I shoot carbons out of my current "go-to" bow and the aluminum footings are tearing up my bag target when removing the arrows. They "catch" really bad and make it a real pain to get the arrow out.
My question is do any of you guys use any kind of filler or have any suggestion to make that a smoother transition between the shaft and footing? I try bevelling them with a file, but not very well apparently. Any suggestions?
If you have a polishing wheel that you can try polishing the edges until they are rounded off.
I use a chamfering tool for reloading to smooth both the front and rear of the footings.
What Mongo said X2. You can get the chamfer tool at any shop that sells reloading equipment.
Practical suggestions.
Round them off before you put them on . that chamfer tool is great . I polish with a fine stone after the chamfer tool. You can use super glue gel or epoxi just a tiny on the edge and polsh with steal wool to make the footing blend to the shaft.
I use a flap sanding wheel in my drill press to round the ends(I use an arrow cut off saw to cut the footing and nock caps) I use an old broken shaft as a holding tool sliding the footing on, then flap sand as I turn it, rounds the edges near perfict, very quick and smooth
I just take my Dremel tool and grind the ends so that they are beveled. If they're not perfect it doesn't bother me since they're only my practice arrows.
A chamfer tool is definitely worth the small investment. Works very well. Also, try twisting the shafts as you pull them out. I find it makes extraction easier.....at least with my bag target.
If you don't have a tool just hit it with a file because they are already on there. I've done it an it works fine.
thanks for the advice -- I filed them before installation, and work on them some after installed but there is still a noticeable lip. I'm going to try a bit of epoxy right at the joint and steel wool as suggested and see if that smooths the transition even more.
Thanks guys!
If you have any type of drill you can chuck the footing in it and smooth the ends fast with a file or emery cloth. do one end then flip it (put a piece of arrow shaft in the footing if need be)
I only use my footed shafts for stumping, bunny and tree rats
How about a thin strip of Gorrilla tape?
I only foot my stumping arrows. But longbow en puts them in all his arrows with no real issues. He shoots into a bag target as well.
Never a fan of footings for that reason. As stated just foot a few of your arrows.
I am withokdskol, I only foot teh arrows I am going to stump with. I leave my target arrows plain.