Was gonna order from Braveheart, and I'm torn between the Wapiti tapered POC shafts, or the surewood doug fir (parallel) shafts. Which are generally straighter, or will be easier to straighten, or keep straight?
FWIW, I've built plenty of modern arrows, so I'm really just new to wood (straightening mostly)
Douglas fir is straighter, Braveheart is a great vendor!
Surewood, douglas fir. You will be completely satisfied, and will limit the learning curve.
Cant beat Surewood Shafts!! call Steve, He's a great guy and has awesome customer service.
Either douglas fir or cedar are great choices for your first set of woodies. Neither will require much straightening at all.
If you get into hardwood shafts like ash, then you'll get some practice straightening, but even then it's not that hard to do even with just your hands.
Either one will make a mighty fine arrow. Jawge
Surewood
When ya get better at making Woodies? You can Use Dowel Rods from Walrus World, or any Home Improvement Store for CHEAP! These are Stumper and Shooting at Brick Arrows. :thumbsup:
Wapiti tapered cedars are the straightest I've used and smell good if you break one. Once straightened they seem to stay straight better than the douglas fir.
So, conflicting information. That's great. Is a tapered shaft a consideration?
What do you have for a taper tool? Some woods are easier to taper with a hend held tool than others... just another thought.
Douglas Fir from Braveheart,Tims a great fella.I've never tried Wapiti but I'm sure they would also be good.
Not really conflicting information. Folks just stating their preferences. They're both good. Either will do fine for your first set. The nock taper will already be on tapered shafts. You'll have to cut your own with parallel shafts. It's a bit harder to get good nock and point tapers on Doug Fir shafts with a hand held tool because of the difference in hardness between winter and summer growth rings. But, with some experience, you'll get the hang of it. Good luck.
I started out with cedars. They were consistent and easy to work. For your first that is what you want. Not necessarily cedar but either that, spruce or fir is my guess. After you have made a set or two you can experiment with the vast numbers of shafting materials available today.
Like with the rest of our sport start out simple and work your way up.
Haven't bought new cedars lately, Douglas fir is good, straight stuff for first timers or anyone else.
I just bought the Wapitis from Braveheart,and they needed no straightening at all . I very happy with them. Tim is the best.
I would personally stick to cedar initially if your new to wood. Cedar is generally easy to straighten and easier to keep straight. I've encountered more fir shafts that have been buggers to straighten than cedars. JMO dino