With the onset of sub-zero temps I noticed that my non-plunger bows were becoming a lot more finicky with arrows that they'd been pretty well tuned to. Luckily I'd decided to get a dozen decent spined bamboo shafts from Mark Hill in the UK for about $50 total cost; these guys were a lot more forgiving in the colder weather than the other shafts.

All was good until a fluke wind (I shoot in a pretty windy location) blew down my target & took a most of the arrows with it. I emailed Mark but got no answer so I ordered 50 shafts at $90 total cost ($1.40 per shaft) from Oulay Bamboo in China (via E--Y) - 75% of the shafts were in the 26-28g range & they shoot well in the cold weather too. I'm think becoming a bamboo junkie...

Good to know! Look like they shoot good to!! What is your target made of?? And what is your set up, bow #@draw, point weight, arrow length, total  arrow weight etc etc....

Thank you
David

Tell me about the bamboo advantages and components used since I know nothing about them.
I'd love to try some.

The target face is from third hand archery - about $30 for two 4x4 sheets of self healing fabric - there are quite a few threads over at AT under the DiY section - I filled this tsrget with foam sofa/mattress freebies I get from the local got j--nk franchise - use it for distances over 30yds? Bows from Kirk Lavender & is the only real non-target bow I use much anymore as its very smooth (bamboo again) - 42# with the arrows in the mid-500gn with 125gn points.

In terms of advantages my guess is that there's more resiliency in the bamboo than other materials in colder weather - with a plunger I can easily adjust for those spine changes but without I noticed that my groupings were worse - maybe more accurately I should say worse than normal as I'm still a relative baby in this art? For components I just used regular tools for the nocks & points, gorilla glue for the points & high strength hot glue for the fletches & nock - the regular hot glue did not perform well below -10C. Have shot this set up now to -25C with better results than I was having before & kirks bow is smoother at those temps than my black max ILF limbs.

Be interested to see what your experiences are.

Thank you. I 'll have to look them up.... Do they have bamboo in different spine? Do they have them in higher spine like 80-85?
Cheers
David

I am also thinking about converting to bamboo arrows they are relatively cheap and found a place locally that sells them( Bamboo shafts) they seem to fly well out of my horse bows and are around 510 grains total weight with 100 grain tip

It is a little more work to make them but well worth it

Can we have some where to buy info?? That look like something I would like to try.
Cheers
David

Most of the post are from Canada and that is fine, but Port Orford Cedar, Spruce, Doug Fir and Larch are all manufactured in the USA by Americans.  Plus we all have to pay the Federal Excise Tax.  China or America, think about it!!!!

I totally know what you mean, and totally understand. I'm the first one to not buy from China, especially, if the company is north american. I so far I bought all my shafts USA made!!
cheers

Those bamboo shafts look like they come from "Tiger" the bamboo shaft supplier from China.

Its all about cost and service. love wood arrows, When wood shafts get to us in Canada, Shafts are very expensive,  Then we need to order feathers, points, broadheads all from different companies. Order from all different companies increases cost as much as two fold.  

Its all about service, at a fair price. This shop at home for no other reason then shop at home is crap!  My money goes to hard working people who give me value and what I want,

The oulay bamboo shafts come in a lot of weights - at least up to 95# I believe - check them out on  E -- Y . As for a US supplier I'd be interested in the name - if the product & service is competitive it's a no brainer - gotta keep the bow happy - M

E---y  shipping cost are crazy 100 shafts $89  $69 to get then to my house

Steve a much beter deal

So are their no bamboo shafts to be found in the US?

Also, do bamboo shafts bend as easy as other woods or do they tend to keep their straightness?

Only decent US source shafts I've seen so far have been thru 3rivrs & they looked to be in the $10 per shaft range vs these ones- only others I tried were the HD garden stake variety but it was a ton of work trying to match spines never mind weights - have few 32" stumpers that come in close to 700gn for a 47# weight - if you're shooting higher weights it might be easier though.

As far as straightness, depending on the shafts, there can be some variation but I haven't seen any effects on accuracy out to 40 yds - id guess that theyre not going to change much as they are sanded & varnished.

I did try to find some river cane but the best I found was a similar price to these but no spine or weight matching or finishing so no competition.

One last thing I did notice compared to woods of similar spine is that they're a little narrower - more like 5/16 vs a similar woodie of about 11/32 - bit more penetration & quieter into the target-  M

Part of the cost to Canada is the postage that we have to charge, almost double, compared to US.  If you live near the border it's cost effective to ship to a buddy in the States and go get them when you visit.  The other problem with orders to Canada is the Tax that you have to pay when you get them.  The only plus side is that we do not have to pay the Fed. Excise Tax out side the US.  Retail $ on premiums are $39.00/dz in US and $35.00 outside.

The systems set up to maximize tax collection from the US to here - almost everything I order from the US over $100 is hit - haven't been taxed on anything from China to date & their shipping is low - not much free but rather paid trading happening between us guys - M

markliep,

If you want very high quality Japanese bamboo shafts grown in the US, try Jaap Koppedrayer.