Anyone  have do it yourself plans on how to taper shafts without buying a tapering tool or sander?

go here:

http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000003

It's in the how-to/resources section, and it's great.

If your tool supply and ability are limited you can try this. I've done like this for years and it works just fine.

1. Cut the nock taper on a shaft then put a nock on it that matches the amount of taper you want. Example... 23/64" shaft tapered to 5/16 use a 5/16" nock.

2. Draw a line around the edge of the nock.

3. Measure from the nock line 3" and put a line around the shaft. Do the same at 6" and 9".
(it may help to first spray a LIGHT coat of dark spray paint on the nine inches of the nock end.)

4. You can use a very sharp plane, but a scraper or even a pocket knife can be called  into service.

5. Scrape from the 3" line to the nock line and rotate until you have scraped all the way around the shaft evenly (the paint will show where you miss).

6. Repeat process at the 6" and then the 9" lines scraping from the measured lines to the nock line.

7. Sand smooth with 180 grit sandpaper and finish with 220 grit.

You are done. Good luck... it's really very simple.