I am looking for the best way to sand the nodes down on cane shafts? I experimented and used my dremel, but it seems to take too much off and had an uneven look? Coulda been the bit I was using, but wanted to know how yawl do it to make the uniform and smooth?

Thanks in advance

Dave

I have made several.  I just take the shaft and some rough grit sandpaper and run it up and down for a few minutes.  Then if you have a particularly rough node, focus on it.  You don't need to get the nodes compleatly flat.  That would make them pretty fragile.  I'll see if I can get a pic or two.  You also might want to check out the Primitive Archer site as well; the Arrows forum.  Lots of cane shafts over there.

I use a small file or rasp applied with a light touch.

Guy

I use one of those cheap sanding blocks . Cane arrows can be a little on the ruff side,bumpy and not so strait and still will fly great. Thats what makes them cool.

Ahhh..thanks for the info fellas. I was trying to get them really smooth and that was makin them fragile at the nodes.
Thanks for the tips  

Do all your major straightening first or the cane will break at a node if you have sanded it first. I know guys that sand the nodes almost smooth and they still make great arrows as long as you straighten first. If you sand the nodes you are removing the rind so you will have to seal the shaft. I prefer to heat and roll the nodes on a hard flat surface with a smooth block of wood. This will compress the node to almost the same diameter as the internode. Then I remove just the corky ridge that runs around the node.This is the last step after straightening.

Thanks Pat I have just been hand straightening them and eye balling down the shaft. I will give rolling a try. Thanks for the tips on your straightening process.

When you go to straighten (mostly) them, use a heat source and get them just barely too hot to touch barehanded.  Not so hot they burn.  Wear leather gloves or wrap them in something.  Then bend them slightly and hold for a few seconds.  They way you straighten the nodes and internode spaces is exactly the same: apply heat and bend.  You will just apply heat to a shorter length of space when you are working the nodes.  Start at one end and just work your way to the other.  Typically, as mentioned, it's best to do this straightening before you do the sanding.  A little touch up straightening after sanding is fine, but get them generally straight first.  They don't have to be perfectly straight to fly really, really well.  Something about the natural taper and kinks off setting and I dunno whatall else, but they make great shaft material.

I have chucked them up in a drill and used sandpaper to reduce the nodes . Drew

Drew, that a pretty cool idea, might have to give it a go.

I dont know if you have seen the buildalong I did on making Bamboo Arrows but this might help.

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000128;p=1

Tenbrook thanks I have been following that build along.

I'm planning cutting some from my Uncles farm within the next few weeks. How long should you let them dry before you can start working with them?