Does this save costs or cost more or is it done more for the value of making something with your own hands? Do you have ideas on approximate cost per arrow (not counting your time)? thanks Merle

Shafts would be about $3.00 to $3.50 each in cedar, fir or spruce.

Feathers are about $1.50 to $2.00 for a 4 or 5 inch 3 fletch.

Nocks are about 10 to 25 cents.

Points would range from 50 cents for a common field point or blunt to as much as $10.00 to $15.00 for some of the more expensive broadheads.

So with field points/blunts arrows would be about $6.00 each.

Maybe $60.00 to $75.00 per dozen.

Charles.

I think you save a bit but I've never count it!?I guess I do it 'cause I like it  

Depends on what you want to do.  

After the feathers, nocks, points, shafts, stain, seal, glue, cresting, and worst of all shipping of all that stuff, it costs me about $90 to make a dozen.

After you factor in any extra tools you may need, it can get up there.

Although price does matter to me, in the end I could really care less because I love making arrows...especially for other folks.

Will need a spine tester and grain scale to make really good matched woodies. Electronic grain scales are fairly inexpensive, but a decent spine tester may run $150-$200.  

True nock and point tapers are crucial to good arrow construction and arrow flight.  While some of the hand held taper tools will do a passable job, a jig and some sort of power sanding surface provides a much more accurate grind.  I use home make jigs on a sanding disk on my table saw.  Taper boards/jigs can be purchased fairly inexpensively if you have a disk sander to use them with.

That what I was wondering? thanks for the input. Merle

Somebody did a post on here about cheap arrows it was called the 1 dollar arrow or something like that................ anybody know?

Bjorn. It in the how to section now along with a few other arrow builds.

The cheap arrow post was by (Friends call me Pac).  Just do a search

BOB

Thanks guys. There ya' go converml.

Appreciate it. thanks

Here ya go Converml. Mike Mecredy did the .92 arrow build.

http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000116

Enjoy, it gets really addictive.

John

Thanks John. Merle

There are lots of ways to lower the cost in dollars but they all raise the time and effort factor. For example there are plans to make your  own spine tester available on the internet. If you have access to quality lumber you can saw or split out your own shafts and then plane and sand them round. If you turkey hunt or have friends that do you can split, grind, shape and dye your own feathers.

It all depends on how much you enjoy time spent in the shop and how much satisfaction you get from it. Thats one of the great things about tradional archery today, you can choose your level of committment.

Even after you have acquired everything you need to make them, I have no idea how someone can make them and sell them for $100 dozen, there would be no profit left. You would make about $10 and hour max. I make them because I enjoy it and I know what the spine and weight is for the groups I'm making - just good old spare time fun!

You CAN save money making them yourself, but it won't be a big savings and it'd be hard to justify it just for that purpose.  You'd probably have to settle on just one set up and quit tinkering with things.  To me, I can't do it.  I am always tweaking something just a bit, trying to get it just a bit better.  I could probably buy them for a comprable real price, but I like making my stuff.

You CAN save a lot making your own bows, however.  Big time.

Merle, since you have specified Cedar shafting, I would suggest you try the 3rivers hand-held taper tool. They are inexpensive, you discard them when they finally become dull and they do an extremely nice job, especially on Cedar.