Forgewood shafts.

[TomMcDonald]

I'm thinking about getting some Forgewood shafts.
Does anyone here have experience using them?
What are your opinions of them as a hunting arrow?
I suppose the reasons for wanting them are their weight and durability.

[snag]

I found a dozen that I have made into arrows w/ 160gr. tips. They are made of hemlock. I would like to try some of the old POC forgewood if I could find some. These shafts are heavy and strong. I think at 20yds and closer they would be great. They weigh 800grs. with the tip, fletching and nock. They are about 200grs. heavier than the carbons I usually shoot or 215grs. heavier than the POC shafts I shoot. Being heavier they drop about 5" lower than the others at 20yds. But the impact has authority! Where are you getting these? If you don't mind me asking. What wood are they made of?

[TomMcDonald]

I've been looking on this website.  http://www.alaskafrontierarchery.com/
It only lists shafts made of Hemlock though.

[Kelly]

That business is for sale and has been for almost 5 years now. Also states on the first page that "Has no inventory." so don't look for buying any of these shafts anytime soon. Prices listed are from early 2000.

[Danny Rowan]

Tom,

They are no longer in business,have not been made in about 10-12 years, for the Alaskan Forgewoods,much longer than that for the Sweetland forgewoods which were the original made with POC.

Danny

[TomMcDonald]

That's disappointing.
So who's gonna volunteer to buy the business and start making these shafts again?

[Bjorn]

Tom you can find them on the Internet from time to time; but it is very hit and miss, and you can expect to pay 7-10 dollars and more per raw shaft.

[TomMcDonald]

Thanks Bjorn.
I don't have enough interest in them to warrant paying 200+ Australian dollars a dozen.

So what's a good alternative? I want the strength they offer mainly.
Ashby talks about the hardwood shafts breaking on 3% of the oblique shots as opposed to 30-odd% for carbon and aluminium (don't remember the exact figures).

However, looking at Raptor they have the Hammerhead shafts which look very inticing.

[Danny Rowan]

Tom,

Ipe is a very good shaft, heavy and strong.

Danny

[TomMcDonald]

Is this wood the same as Ironwood?

[dino]

Tom,
Ipe is Brazilian Walnut.  Like Danny said heavy and strong plus some heavy spines too. Iron wood grows around here where I live.  Hard, dense stuff.  I'm sure someone has made shafts out of it but I've never run across any. dino

[TomMcDonald]

Thanks Dino.
I've had a search but can't find anyone who might sell it in dowell form.
I've emailed a couple of dealers.

[Bjorn]

I have gone to footed shafting with the foot left extra long-more strength and weight forward. I am getting them from raptorarchery.com

[Danny Rowan]

Tom,

Contact Hickory Creek Arrows.They are a sponser on here listed in the links up top. That is where I got my ipe shafts, 75# spine and 5/16 diameter.

Danny

[TomMcDonald]

Thanks Danny.
I 'm interested in a small diametre too.

[TomMcDonald]

Originally posted by Danny Rowan:
Tom,

Contact Hickory Creek Arrows.They are a sponser on here listed in the links up top. That is where I got my ipe shafts, 75# spine and 5/16 diameter.

Danny

The site says not taking orders at this time.

[snag]

When I spoke with Steve last he had 14,000 shafts of hemlock forgewoods...he was going to sell them with the machinery. Be a shame to have them just sit around. As I recall any wood other than POC will have a tendency to regain it's orginal dimesions unless sealed. Whereas POC has a natural glue that once processed into forgewood shafts stays there. So as time goes by I am worried about the condition of these hemlock shafts...

[TomMcDonald]

Thanks alot snag, I'll try to contact him.
If he has that many and they're gonna just reform a couple of dozen slung my way can't hurt.

[dino]

Tom,
Bill Bonzar at Allegany Mountain Arrow Woods sells Ipe shafts. dino

[d. ward]

Tom one thought would be to maybe keep an eye open for 2-3 Bill Sweetland forgewoods you can try out.Bill's are the real deal POC and as snag mentioned they will not swell in wet conditions.Sweetlands forgewoods are also pretty near as straight as you could get a wooden arrow.bowdoc