Arrow Footing ?

[BCWV]

I would like your help please. I have the 4 foot jig and purple heart footing from 3 rivers. I did a trial run yesterday and ended up with a 5/16 foot on my 11/32 shaft. I did it by eye with a bench sander, a cordless drill and sandpaper. What do you use when you foot wood shafts to turn down the footed end?
Thanks for any suggestions.

[moebow]

BCWV,  As you discovered, power tools reduce stock way too fast -- particularly when you're just starting.  Try a small block plane or thumb plane - very sharp - and take very small shavings on each stroke.  GO SLOW!  Once you have reduced the footing to near shaft size and about 16 sided then use sandpaper to smooth and further round the footing.  It takes practice -- work slowly!  Good luck.

[Footed Shaft]

YA can remove the first bunch of material pretty fast with the bench sander, but when you have the basic round shape it's time to S.L.O.W down . Its easy to remove too much material as you found out . I have 2 wooden blocks tied together with a door hinge and a 23/64 hole drilled down the middle. I stick the footed end in the block( along with 180 grit sandpaper) , the other end in a cordless drill and start spinning the shaft, continually moving the shaft back and forth throught the block. You will remove alot of material this way too, so go slow and check often to make sure you have not taken too much material off. I have a 4x4 steel plate with an 11/32 hole drilled in it that i test the footed shaft in. When it just fits into that hole i stop sanding( or go to some very fine sandpaper to eliminate any scratches) .
Hope this helps, i am not the best giving instructions. Bill

[BCWV]

Great information! Moebow, I'll pick me up a small plane. Bill, it help very much. I think your instuctions are clear as can be. Thanks for the help fellas.