What to use to hold in inserts in while tuning carbons?

Gene Charbonneau · January 31, 2010, 04:49:00 PM

OK, After years of aluminum shafts I am going to try carbon arrows. The biggest thing that has held me back is the question of what to use to hold inserts in during the arrow tuning phase? Has to be easily removable and not damage carbon shafts?

Epoxied inserts must be a bear to try to remove easily, and without damaging arrows.
With aluminum shafts hot melt held inserts are easily removed with a some heat, but I think that hot melt and carbon shafts do not seem the best choice (during the tuning stage). As heat may damage shafts?

What will hold the inserts in and still be easily removable?

What do you folks use?

I plan to use a two part 24 hr. epoxy after my final shaft length is determined.

Thanks.

January 31, 2010, 04:54:00 PM

Gene,

Just a small blob of hot melt will do it. You can even use one of those hot-melt guns like folks use for crafts. Then just heat the field tip a little and it will let loose. Just don't get the carbon too hot.

Predator Man · January 31, 2010, 04:55:00 PM

hot melt

Chris Shelton · January 31, 2010, 04:59:00 PM

you can do something easier than havin to use a torch every time you adjust. I also use 24 hour epoxy, and what I do is let it sit/dry to where it is movable, but barely and I tune. Beware though, it can still come out in the target, so I just go really slow while pulling it out!

Arwin · January 31, 2010, 05:02:00 PM

I have a piece of plastic from a sandwich baggie wedged in to hold it in place. Saw Brooks Johnson do it once on the D.B. show.

T Folts · January 31, 2010, 05:04:00 PM

I use a walmart pastic bag, just cover the insert and push it into the shaft and it will hold while tunning then just pull it out.
Terry

Gene Charbonneau · January 31, 2010, 05:05:00 PM

Hey Jim

I guess something a few years back still lurks in my memory a new carbon shaft with the end melted into a "blob" from my application of heat to the field point.

I guess I am just a bit "gun shy" of heat around carbons. :rolleyes:

AH! Plastic bag "shims". I like that Idea.

Thanks guys!

metsastaja · January 31, 2010, 05:05:00 PM

Saran wrap

MSwickard · January 31, 2010, 05:10:00 PM

Plastic wrap works well. What I do is screw the point into the insert then take a piece of plastic wrap lay it over the end of the shaft. Position the insert and push it home. I've found that it's better not to be able to push it in by hand. The tighter fit will require you to place the arrow point down then push the shaft down to bottom out onto the insert.

Mike

RUSTY1 · January 31, 2010, 05:10:00 PM

A piece of 4 lb. fishing line works too!

Kenneth · January 31, 2010, 05:19:00 PM

small dab of hot melt and just heat the point not the shaft. I use the hot melt craft glue and it works great.

cacciatore · January 31, 2010, 05:20:00 PM

I use hot melt with a candle,not much heat and it is also what I use for the final bonding,so I can always change my set ups.Very rarely I loose a point inside a target,never on games.

pdk25 · January 31, 2010, 05:24:00 PM

Lots of good suggestions. If I'm tuning non-tapered shafts, I don't worry about it because I bare shaft tune. I epoxy the tip in place and then cut from the back as much as is needed and replace the x-nock. Pretty simple.

BWD · January 31, 2010, 06:29:00 PM

Same as pdk25.

JRY309 · January 31, 2010, 06:37:00 PM

I use the saran wrap method to hold in inserts for tuning.I tune with wraps,so cutting from the back end doesn't work for me.I just press the insert in with some saran wrap to hold it snug,and trim and tune.But you need a softer target,like a bag target that doesn't grab tight enough to pull the insert back out.This is the only method I use for tuning carbon arrows,I get my tuning done without glueing in the inserts.

xtrema312 · January 31, 2010, 06:49:00 PM

Hot melt. Just prep the inside of the shaft. With my Beman's it sticks great without prep. With my GT's I have to rough it up a little and wipe it out with alcohol or they pop right out. You can keep some water to quench it if you think you need to do that. I use a low setting on a propane torch and a longer point like a 175 or more so I can heat away from the shaft. If your shaft melts before hot melt glue there is a problem with the shaft. I have done it 100's of times without any kind of issue.

SteveB · January 31, 2010, 06:51:00 PM

Another hot melt.
Done 100's and never lost one or injured a shaft.

LKH · January 31, 2010, 07:05:00 PM

I cleaned the inside of my carbons w/acetone, roughed up and put hot glue on the 100 grain brass inserts. Only did 2. They're in the middle of my styrofoam block.

Since I bareshaft, I went back to superglue and cut down from the nock end.

When needed I pull the inserts by heating a field tip almost red hot, then screw in rapidly while pulling. They come out very fast, but it's better to have someone holding the shaft while you screw and pull.

John3 · January 31, 2010, 07:25:00 PM

I use the Wal-Mart plastic bag method... Works great. Fast and easy.

thomas3 · January 31, 2010, 08:49:00 PM

Thread tape around insert.Then just push-in or pull out. I still have some arrows that I shoot that just have the thread tape holding in the inserts.