never removed inserts before.  What is the best way?  I was thinking about sticking the end of the arrow in some hot water on the stove for a bit then pulling the insert out.  My main concern is will there be glue residue in the shaft and how difficult will it be to put a new insert in?

Thanks

Hot water might work if they were put in with hot melt.  But I just use a field tip and put a little heat from a propane torch on the tip itself.  Doesn't take much and the insert will pop right out.  Just be careful not to overheat, especially with carbons.
Clean the inside of the shaft up and reglue.  A little residue won't hurt anything from my experience.

Use some heat first and drop a drill bit into the top and kind of fling the arrow downward. It will drive the insert out. Drive the insert into a soft surface like a couple of towels.

QuoteOriginally posted by Whip:
  But I just use a field tip and put a little heat from a propane torch on the tip itself.  

I just stick the tip in the flame from my gas stove in the kitchen, it doesn't over heat the tip to quick and I can be doing that and keep an eye on dinner. Yeah, it's a win win  

I've used one of those insert tools, looks like a threaded end screw driver, to undo inserts.   Screw it in but not all the way.  Then heat the shaft of the tool with a propane torch.   You'll want to heat slowly though.  Just enough to start to loosen the insert.

x3 on heating a field tip it doesn't take much heat I've used that method with almost every type of glue

yup
heat the field point a few seconds and try to pull the insert out if it doesn't come out heat again a few seconds and try again... no need to rush it.

If you use low hest glue you will never have to worry about it. Like others said just heat the threads and screw back in. If you used epoxy try the drill bit thing.

I use about a 10" piece of stainless welding rod.  Screw on a field tip and like others have said, swing downward really hard and fast.  After a few licks it will come out!  I don't recommend doing this indoors though (don't ask how I know!).  Outside on the lawn is best as sometimes they come out pretty fast!

Do as Slinger says, I use 6" brass rod. Couple of downward flicks and they all pop out.

.17 caliber rifle cleaning rod will fit inside most skinny carbons.

I screw a field tip in and heat it up until the glue on the insert becomes loose enough to allow me to pull it out.

If you have a rifle cleaning kit you can use one of the brass rods in it. It screws perfectly into an insert. I use a propane burner and just apply steady pressure until it coes loose. This is with aluminums.

Putting a drill bit or a steel rod in the shaft and then flinging the arrow downward is the best way I have found.

You could also use a small caliber brass brush on a drill at slow speed, or a small caliber ( 17/22 ) cleaning rod with a patch soaked in acetone.

I use a small round file, seems to work so far.

If the insert was installed properly on a carbon shaft they DO NOT come out easy. Heat will be needed as well as a rod that fits into the shaft to hammer out the insert with inertia or as a "slide hammer effect". Slow cure epoxies do not release all that easy if the shaft has been prepped well. Keep in mind you WILL lose a shaft here and there. I like using brass rod if you can get them the right diameter (JUST small enough to slide easily into the shaft).

Many shops I know prefer to use hot melt adhesive but some will use what is commonly called "super glue".  As others have said you may need to do more than just heat to get the insert out.  I would try the drill bit trick first (especially if it is a carbon arrow) and then try dipping it in boiling hot water if you need to.  If you are good with a torch then this is quickest but I have seen too many scorched arrows from some not-so-handy folks trying this...  Afterwards, take a rifle cleaning bore brush dipped in some alcohol to clean the inside of the shaft. this should clean it up of any leftover glue residue and provide for a nice clean surface for the new glue to adhere to.