A Word To The Wise, From The Not So Wise

[Bowspirit]

A while back, I was given a hickory arrow from a close friend that I had lost while stump shooting. It showed some pretty heavy weathering; it was out there for a while in the snow and rain with only a water based finish.
Anyway, I knew most shafts in such condition would be unsafe to shoot. But this was hickory; in two years I've lost a little less than half my stock, but only broken two. One of those was a Robin Hood with an Ace Hex Blunt. I'd heard the horror stories of wood, but surely I could shoot it again.
So, I fletched it up, refinished it, and flexed it a dozen times, I took it out today to shoot. After one shot, I ran my hand down the shaft and found something I should have expected; the grain had completely seperated in the middle of the shaft. Could have gone into my arm.
At this point, I'm embaressed by my being so cheap, but there is a reason I can admit this. I know that we trad shooters are a resourceful and frugal bunch, but when in doubt, ditch the shaft. Better than picking the splinters out of your arm on the way to the hospital. Take care, folks...

[Keefer]

Chris ,
 Good advise and I would do the same if I used a water based poly ...Now not trying to rob this thread but I lost an arrow a few years back and so did my nephew that were Port Orford ceder shafts and they never faded {other then the fletching) not even swelled that I could see..Reason I believe is cause I soaked them in Danish oil for a few weeks to add weight and the oil soaked through the shaft...The oil kept the moisture out...I did refletch them and put new field points on and nocks...These arrows were out about a year...Has anyone else ever notice this with Danish oil? Still like Chris said when in Doubt toss it out!  

[ron w]

               

[kat]

Chris,
Sounds like a close one.  Good advice, and glad to hear you dodged the bullet.
Now if you were still shooting carbon..........

[mcgroundstalker]

Hold The Phone! Carbon can take a bite outa' you too! So... Be careful with ALL shaft material.

Hunt Safe Everyone

... mike ...

[Stone Knife]

Chris, I'm so glad that you were spared from injury, we have all done some thing in the name of saving a buck that could have ended in a bad situation. Lets all learn from this and carry on.

[crotch horn]

Chris,
Glad it had a happy ending. Good luck out there and I wish you success.

[Brian Krebs]

Aluminum will weaken if left out too.

Best to leave some things in the woods for the archaeologists of the future  

[ishiwannabe]

Good post Chris. I had a carbon almost break midfletch after a close miss on a squirrel on a rock wall...I felxed that one and checked it too.
Now I check each arrow, after each shot. Reguardless of the type.

[non-typical]

I carry significant scar tissue in the thumb of my left hand because of trying to "cheap" a wood arrow a few years ago. The arrow had cracked and I glued it together. Worked fine until I shot it out of a heavier poundage bow. They picked a 2" piece of wood out of my thumb that went in at the base knuckle all the way up to alongside the thumbnail. There are still a couple of "floater" slivers in my thumb. Never too old to be stupid.

[vtmtnman]

Originally posted by ron w:
                           

x2

Never ever try to be frugal when it comes to arrow shafts.When it doubt throw it out.Especially wood.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Chris Glad you are OK!  For a while I thought you were dead.         :rolleyes:  

We all can learn from others here, you, yet again teach me something new!  

[straitera]

Just found a weathered carbon a week ago & gave it to my carbon shooting friend. He flexed it explaining flexing was the correct procedure for checking the shaft strength. It broke 10" from the end straight as a string through the shaft just like it was cut with a laser. Glad he didn't shoot it.

[Toecutter]

Glad to hear you're well brother. Like Jim said, we all do stuff we shouldn't. Pushing the envelope is how we learn (least thats what I tell myself when I screw up)    

Nathan

[sstewa]

Seems like my envelope has been pushed sooo many time, I should be the smartest guy around.  I'm glad this was not a horror story and you're OK.

[beetlebailey1977]

All I can say is that would hurt....

[seabass]

i'm glad you are ok.good luck this season,steve