do you do matched sets or do you do whatever suits your fancy? I am working on the last batch of 6 arrows in my second dozen since I started building and shooting woodies last summer. I occured to me that every arrow is one of a kind. Some of them may look similar but if you look closer the stain may be different or the crest may be different. So far I am proudest of this last bunch as they wont have any store bought feathers on them. They will have a mixture of Canada goose and wild turkey feathers that I split and ground my self. I then cut them to a 5" banana profile with a card board template and scissors. Definatley a lot different then reaching into a bag and pulling out a factory feather and gluing it on. I am a little irritated with my dog. I managed to cut a one of a kind fletch from a pheasant feather. I was going to use it as an index feather by the little mutt must have liked the way it smelled. She got it down and shredded it. She left all of the goose and turkey feathers alone. Maybe I'll post up some pictures when they are done.
I make matched dozens. Sometimes I make matched two or three dozens.
I like to match 2 dozen at a time.
With River Cane its real hard to get a matching sets. I try to make each arrow match as closer to the next one, but there will always a special something in each.
Johnny/JAG
I haven't made a matched dozen since my first batch, I usually make mini batches of 4 or 6 at a time. Spreads the fun out with the ideas that pop in my head.
Generally speaking I make matched dozens as that's what people want and expect.
Occasionally I'll make a one or two off design as I try some new art just to see how it will look on a completed arrow.
The set I'm using right now is a matched dozen as far as the dynamics go but every arrow is different than the rest. They're similar enough to obviously all be the same set, but they are all different. I call it the harlequin set.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v177/GreyTaylor/Harlequin007.jpg)
All the feathers are different colors, too. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to make sure every arrow is different?
Guy
I Like to match the shafts in what ever bundles I have . Right now I have a bunch spined and weighed that I am about ready to start. There are 39 in the bundle . I'll taper them , then stain them and then paint them AND THEM RE-WEIGH them . I usually ( at this point ) have a slight difference in weights . MY bet is that I'll have about 20/25 that are in a slightly lighter category ( by maybe 5 grains ) Those will be my practice /small game / stump arrows . The heavier will be my hunting shafts . That usually gives me a few years worth of arrows IN ONE GROUP. When I start getting low, I'll repeat the process and go with the next BUNDLE .