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Bamboo Arrows

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DMilby:
I just found allot of Bamboo in my woods  and I need a few pointers on how to tun them into arrows.
     What diameter for 55-60# spine
     How to make self nocks in them
     Best way to straighten
     How "green" should they be
     Do I need to seal them


thanks in advance for all help

Hillbilly:
What kind of bamboo do you have? Most make good arrows. Most of my experience has been with our native bamboo, river cane.


--- Quote ---What diameter for 55-60# spine
--- End quote ---
With cane, about 3/8" or so at the big end usually works well. Spine will vary depending on the species of bamboo and thickness of the walls of the bamboo shoot. Cut them a little bit bigger than you think you'll need, they shrink some in diameter as they dry. You can also control apparant spine by the length of the finished shafts.


--- Quote ---How to make self nocks in them
--- End quote ---
I like to cut the nock ends of the shafts off about a half-inch behind a node and cut a self nock in just like you would with any other shaft. Making it behind a node isn't necessary, but it reinforces the nock. You can also plug the ends of the shaft with a hardwood dowel and cut or taper it like a solid shaft.


--- Quote ---  Best way to straighten
--- End quote ---
With heat. Gently heat the shaft until it starts to "sweat", at which point it bends easily. I like to straighten the areas between the nodes first, then do the nodes themselves. Other people do the opposite, whatever works best for you. Once straightened, bamboo shafts seem to stay straight better than wooden shafts.


--- Quote ---How "green" should they be
--- End quote ---
A month or two of seasoning is usually enough, just depends on the conditions. Usually when they start to "yellow up", they're getting pretty well seasoned.


--- Quote ---Do I need to seal them
--- End quote ---
Most bamboos have a shiny "rind", which is fairly waterproof. I often make cane arrows without sealing them at all, but it's not a bad idea to put a finish of some sort on them.

ranger 3:
I just made this one from river cane.

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Trapper:
Cool looking arrow man. I do know that rivercane shafts are the most labor intensive,                                 Trapper

mullet:
   Art Butner told me to cut them about 4' long .That way you have more to work with straigtening them and can adjust for the spline.

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