tapering woodies

[Clay Hayes]

I just tapered some fir shafts the other day.  It's the first I've experemented with tapered shafts.  The point end is 23/64 and the nock end is around 1/4 - 5/16.  

I'd like to use self nocks, but I'm aftaid that they'll be to weak.  Does anyong have any suggestions on beafing them up a bit?

Anyone have any suggestions or experiences with tapering woodies?

ch

[smoke1953]

I've been tapering my white ash shafts for the last year and I would guess that a self nock might not be the way to go. I say this without having done it but I would think things would be a bit unstable.

[Orion]

You can first cut about a one-inch slot in the nock end of the shaft and glue in a hardwood slat perpendicular to the rift (wood grain Vs) then cut your nock 90 degrees to the hardwood piece.  However, IMO, 5/16 is too small for a self-nock, even if it's reinforced.  Also, the slot for the hardwood should be cut before the shafts are tapered.  Very difficult to cut a straight groove after they're tapered.  This go around, you would be better off using plastic nocks.  Good luck.

[Pat B]

You can make a spline reinforced self nock and add a sinew wrap just below the nock and you should be OK These are tapered ash. I used osage splines (I've also used rawhide splines)but oriented them incorrectly and their grain matched the shafts. The short arrow broke at the nock. I re-cut a self nock(no spline) but wrapped it and the others with sinew and so far all is well. Shot quite a few times over the last month.

  Another option is to bevel slightly both sides of the shaft where the nock goes, add thin strips of wood to each side and reshape the nock end. The add on pieces form the wings of the nock.

[Clay Hayes]

I think I'll go ahead and taper some of my off spined shafts and experement a little.  I'll let you guys know what turns out.

ch