September 26, 2011, 09:45:00 PM
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I got a dozen tapered Hickory arrows in today and they are the by far the least straight arrows I have ever seen.I know nothing about wood arrows but wanted to try some,what is the best way to try and straighten them???
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Are they complete arrows or shafts? If shafts, check out the how to section for the scrwdriver trick. Or try heating the shaft and holding it straight until it cools.
You could also just try repeated hand straightening, and then bundle them tightly letting them sit over night. Repeat until they are ok.
If they are already arrows, I would stick with hand straightening.
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I would return them!
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They are complete arrows.There is 4 out of the dozen that are pretty straight.I tried the hand straightening but really didn't know what I was doing and didn't help any.
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Wood is wood. Not all wood is straight. Hickory can be particularly challenging.
Wood arrow makers normally do their best to assure their customers get straight arrows but sometimes the shafts wander back after they have been straightened. Any archer using wood arrows needs to develop skills in straightening wood shaft and also needs to accept that they will never be carbon arrows.
I made a set for a woman who had never used anything but carbon arrows. She immediately complained that they weren't straight. I checked them and they were perfectly fine, for wood arrows. I offered to take them back but also tried to educate her about wood shafts. She decided to keep them and everything has been fine since.
Jeff, this isn't aimed directly at you. It's more of a general comment.
Guy
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I'm not saying that we should shoot crooked arrows, but the error that is introduced into the shot from shooting a moderately crooked arrow (crooked to the extent that it is noticeable when casually sighting down the arrow) isn't any more than 6" at 50 yards, if shot with good form, in my experience. OTOH, a form error, such as torqueing the bowstring, can throw the arrow off the target and into the weeds at 50 yards.
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With a little effort and some patience it isn't difficult to straighten wooden shafts or readymade arrows.. There are several instructional videos on YouTube as well as more than one thread on TG that explain the various methods… For hickory I’d use low heat and press the high side with something round preferable something the fits the curvature of the shaft… I’ve used an ACE roller for many years before that I used a spoon..
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McDave,I agree with what your saying.The 4 arrows I called straight fit in the group your talking about. The others are not.I'm talking about throwing you off 6-8" at 20 yards. I'll keep playing with them and see if I can get them better.Thanks guys.
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Jeepers, tnbuckskinner, it's not hard. Just sight down them and bend the shaft over the heel of your hand in the opposite direction of the bend. If you're concerned about damaging your arrows, go get some crooked hardware store dowels to practice on. It's easy once you get the hang of it. This is a skill you need to develop if you're going to shoot wood.
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Hickory is the hardest of all the hardwoods to keep straight. I use an Ace roller to straighten mine. I have made only a dozen of hickory arrows, I straighten them and a couple days latter they are curved like bannanas. Ash is ok and makes a good hunting arrow, it is my preferred choice.
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I'm and ash guy myself, never tried hickory, but hand straightening always works best for me.
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Every time I tried to straighten this one, it just made it worse until it got in this condition...
(http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j456/jalariso/crookedarrow.jpg)
Never try to make a shaft out of a Harry Lauder's Walking Stick.
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Get yourself one of those roller straighteners. Find crooked spot /bend and roll back and forth a few times. Roll on a flat surface to check.If your not happy with them let me know what spine they are and how long they're cut to. I have a bunch of carbons I can trade you for too if you want 35/55 Gold Tip Trads. cut to28"'s. Good if you have a 27" draw length and I put 225gns up front.
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I'm going to try and straighten them enough to shoot at tree rats and be done with wood.Bentpole they are 31" BOP and 80-85# spine,thanks for the offer but I have a 30" draw.
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Hey bud, if you cannot get them straight or keep them straight you can always switch to Douglas Fir by Surewoods. I tried POC with mixed results and after my last dozen I switched to Surewoods. NO COMPARISON. Never tried or shot any of the hardwoods but have heard the horror stories of trying to keep them straight, having to use heat, etc, etc. Surewoods for me, don't have time or patience to chase crooked arrows. JMHO
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rub the arrow where it is bent (high side) with the palm of your hand. Hand Straighten, this takes sometime if You don't make woodies a lot.