OK guys, I keep seeing all these great looking arrows and I'm starting to think that maybe I should be doing this, too.  What does a guy really need to make wood arrows?

- cresting machine
- cresting paint - testors, whispering wind, etc...
- paint brushes - thin type like a #2
- spray paint or dip tubes and whatever cap dip paint/gasket lacquer you want to use
- stain if you want your shafts a different color than natural
- taper tool
- spray, wipe on, or dip clear coat
- feathers
- fletcher
- glue or fletch tape
- exacto knife
- ruler
- drying rack
- field point or broadheads

I may have missed some stuff but someone will be along to add items and/or different equipment they use.

Lots of techniques out there and all work just need to decide what you want to use.

Grain scale and spine tester if you're going to make wood arrows.  Doesn't make any difference how pretty you make them, they won't shoot well if they're not spine and weight matched.  Good luck.

I can tell you how I started doing it.. since I started small and have been building up.

1) Matched shafts purchased, this saved me the money/effort of buying/building a spine tester.  I later bought a grain scale on the cheap, this has helped since.

2) Tapering tool is a must, even if just for repairs, as often you can get your purchased, matching shafts tapered at the shop.  Still, if you're making wood arrows, they will break, good to be able to get another point on there.

3) Arrow sealant

4) Dip tube, which I guess isn't really necessary, but it's worth the minimal cost.

5) Some rags

6) Various feathers, you can buy them full length and cut them yourself with either a pattern-template, or a block chopper.  The Choppers are inexpensive, so I purchased one right away.  It's been useful for making large numbers of arrows, and for teaching friends.

7) Fletching Jig (also not necessary, it's been done by hand forever). These make the job easier, and can certainly help you get the hang of spacing your fletching. The Martin one is a pretty inexpensive investment.  There are lots out there though.

8)Exacto Knife is invaluable.  

9)Glue or Fletching tape is also necessary, unless you want to go super old school and use sinew.  You will need glue for the nocks, if you're trying to save money by using multi purpose tools.. Go with the glue, it tends to work for both jobs.  The Fletching tape makes it all much faster though.

10) Point glue.. generally some form of hot glue.

10) Points and Nocks, can buy these by the 100s for little cost, and then you'll have a stockpile.

11) 0000 Steel wool

For drying arrow dye, paint and sealer, I just hung a line between two exposed posts in the shop, and cut 2" lengths of surgical tubing.  I then pierced one end of each piece of tube with a safety pin.  The tube securely fits on each arrow shaft, and the pin is used to hang them from the line.  

If you want to get into coloring the arrows... and I figure "Why not, the arrow's gonna get made anyway, I may as well practice the pretty part".  Then you'll want some dye, I use an alcohol based leather die.  You can dip it on with a small tube, or rub it on with a rag. Making sure to smooth it out with 0000 Steel wool between coats.

Since I started, I've collect more and more stuff.  I've got a decent collection of paint and dye colors, as well as a ton of feathers.  I could use some more jigs to make doing more arrows easier.

I should add:

Down the road, a spine tester is on the list of items to build (I'd rather do it myself), also a doweling plane jig would be great fun.

Also, for cresting, I've stuck with rolling them on a table edge by hand, with brush in the other.  It's not as stable or steady as a cresting machine, but it gets the job done.  

Really, calling up one of the sponsors here, and asking for the bare minimum to build arrows should get you a nice list, that's how I started out.

I think everybody has it about covered it. I would add a heat source for melting the glue for points. I use a little alcohol burner.
Jack

The above posts pretty well cover what you might need or want.  My suggestion would be to start with learning to make good arrows and then progress into making them fancy.  Pretty crown dips, cresting and spliced fletching don't make arrows shoot well.  Carefully selected and matched shafts, well straightened, with true nock and point tapers, well fletched and straight nocks and points is what makes them shoot well.  Ask questions, learn and have fun.  Shooting your own arrows is very satisfying.

Take Fletcher's advise he is my arrow building mentor. He preaches straight arrow shafts and perfect nock and point tapers and I have to agree. It is easy to get caught up in beaautiful arrows though. Flint

Ruler.  I like an engineers scale or at a bare minimum one with millimeters.  Otherwise your stuff is never quite the same.

Time... Lots of time.  And an understanding wife.

-Vig

QuoteOriginally posted by Vig:
Time... Lots of time.  And an understanding wife.

-Vig

And I appreciate that.. since i waste all my kitchen passes for hunting, I shoot faux woodies- beman mfx...

I have just recently started making my own arrows. The things that I don't have as yet are a Spine Tester and a Scale. I have found that it is fun and rewarding to make your own arrows. It also helps (as Vig said) to have time and an understanding wife.

QuoteOriginally posted by Vig:
Time... Lots of time.  And an understanding wife.

-Vig

Uhhh, nevermind.... LOL!  Thanks for all of the info fellas!