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help with first bamboo arrows
coyote1956:
I have a few dozen questions about attempting my first bamboo arrows, wet to Lowe's today and checked out the bamboo supple there.... got some of the 25 per pk. green ones and picked 12 of the natural brown ones, tried to pick weak spine feeling ones. and kinda straight too. also snuck out at work today and to the bamboo grove there, cut about a dozen or so 8-10' green slim ones. tapering say 1/4" to 1/2" I figure to try to stay close to 5/16" dia. ?
How long to dry these? until they turn brown?
OK I have read most threads i can find here about this, a few questions i didn't find answers directly to,
when i go to cut my nock in the end, which end it the nock end, the larger end or smaller end?
Do i cut the nock in directly behind a node say about 1/2" or so behind it? this would leave the node directly in front of nock, correct? then wrap sinew around below the cut in to strengthen the nock split area?
Can you wash or wash and brush the green dye of the green ones?
OK I sand and smooth the shaft, to straighten I use dry heat and bend by hand, just hot enuff to bend and not burn my hand, right?
should i taper the front of shaft to install glue on point or leave squared off? also i guess you can taper the nock end and use a glue on nock? what glue works good for this bamboo points, nocks, feathers?
Stiff side of shaft oriented towards bow riser?
and finally i plan to use brush on Polyurethane to seal shaft , OK?
Thank You brothers so much, your allways very helpfull and I do appreciate your wisdom and help, Ken
nugget:
Wow that is alot of questions. That is also alot to answer in one post.I will do my best to give you some advice. I usually let the fresh ones dry for a month or so. You can scrape or sand the green color off. The small end is the knock end. You can put it behind a node if you want. I have done it both ways and never had a problem as long as you wrap them. I would taper the front for a point. To spine them is a whole nother deal that I don't even understand. I usually find one that shoots good from my bow and try to find other shafts that are close to it. I straighten them with heat and then file the nodes smooth and then sand the whole thing. I seal mine with Poly or pine pitch varnish. Hope some of this helps.
TJ
coyote1956:
Yes it helps a bunch thanks, Ken
nugget:
Good. ;D Don't be afraid to experiment.
sweeney3:
The rest of us who are about to experiment with cane appriciate this thread as well. :)
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