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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: longrifle on March 21, 2015, 09:14:00 PM

Title: Source for laminated birch shafts??
Post by: longrifle on March 21, 2015, 09:14:00 PM
Looking to make some arrows and want to use laminated birch for the weight they have, any one know of a supplier? Seems as though Allegany arrow woods is no longer in business.
Title: Re: Source for laminated birch shafts??
Post by: M60gunner on March 22, 2015, 01:02:00 AM
Might try Twig Archery. Maybe 3R has some left? They were running a sale on them for a long time.
Title: Re: Source for laminated birch shafts??
Post by: dino on March 22, 2015, 04:03:00 AM
Longrifle,
When Rutland plywood burnt down in August that kinda ended the source for the wood that the shafts were being manufactured from and Kootenai River that purchase Allegany Mountain Arrow Woods let them go away with the lack of a source of raw materials.  You might give Jonathan a call and see if he has anything left.  I don't know of any other places that might have handled them other than 3R and they are completely out now.  Dino
Title: Re: Source for laminated birch shafts??
Post by: bowfanatik on March 22, 2015, 04:07:00 AM
Birch is heavier than Douglas Fir, and very toughened, and I think there is no need to look  laminated arrow
Title: Re: Source for laminated birch shafts??
Post by: Sockrsblur on March 22, 2015, 08:49:00 AM
Hey Gerald. I bought 16 hex laminated shafts off the classifieds just to see what they were like. I don't know if they are pine or what wood though. I just pulled them out of the arrow closet.. 23/64 60-65# full length one was 488gr. If they will work or are what your looking for let me know and ill get them in the mail.
Title: Re: Source for laminated birch shafts??
Post by: WESTBROOK on March 22, 2015, 12:25:00 PM
Sockrsblur,

Those are Hexpine shafts, made in Canada from lodgepole pine. They are laminated radially, look at the end of a shaft and it looks like a pie cut into 6 pieces.

Bob Burton at whispering wind arrows sells them and the end is near for that shaft too as that factory burnt a while back. Good shaft, no grain structure to align and best straightened with heat. Bob still has quite a few shafts left but thats all there is.
Title: Re: Source for laminated birch shafts??
Post by: longrifle on March 22, 2015, 12:35:00 PM
Thanks for the offer Jim but those will be to heavy for me.
Title: Re: Source for laminated birch shafts??
Post by: Sockrsblur on March 22, 2015, 12:39:00 PM
Yes sir that's what the end looks like. Thanks for the information Westbrook, ill write that on the arrow box.
Title: Re: Source for laminated birch shafts??
Post by: longrifle on March 22, 2015, 12:39:00 PM
Any other ideas for a heavy , tough, straight shaft????
I have Doug fir but really struggle to get them up to 580-600 grains finished weight.
Title: Re: Source for laminated birch shafts??
Post by: Sockrsblur on March 22, 2015, 12:46:00 PM
What shaft weight (without tip) and spine would be ideal for your project?
Title: Re: Source for laminated birch shafts??
Post by: on March 22, 2015, 02:58:00 PM
I have a few lambirch arrows left from a few years back.  Curious...

Comparing those with my DougFir, same fletching and point wt.  Both 27" BOP.

Doug Fir shaft diameter is .342
Lambirch shaft diameter is .359

The birch arrows are exactly 98gr heavier.

Depending on how you orient the shaft, I "feel" there is a significant spine difference but I can't tell you how much...

They "launch" like a fletched Abrhams M1-A2 tank.  Fun to shoot!

Stumpin (round hay bales) with my son two years ago we did a comparison with these two and found that, in comparison to the DougFir they do take a radical dive at 50 yds.

