Why would you foot a carbon shaft?

Fireman2019 · April 17, 2014, 12:39:00 PM

I understand the reasoning behind footing a wood shaft, but why a carbon shaft? The popular traditional carbon shafts have weight inserts for adding weight. Is it mostly a cosmetic thing, or is there a functional reason behind it?

T Folts · April 17, 2014, 12:40:00 PM

To prevent failure upon a hard impact.

KentuckyTJ · April 17, 2014, 12:44:00 PM

A friend hit the leg of a 3-D target the other day and the post inside that leg mushroomed the point back into his carbon shaft. A footing would have prevented that most likely but I never do it. Just seems like overkill to me.

JRY309 · April 17, 2014, 12:48:00 PM

It helps to keep the ends from cracking or splitting.Carbons are tough arrows,hard to break.The footing helps to reinforce the weakest part of a carbon arrow,the open ends where the insert and nocks are.I only foot the arrows I plan to use for stump shooting.I don't foot all my carbon arrows.

SKITCH · April 17, 2014, 12:51:00 PM

Here ya go.

Fireman2019 · April 17, 2014, 12:51:00 PM

So the foot absorbs the damage, are you then able to change the foot? I read that some guys are using JB weld to attach them. Seems like the foot would be pretty well bonded to the shaft. Forgive my beginner questions. Trying to learn as much as I can.

bretto · April 17, 2014, 01:00:00 PM

Once you epoxy or JB weld the footing on its permanent.

Bretto

katman · April 17, 2014, 01:05:00 PM

No need to change the foot, the aluminium tube can help stop the mushrooming pictured above from occurring.

zipper bowss · April 17, 2014, 01:17:00 PM

I have some I footed because the arrow stretcher just could not get quite enough length out of them.A footing took care of that though :D

TSHOOTER · April 17, 2014, 01:38:00 PM

I footed some several years ago and they do prevent the insert/mushroom issue. I did have one snap off at the top of the footing when I shot a tennis ball with a judo. Seems to just move the weakest link further up the shaft.

kat · April 17, 2014, 01:40:00 PM

Loctite 380 is what I use to foot carbon arrows with aluminum 'sleeves'.
The loctite holds them in place, and when GENTLY heated, they slide right off.
Been using it for years. Good stuff.

njloco · April 17, 2014, 02:45:00 PM

What kat said, I've heard of people using the Loctite Black Max (also called 380 ) w without footing and it kept the insert from moving down the arrow shaft, tough stuff !

Kris · April 17, 2014, 03:00:00 PM

In a word "strength".

Quote

"Once you epoxy or JB weld the footing on its permanent."

I just use hot melt, Kimsha Quick-stick it works great and allows for removal of outsert/insert with just a little heat.

Kris

April 17, 2014, 03:10:00 PM

When you talk about a footed wood arrow, you are talking about something completely different than putting a footing on a carbon shaft!

Bisch

M60gunner · April 17, 2014, 03:49:00 PM

I have footed some of my carbons before. My best example of the footed carbon was a direct hit on a piece of rebar holding a target in ground. It is a Easton Axis shaft, brass insert and 2in footing. The impact bent the field point over, split the alum footing but did no damage to shaft. I replaced the point and footing and still have the arrow.
I have broke carbons but usually by hitting the object in middle of shaft.

Rob W. · April 17, 2014, 05:02:00 PM

We have some pretty rocky stuff where I hunt and I like to stump shoot back to the truck. I usually carry one footed shaft for that but don't foot my hunting shafts.

I like gorilla glue for the footing and a SGT head.

jhg · April 17, 2014, 05:48:00 PM

I use super glue on mine.

The difference in failure between my footed carbon shafts and those that came before footing was amazing.

Hint- bevel the back (fletching) side of the footing. File/grind the insert end square. Usually this will mate tight against whatever broadhead (if a glue on) you choose, the footing being smaller in diameter or equal in diameter to the BH ferrule, making a very clean transition from the broadhead to the shaft.

Joshua

SteveInNJ · April 17, 2014, 09:46:00 PM

Anyone have pics?

Tony Sanders · April 17, 2014, 10:01:00 PM

Here are some footed carbon arrows that I use for small game and stump shooting.

Tony

Drewster · April 17, 2014, 10:04:00 PM

'cause it make one rough and tough stumping arrow.