Howard Hill long bow and Carbon arrows?

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by David Mitchell:
OK, dumb question, but not my first....The only carbons I have messed with are GT Trads.  I still don't get the various designations like, Heritage 90s, 250s, 500s, etc.  Seems to be a lot like rifle calibers--little rhyme or reason behind it.  So how does a 90 differ from a 400 or 500.  BTW, I realize the 500, etc. refers to deflection (I think) but what about CX Heritage 90s....what do they correspond to?  That's probably not a reference to deflection, right?  Guess my brain is getting to old for all the new fangled stuff.   :confused:  

yes, spine.  400 = .400" spine deflection on 26" centers with a 2# weight.

carbons have very different dynamic spines than alums or woods - they're inherently stiffer.  ever wonder why you see a gt 400 with a spine range of 55/75#'s, or the stiffness rating on all the other carbons out there in graphite-land???

[Overspined]

okay, kudos Rob, but all "that monkeying" around is what drove me NUTS and led me back to wood and aluminum.  It really takes potentially a lot of different shafts, a cutter, different point weights/inserts/etc to finally get one to fly good, when wood takes a couple minutes to find one that flies GREAT. Just my opinion...I just wish I had the time to find that magic carbon arrow that is heavy enough and will fly as good as my woodies..

[Overspined]

carbon arrows basically puts us back to the post this isn't "popular mechanics"

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by Overspined:
okay, kudos Rob, but all "that monkeying" around is what drove me NUTS and led me back to wood and aluminum.  It really takes potentially a lot of different shafts, a cutter, different point weights/inserts/etc to finally get one to fly good, when wood takes a couple minutes to find one that flies GREAT. Just my opinion...I just wish I had the time to find that magic carbon arrow that is heavy enough and will fly as good as my woodies..

i where yer coming from, been there, too.  just go to a weaker carbon, add weight up front, and you'll see they'll fly just fine for ya if you let them, promise.

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by Overspined:
carbon arrows basically puts us back to the post this isn't "popular mechanics"

naw, carbons are the staff, er, shaft of life for stick bows.  ain't nothing too high techie or weird about them, they're as trad as trad can be.  lemme tell ya, most all of those old and long gone trad heroes of ours would be shootin' carbons, too.  

[Ben Maher]

If I had access to a cut off saw and the space to use one , I would most assuredly be using carbons to compliment my growing collection of cedars, fir and spruce .
I love my woodies and still use 2016's regularly but a set of carbons are a super tough arrow for me as i stump shoot / rove more than anything else .
They are also heaps quieter in a back quiver than alloys .
I  might get me some of these Carbon express 90's or GT 35/55 and see what I can do with 300gns up front on 'em.
A nice new set for my Robin Hood maybe ...

[Rob DiStefano]

just need a dremel w/carbide cutoff wheel and a bit of 120 grit sandpaper to true up a cut carbon shaft.  heck, just get a dremel carbide wheel and mandrel and use it with yer electric drill - works every bit as good!

[Overspined]

Rob, are you still using all of your test dummy shafts? ...LOL

I figure with the right monkeying around I could make it happen, but you are right, just didn't happen for me. Went from too stiff to too weak and just never found the sweet spot.

[RC]

I cut my carbons by "scoring" them with my pocket knife. I then take an emory board and flush them up. Been working for years. Its as compilcated as we make it.RC

[Davesea]

Heck my Howard Hill bow is made with fiberglass and other "space age materials". Is it Trad? Of course the bamboo makes it though, for me.

I am a firm believer in using a tried and true design with the most advanced, or otherwise, materials that meet your requirements.

I am having fun with the Carbons and I found what I did on the first go around worked fine. We'll see if they live up to taking a beating on the walk through.  

Being able to cut my shafts would make things a bit easier to mess around with.  I will have to test the dremel wheel on the first shaft I break.....

[Davesea]

Carbons ROCK, ya I hit a few rocks today.  Flattened the tips pretty well and did not break one shaft though.  I did lose the nocks on 3.  They actually broke off and part of the nock was left inside the shaft and one of the point inserts popped halfway out too.  Simple fixes and they are ready to go for the next beating.  
I am a believer.

[Wannabe1]

All I can say is, my Arrow Dynamic Trad Lites fly better than woodies out of my Hills. But, I still like to shoot the wood.  

[Davesea]

Anyone have a suggestion on a 50 or 100 grain insert that works well on the Beman ICS bowhunter?
Thanks