I have a crepe myrtle bush in my front yard and every spring when I prune it back some of the pieces I cut off look like they could be made into arrows. So last spring I saved some of the pieces I cut off.
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/jackdenbow/Crepemyrtlearrows0042_zps0b13730b.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/jackdenbow/media/Crepemyrtlearrows0042_zps0b13730b.jpg.html)
This winter I thought I would try to make some arrows from them. I scraped the bark off with a knife. (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/jackdenbow/Crepemyrtlearrows0082_zps3d0ede9f.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/jackdenbow/media/Crepemyrtlearrows0082_zps3d0ede9f.jpg.html)
I used a heat gun to straighten them.
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/jackdenbow/Crepemyrtlearrows0132_zps4a81018c.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/jackdenbow/media/Crepemyrtlearrows0132_zps4a81018c.jpg.html)
Then I planed, rasped, filed, scraped, and sanded them till I got a usable shaft.
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/jackdenbow/Crepemyrtlearrows0052_zps80f05abf.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/jackdenbow/media/Crepemyrtlearrows0052_zps80f05abf.jpg.html)
I was shooting for something in the 55-60lb. range. I got a little too aggressive on the first one and it ended up at 54lb. The second one came in at 57lb. They are tapered from 11/32 at the point end to 5/16 at the nock end and weigh in the low to mid 600 grain range.
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/jackdenbow/Crepemyrtlearrows0102.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/jackdenbow/media/Crepemyrtlearrows0102.jpg.html)
I think they turned out pretty well.
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/jackdenbow/Crepemyrtlearrows0112.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/jackdenbow/media/Crepemyrtlearrows0112.jpg.html)
And they shoot well also.
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/jackdenbow/Crepemyrtlearrows0122.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/jackdenbow/media/Crepemyrtlearrows0122.jpg.html)
Well I got to prune my crepe myrtle.
Thanks for looking.
Jack
Very Nice :thumbsup: love the splicing and color!
Now that's just too cool. Great job!
Your end results were well worth the efforts. Really nice work. :thumbsup:
you have skills
Very nice!
They sure look great! True works of art!
outstanding job....love the colors!
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Glenn
Holy moly, I'm cuttin down all the bushes!
Nice work.
You are an artist Jack! Very cool!
Man that is impressive. I feel good when I do not screw up fletching reagular old shafts ... your are amazing!
BOb.
Whaou,lot of work but the result is very very nice.
Congrats
Now THAT was cool!
Hard to believe those crooked cuttings in the first photo became those absolutely gorgeous shafts in the final photos. You did a remarkable job there and I am certainly impressed.
Did I mention I run a lawn service,if you need someone to prune your bushes... Very nice love the finished look.
Coolest thread ive seen in a while!!
Nice arrows!
Wow, if those turned out "pretty good" you have a much higher standard for arrows than me. I couldn't imagine making that nice of an arrow. Great work.
Unbelievable!
very cool!
Now that's what trad is all about, nice job :thumbsup:
You do good work, Jack. Very nice. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Wow. How long does that take?
That looks pretty awesome! I can not see myself doing all that work to build an arrow but i applaud you for your work.
Bisch
Very nice!! What did they end up weighing?
That is great work. Warn all the neighbors to guard their shrubbery!
Dave I do not know how long I spent on them. I would guess 3-4 hours each. I would work on one then go do something else then later pick it up again and do some more on it. They are not exactly what you would call "stumping arrows", but I would have know problem sending one through a deer. What was frustrating was when I would get a shaft almost ready to turn into an arrow and break it, you really want to scream.
Jack
:archer:
That was am awesome transformation.
I have been looking around my neighborhood, the old lady across the block that is always working on her bushes and flowers has some stuff that looks like it just may work. I think she goes out for afternoon tea with her ole lady friends. Imo get me a couple of sticks and try that too.
Yours are really beautiful arrows.
Nice Work!!!! All I can say is WOW
Nice job,really like the colors.
As I told you in person, you perform magic.
I'm sure trad gangers would also be interested in what you do in transforming bamboo shoots into gorgeous arrows.
John Stockman
I had no idea that Crepe Myrtles could be used for arrows, but they make awesome switches... or at least I had plenty of those on my rear as a child anyway.
NICE JOB Of all the woods I have used to make arrows I would never have thought of that BEAUTIFUL
Very, very cool. Thanks for sharing that with us!
Travis
Thats too cool. great looking arrows.
SWEEEET :archer2:
Very nice looking CM arrows. They have good weight too. I make most of my arrows from hardwood shoots or cane so I can appreciate the time you put into each one. I put between 2 to 4 houre each in some of my arrows and I use them for everything from stumping to target to 3D to hunting.
I've noticed some hardwood shoots will stay straight no matter what and some you have to occasionally hand straighten or tweek a bit. Are the CM arrows staying straight for you?
Pat they are staying straight. I also was try a dogwood shoot and it would have made a very heavy arrow but it broke at a knot. I had another mystery shoot I had cut several years ago while hunting. I managed to get it out of round and it doesn't shoot worth a hoot. I have been also playing with some cane and I really like it.
I probably wouldn't make a good arborist or landscaper or whoever would be doing the pruning. I have been out looking at the crepe myrtle to see what I wanted to prune. I decided if the new shoot is big enough to make an arrow out of it I will prune it. If the new shoot isn't big enough it will get another year to grow. ;) I guess I will see what it looks like whe I get done.
Jack
With other hardwood shoots like sourwood second year growth is the ticket. The first year growth will make an arrow but they are usually flimsey. Having that extra growth ring after the second growing season really stabliizes the shafts. I also heat temper hardwood shoot shafts and that also helps to keep them straight. If you are spining your shoot arrows do it after you temper them as it will stiffen them up a bit.
Now them are some beautiful arrows! Great imagination and skill!
Why, oh why did I cut down those 3 crepe myrtle trees in my yard?!
Nice work!