Between making bows or arrows I can't seem to go by a piece of wood anymore with out checking for straight grain and knots. Well I was in the hardware store the other day and checked out the dowel rack and found some straight grained but not perfect 5/16 dowels. So I picked out about 15 or 16 to give them a try. I ended up with some that were a little light in spine but most were right at 40lb give or take a couple ,which was good for a Hill bow I have. They turned out ok but a long way from perfect . They shoot good that is the main thing.

Looks great!

Dowels never looked so good!  

 Those arrows look great, good job.

I can hear those dowels now,pick me,pick me.

NICE!

very nice! You can get them even cheaper in bulk, from American Woodcrafters, for about $25.00/100. Even with culls, that's pretty cheap shootin'.

Great job on those.

 Nice!

I have built hundreds of arrows from poplar dowels. I do cull mine and spine test them. I get atleast 10 or more good shooters from a dozen. Problem is I never seem to loose or break one of the culls.

James