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What are the best atlatl shafts?

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Hillbilly:
Cane or bamboo. You can straighten green cane, just take it easy on it. Usually if it's collapsing, you have first-year culms with thin walls. Cut older canes. Too much heat can cause problems, too.

Tracker:
Hey, thanks for the tip on older green cane, Hillbilly!

Scowler:
If you want "store bought" atlatl shafts check out Thunderbird Atlatl.  They sell (among other things)quality ash wood atlatl shafts.  They are easy to straighten and are very durable.

GlassKnapper:
I make mine from bamboo and river cane. After its seasoned when you go to heat straightening it heat the area you want to straighten until it starts to "weep" just a little then bend and hold, thats what works best for me, and alternate on multiple ones to allow for heating and cooling cycles. Like wolfshire said the scarf joints work really well. I have glued and wrapped some scarf joints to make one piece darts, and half used the scarf joint along with appropriately sized pieces of cane as the "scarf tube" to make two piece take down darts.
--pat

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