Main Discussion Area > Arrows

Red Osier shafts

<< < (3/3)

NorthernArcher:
I have experimented with a few different local materials, but my all time favorite is Red Osier, and I use it almost exclusively.  It really does make amazing arrows!  As for my method of processing, I usually collect in winter, peel the bark off after a week or two, and hand straighten periodically while the shoots dry.  Once they are dry enough to stay relatively straight, I bundle them up and put them away to be made into arrows the following winter.  When I first started doing it this way, I had to wait a year for the shafts to 'cure', but since I collect a new bundle every winter, I always have a year-old batch waiting to be made into arrows.

I also dowel my osier shoots so that they are 11/32" parallel, rather than leaving them tapered.  At 11/32" X 28" with a 125g point, my arrows always come out over 500g, and usually between 500-550g.  I have never used a spine tester, and find that 'spining' by hand is sufficient.  Once you figure out what your arrows should 'feel' like, it is easy to match others to that particular spine.  And Osier tends to be a very forgiving shaft material, flying true from bows of varying poundage.

David Long:
Good stuff Northernarcher. Thanks a heap. Do you fire/heat your shafts in any way?

Dave

NorthernArcher:
If there are any problems with keeping the finished shafts straight, I use a little heat to straighten them before finishing and fletching, but I do not use heat prior to that.  After peeling the bark, let them sit for a week or two (depending on how dry it is where you live) and then start hand straightening.  Osier will often tend to have large bends in it, but these can be easily removed during the drying process.  Give them a little hand straightening every day or so until they are dry enough to keep the shape you give them.  At this point, they should be pretty straight, and stay that way.  Once they have cured sufficiently, plane/scrape/sand them down to the desired diameter/spine and let them sit for a day or so to see if they will stay straight.  If they need any straightening at that point, use a little heat.  Just be careful not to scorth the shafts.  I usually use medium heat on the stove top, and sometimes grease the bent portion of the shaft with animal grease (shortening works as well).

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[*] Previous page