Has anybody used Hildabrand wood shafts? Consistant spine? weight? straight grain? sitka spruce? I am going back to woods.
I've got some. If you order, pay attention to how they measure cutting before tapering. I had to salvage some with Woody Weights because I didn't read the fine print.
Hildebrand are nice, but the Douglas Fir from Surewood is pretty hard to beat. They're a sponsor here and I've got some that are going strong after a couple of years.
Here's the url for Surewood shafting: Surewood Shafting website (http://www.surewoodshafts.com/)
I've made up a few dozen of their spruce shafts.All were premiums.
They are closely matched in spine and weight, I'd say about as close as Surewoods. Can't say for sure about the grain, as it's less defined than fir, and not the same grain structure. Nice folks, you might want to talk to them about the spine and weights you're looking for.
Like Ray, good Doug Fir is my preferred shaft. I like the weight I can get with spruce, and they shoot well, but I do a lot of roving, and like fir better for durability. It also looks really nice with some stain to bring out the grain; spruce don't seem to take stain quite as well. At least for me, the same stain and spruce will be lighter in color.
I spelled there name wrong. Its "Hildebrand".
As I said, they work fine ;) :
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Here's how they group from a 1958 Kodiak 'sow belly'. As mentioned above, not a lot of grain structure that can be seen and the stain doesn't take as well as the Douglass Fir. If you're going to try and 'front load' a wood arrow, these would be your choice. Otherwise, go with the Surewood Douglas Fir in my opinion.
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Hildebrand Sitka Spruce shafts are very good. It is a different wood than fir and has its own pros and cons. Sitka has the highest strength to weight ratio of all woods. It is what is used to build wood aircraft. It has an interlocking grain structure which makes it pretty tough, much more so than POC. I would put it pretty close to fir in toughness, but it does break differently. DF can be called brittle and when it breaks, it really breaks; no question. Sitka is tough to break, but will crysal or compression fracture. Still in one piece, but bent and no longer shootable.
It is lighter and more consistent in mass weight than DF, generally about 50 grains within a spine group whereas DF will vary 150 gr or more. If a shooter wants a lightweight arrow or a light shaft so they can shoot a heavy point or high FOC, sitka is a great choice.
I have been satisfied with the customer service,and the Sitka spruce.The shafts have been straight,and a little more durable than cedar.If your are looking for wood shafts these would be my choice.
ray, my target looked like that until Sunday.I wrapped it in plastic wrap. then drilled a 1/4 inch holes, evenly spaced. shoved in the great Stuff tube and let it go. sanded it off the next day and will paint up this weekend.
i like both hildebrand sitka spruce (for lighter and faster arrows) and surewood douglas fir (for a bit heavier arrows). they're the only wood i use.
QuoteOriginally posted by Roadkill:
ray, my target looked like that until Sunday.I wrapped it in plastic wrap. then drilled a 1/4 inch holes, evenly spaced. shoved in the great Stuff tube and let it go. sanded it off the next day and will paint up this weekend.
That's a good idea, however I'm probably gonna log on to Big Jim's website and order a replacement insert.
Excellent shafts! Fortunately, I kept back many Hildebrand Sitka Spruce shafts for myself when I sold the business but if I ever need more they are the ones I'll use. Very durable and just the right weight for my uses.
Hilderbrand are my favorite. I have tried about 4 dozen Surewoods and didn't like them at all. Sitka Spruce is tougher and if you like FOC you get a bit more with Spruce and a heavy head. For me that's a 200gr VPA making a 600gr arrow and a 225gr Tuffhead for 625 gr arrow.
Hildebrand sitka spruce shafts are my favorite too. They seem to just fly better than anything else I have. I've recently made up some lighter spined ones for my daughter and they seem to do very well for her also. I like the Surewoods I have also, and think their quality is just as good, just don't like them as well.
High praises from this archer,for Hildebrand shafts and their customer service.
They are the best woodies that I have ever shot. Matt at "Magnus" hooked me up with some great arrows. He purchased the shafts from Hidlebrand, the weight and straightness are unbelievable.