Hey all, if theoretically someone wanted Osage orange dowels for nocks on bamboo arrows where would one find some? I'd do it myself but don't have a dowel maker, and the requisite funds for it are being diverted to pay for a new bow. Anyone have a contact for someone who might be able to supply some? I'd like to stop using plastic nocks, and don't reall want to cut self nocks. Thanks

You shouldn't need osage dowels o make wood nocks. Just cut some small strips of osage and plane the corners off.

Failing being able to find osage dowels...
If you have access to a table saw and can get osage board stock you could always rip some into 3/4" x 3/4" stock and then knock the corners off with a hand plane to make your own dowels.
Or...
Chuck small pieces of the above osage stock into a drill press and use it like a mini-lathe with a file to make your knock inserts.

Guy

I have made them for bamboo arrows.  We have a dowel maker.  If you run some osage thru your saw and get it down so it fits in a drill press you can sand them down that way, I have done that also.

BUT, stange as it sounds, I have had trouble with osage nocks breaking.  I even soaked them in supper glue to try and strengthen them and they have broken.  I have had good luck making them using cherry dowels and oak dowels and they look good.  I still coat the wooden nocks with super glue before putting a finish coat on them. If you want some  pieces of cherry dowel to turn down, (using a drill press) PM me with your address and I will give you enough to do 1/2 dozen of arrows if you want.

I saw a how to on here where people were making arrows using a power drill and some metal with the right size hole cut in it. I think they were splitting and then planing the wood until it was about the size so they could use the power drill and run it through the hole to make perfect arrows. If it works for arrows i'd imagine it'd work for your purposes. Check the how to forum on here

It is very easy to make arrow shafts or dowels using square stock.  Knock the corners off until you have an octagon and then chuck it in a drill and hold some 100 grit around it until it is round.  Wear a leather glove as it will get hot.  But, I agree with Jon Stewart.  Osage is not a great choice for nocks.  I have made osage footings that held together but nocks always seemed to split.

I used osage as reinforcements for my self nocks and they split too.  I use purple heart and walnut now. If you would like a couple squares to try pm me and i will send you a few.

Antler tips are the way to go and they look absolutely fantastic. I've also seen them made out of heavy bone .

God bless you all, Steve

Bone is pretty easy to get, too.
I get it at PetSmart or PetCo in the dog chew toy section. You want to get the basic bone, not the marinated ones stuffed with flavored fillings. Cut it up with a band saw or by hand with a little coping saw, it's easy to work.

Guy

Huh! You really do learn something new every day. I would have figured Osage would have made an excellent nock. And until I read the comments in this thread was intrigued because I have a few blocks of green Osage I was saving to someday make duck calls with. (Green osage comes from old fence posts. The part in the ground usually turns a deep green.)

I make 3/8 inch OD machined Osage dowel, if you want to mess with some PM or email me.

Self nocks are the way to go. Fast, easy and as durable as any or more so.

I agree with Pat, Self nocks are easy and tough. I drill a hole the size of my string threw the shaft were I want the bottom of my nock to be. Then slice threw the boo with a utility knife from the hole to the top of the shaft. Make two cuts per side slightly narrower than the width of the hole you drilled. Remove the boo from between the two (4) slices you made and sand the groove to fit your string.Now just sand an entrance V in the top  of the nock. To keep the nock from splitting, wrap below the nock with some artificial sinew and glue and coat the entire nock. As Pat said better than most other options.

Well, I would never have known that Osage doesn't make decent nocks. I appreciate all the responses. Looks like its going to be self nocks then. Either that or I will do as suggested and rip small pieces of oak and round em. Thanks all