37 cane arrows

[scrub-buster]

Making arrows isn't my favorite thing to do.  I wanted a new set of target arrows for this year.  I looked at my arrow bucket and I have a dozen arrows in the 50-55 lb range.  I have 2 dozen bamboo arrows that I made last summer that are in the 60-70 lb range.  I decided to make some 35 lb and 45 lb arrows.  That way I should have a set for any bow hanging on my rack.  I picked out a bunch of shafts and started straightening.  I figured while I'm into it I might as well make a bunch so I won't have to make any more for a long time.  I ended up with 37 straight shafts, mostly hill cane with a couple bamboo and a few that I think might be switch cane.  I dyed the shafts with RIT clothing dye.  I wanted a sunburst affect but the yellow didn't show up.  I settled on a black/red/orange fade for the 35 lb shafts and a black/red and black/orange fade for the 45 lb shafts.   I burnt the feathers into a shield style.   I used glue on nocks and field points.  I had to use duplex nails for a few shafts that were to big to fit into my angle sharpeners.  I left the flat head on one of them to try it out as a blunt point.  I cut the shafts in different lengths.  I marked the length, spine, and weight on each shaft.  I wanted to get some outdoor pictures but the weather didn't cooperate so my workbench will have to do.

35 lb arrows.  27" on the left and 28" on the right.




45 lb arrows.  27" on the left, 28" in the middle, and 29" on the right.

[ChuckC]

very nice !  They look great.
ChuckC

[ranger 3]

Very nice, I wish I had some cane growing around here.

[scrub-buster]

Thanks guys.  The only cane I have around me is river cane.  I don't like it for shaft material.  It's large diameter and thin walled for my taste.  The hill cane is smaller diameter and very thick walled.

[Deno]

Nice work there SB

Deno

[FITTER]

They look great fellow hoosier

[Roy from Pa]

Clint, those are very nice. Hill or bamboo cane are my favorites. Do you insert a dowel into the end of the shafts first before attaching the points?

[frank bullitt]

Very nice! Love my river cane arrows.

Would like to try hill cane, where do ya get it?

[Sam McMichael]

Very nice looking arrows.

[Longtoke]

That's awesome, I want to start making some cane arrows myself but havent found any sources around me yet.  Yours look really good.

[scrub-buster]

Originally posted by Roy from Pa:
Clint, those are very nice. Hill or bamboo cane are my favorites. Do you insert a dowel into the end of the shafts first before attaching the points?

Roy, I did plug both ends on them before tapering them for points and nocks.

[scrub-buster]

Originally posted by frank bullitt:
Very nice! Love my river cane arrows.

Would like to try hill cane, where do ya get it?

Hill cane only grows in a small area around the Carolinas.  I have a friend who has some on his property.  I trade him a stave for a couple bundles of shafts each year.

[Roy from Pa]

Roy, I did plug both ends on them before tapering them for points and nocks.

Yupper, good idea.. I do also..

[Yewbender]

They are some nice looking arrows!!!

Thanks for reminding me i have to start on making 3 doz woodies lol!

[Pat B]

I used to plug the ends of hill cane or switch cane shafts but don't any more. They still taper well for glue on points. I usually cut a slot in the taper for trade points and open that saw cut for stone points. On the other end I use self nocks with sinew wrap so no plug is needed there either. I don't necessarily put the self nock just above node either. I'm more concerned with good feather attachment so wherever that puts the nock the sinew wrap adds plenty of strength to the self nock.

[twitchstick]

Well done!

[Hummer3T]

they look great.

[DannyBows]

Beautiful arrows! I've got some bamboo shafts that have been waiting to be worked into arrows and you just put the fever in me to get after it.

[YosemiteSam]

Nice!

Good work!

Bisch