My bow was dead silent at release tho...FWIW
Title: Re: Source for laminated birch shafts??
Post by: SlowBowinMO on March 22, 2015, 03:26:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by longrifle:
Any other ideas for a heavy , tough, straight shaft????
I have Doug fir but really struggle to get them up to 580-600 grains finished weight.
I shoot mostly DF and all my arrows are well over 600 grains.  Simply jump up a spine group and add point weight.  Done.
Title: Re: Source for laminated birch shafts??
Post by: Sockrsblur on March 22, 2015, 05:07:00 PM
Well that sure sounds simple and intelligent. I know in the end arrow flight gives you the final answer but out of curiosity how much tip weight would you estimate it takes to weaken an arrow from the next higher spine group to fly comparable?
Title: Re: Source for laminated birch shafts??
Post by: M60gunner on March 22, 2015, 11:28:00 PM
I know the man is not a sponser but you could try, Forresterwoodshafts. He turns hard woods and exotic woods like Purpleheart into shafts.
Title: Re: Source for laminated birch shafts??
Post by: Fletcher on March 22, 2015, 11:39:00 PM
Longriver, I  have some of AMAW laminated birch.  What spine are you looking for?
Title: Re: Source for laminated birch shafts??
Post by: monterey on March 22, 2015, 11:55:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by longrifle:
Any other ideas for a heavy , tough, straight shaft????
I have Doug fir but really struggle to get them up to 580-600 grains finished weight.
My POC 23/64 or 23/64 compressed to 11/32 at full length with 190 Broadhead or field points come in at 650 to 675.  I recently made a device to allow drilling a 5/32 hole in the tip to add weight but have yet to find a bit long enough.
Title: Re: Source for laminated birch shafts??
Post by: longrifle on March 23, 2015, 08:00:00 AM
Fletcher looking for 50-55# spine.
Title: Re: Source for laminated birch shafts??
Post by: longrifle on March 23, 2015, 08:09:00 AM
Maybe I'm looking for something that no longer exist. I do not want to make a total change in broadhead weight. All I want to be able to do is buy some good heavier wooden shafts and put a 125 or 160 gr. head on and go. I've tried Ash they were plenty heavy but not the straightness I want, shot lots of Cedar not the weight but plenty straight, Doug fir as well and got so so results. I just wanted to keep it old school when shooting the ASL Hill style longbow I just made. If all else fails I can shoot carbon but wanted to stay with wood.
Title: Re: Source for laminated birch shafts??
Post by: SlowBowinMO on March 23, 2015, 10:24:00 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by Sockrsblur:
Well that sure sounds simple and intelligent. I know in the end arrow flight gives you the final answer but out of curiosity how much tip weight would you estimate it takes to weaken an arrow from the next higher spine group to fly comparable?
On bows center cut or less just one spine group up generally lets me shoot points of at least 225 grains without issue.  I reckon you'd need more spine than that on a cut past center recurve, but I haven't tried it.
Title: Re: Source for laminated birch shafts??
Post by: tecum-tha on March 23, 2015, 12:27:00 PM
I can't hardly believe that you can't get a normal wood to about 600 grains.
My 11/32 tapered cedars are coming in at 570 with 160 grain head at 28" length BOP.
I never like the laminated shafts. They were behaving sluggish imho.
We don't know your arrow length either...
Title: Re: Source for laminated birch shafts??
Post by: M60gunner on March 23, 2015, 12:37:00 PM
There is another thread about these shafts over on Sticbow. Seems the person that bought Allaganey shafts will not be making any of these. No demand and 3Rivers has stopped ordering from him as well. He also stated that there is no requests for Maple shafting. That was one of my favs years ago.
Title: Re: Source for laminated birch shafts??
Post by: tecum-tha on March 23, 2015, 12:45:00 PM
Same here. I loved the tapered maple shafts. Virtually indestructible. I am currently building a shaft machine and will do some maple shafts for myself.  Maple shafts usually don't break but bounce back :-))
Title: Re: Source for laminated birch shafts??
Post by: hvyhitter on March 23, 2015, 02:30:00 PM
I think that dinks feather shop still offers laminated maples. The ones I got about 8 yrs ago were pretty good............... pretty heavy and tough........
Title: Re: Source for laminated birch shafts??
Post by: Fletcher on March 26, 2015, 12:33:00 PM
I apologize for the delay, Longrifle.  I'll check my stash, I think I have some of those.