Have any of you guys tried turning out your own wood shafts such as what has been written about in a current TBM article?  Looks like it might be kind of a fun winter project.

I am thinking about getting the dowel tool from Veritas and trying it on 3/8" square cut Lodgepole(chundo) that I have readily available here from some recent 'fire sales'

I think that setup would cost a little under $200

I have tried the hand shaved method using the jig plans from several sites.  It works but is overall pretty slow and I could not make the shafts worth my while.  I sell about 1500 primitive arrows a year and need to get shafts cheaper or make them faster to keep the cost reasonable.

If a guy just wants a dozen for his own use as a winter project - there are a number of options without a real high tool cost - just more elbow grease.

The cost of the Port Orford has gone way up and the new unair federal tax on shafts really screws the guys trying to make less costly wood arrows!

Also, several of the 'primitive' events have rejected archers with my arrows because they looked 'too good and/or commercial'  I have to make the shafts look more hand made than the Port Orfords for that venue.

It works, but making bows is less work.  Making a dozen well matched shafts from scratch is a whole lotta work!

Fletcher, what is this tool you are speaking of?

I bought one from veritas-cost $32 with shipping.
I works, but the wood I get out here in the desert doesn't make shafts strong enough.  Might even sell it after making 7 shafts.

Roadkill, where do you get this from?  I googled Veritas, but did not find anything.

Lee Valley Tools....

I bought the little 30 dollar setup.  My buddy Barry uses it to turn out wonderful cherry arrow shafts.  I have yet to set mine up but will probably do so very soon after seeing what he does.  Cuts them to 3/8 inch....sands down to 23/64

Roadkill....what is the tool called you are talking about? Found Lee Valley Tools....now whatdoIlookfor?  

I've been thinking of doing this. I have a table saw, a router, and a drill. I just need to set it all up and find some wood. Gary

try this soopernate  http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=32249&cat=1,180,42311,42319

I made my own shafts with a router jig about 10 years ago. You can make nice shafts but getting a good matched group is a problem. You will get varying spines and weights from the same board.

that's not the correct tool, that one is for drilling holes for dowels.  There is a jig for making dowels by the same company.

Mike

Here is the one you want:

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=42331&cat=1,180,42288

This oen works just fine for about a third the money.

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=52401&cat=1,180,42288

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