Last Christmas I got a test pack of surewood shafts and everything I needed to make arrows. For some reason it took me six months to tackle the project. I wanted to do it but for some reason I just felt intimidated. I guess it was in part because I've not only never made wood arrows but I've never even fletched any kind of arrow. Total rookie!
So... I studied and re-studied Rob's very helpful tutorial on crafting excellent woodies the easy and cheap way (thanks Rob!), and they turned out pretty good. I love the way they look and I shoot them as well as my carbons.
(http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h344/timsalters/IMG_6362.jpg) (http://s1105.photobucket.com/user/timsalters/media/IMG_6362.jpg.html)
(http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h344/timsalters/IMG_6388.jpg) (http://s1105.photobucket.com/user/timsalters/media/IMG_6388.jpg.html)
I couldn't figure out how to get the cock feather right. Regardless of which position I started, it was always wrong. I've got a Bohning jig and a friend finally helped me figure out that I needed to take the dial apart and rotate the plastic piece.
(http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h344/timsalters/IMG_6400.jpg) (http://s1105.photobucket.com/user/timsalters/media/IMG_6400.jpg.html)
The heavy spine weights flew great out of my bow and the light ones flew out of my son's. I was shocked that they came out as heavy as they did... total weight with a 145 grain tip is about 620 grains... I like'em heavy.
(http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h344/timsalters/IMG_6401.jpg) (http://s1105.photobucket.com/user/timsalters/media/IMG_6401.jpg.html)
(http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h344/timsalters/IMG_6402.jpg) (http://s1105.photobucket.com/user/timsalters/media/IMG_6402.jpg.html)
I used different color nocks for the different spine weights. That was another problem I had... I used a cheap plastic pencil sharpener type taper tool and it just wouldn't cut the Surewood shafts very well (which they warn about on their website). I had to really work to get the nocks on all the way and straight.
Only other problem I had was that I busted one of the shafts doing a bare shaft test. It was so front heavy that it snaped on contact! I discovered after that that my nock was a little low so I think it caused the end of the shaft to really kick up.
I've got three more to make up and test. I think I'm already hooked... just feels right to shoot wood out of a trad bow!
Great looking arrows.
"I think I'm already hooked... just feels right to shoot wood out of a trad bow!"
Totally agree! Glad you're having fun with it. Well done!
Look Great! Not bad for a rookie....
you gotta love wood arrows! Those look nice, good job.
Nice Job! :thumbsup:
Nice arrows Tim. Well Done!
:bigsmyl:
Nice looking arrows!
Nicely done. Welcome to the addiction.
Real Nice, especially for your first set.
Great looking arrows. Red and White barred is one of my favorite combinations. I like the stained shafts without the cap as well. Nice job.
You need to make a jig for sanding the tapers on a disc or belt sander. That works really well on any shaft type. I've used mine on douglas fir, oak and ash.
Look great!
:thumbsup:
They look great!
:clapper:
those turned out great! Hurry up and break or lose them so you can make more.
Nice looking arrows! I think you're getting it figured out! :thumbsup:
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
Lookin' good! :thumbsup:
Great job. I'm a newbie, too, to wood arrow making. Lots of fun.
Thanks for the kind comments fellas.
Littleben, I do need a jig like that. How do you make one?
Looking good
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Those look nice!
What brand/type of feather are you using?
The bars look smaller and tighter together than most.
Looks cool!
Those look great , nice job for your first time.
I can most heartily recommend the Bearpaw taper tool for cutting tapers on both ends of a surewood shaft....and buy extra blades.