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What bamboo shafts should I buy online?

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PAHunter:
What bamboo shafts should I buy online?  I’m looking to make bamboo arrows with hickory inserts for target and hunting.  I’m interested in spinning them well my 50-60# sefl bows.  I’ll likely have several questions throughout this process but the first is what bamboo to get.  I’ve gotten it from K-mart and home improvement stores before and the weights and spines are just too inconsistent to make a good matching set.  I’m considering buying online and see adds like the one below for Tiger.
•   100pcs of Superb hand spined Bamboo arrow shafts 33"/40-45# (28" spine tester) for making hunting & target arrows. Comes with shafts Only, no points and fletch.
•   Weight 25-30g /piece on average, 7-8 mm diameter, 3-5 bamboo nodes within that length.
•   Long enough for arrow makers to customize the final arrows
Some questions

* Are Tiger shafts the best to get?
* Can the Tiger shafts work well with hickory inserts?
* How do these recommended spine poundage’s translate to a self bow?  For example does 40-45# mean for a center cut professional bow but would be too stiff for an off center self bow in that range?
* Does anyone offer a range of spines, such as 12 arrows per spine?
* Any other advice is appreciated!Thanks!
Rob

Fred Arnold:
Some will tell you with bamboo and cane arrows that spine doesn't matter as much as keeping the physical weight the same. I try to match mine in spine and weight and have excellent results. Reed shafts are not as critical as hardwoods and you will find that the shoot shafts will fly accurately out of most of your close to same weight bows.

I've used the Tiger shafts and although I prefer some others over them, they are a good value and possibly the best value for your money.

Hand spined and weight matched bamboo/cane shafts can be very expensive. I do my own and if I had to figure my time and labor they would be too much for me to afford.

PAHunter:
Thanks Fred, which shafts do you perfer over Tiger and why?

Fred Arnold:
Rob, I prefer japanese bamboo from Jaap Kopedrayer (Yumi Bows). The times I purchased from him the bamboo was not spined or straightened and ran about $2 per shaft. Best bamboo I've found but a lot of work considering you can acquire the China cane already spined , straightened, and sealed for about the same money.
Next best product I've had the pleasure of working with is hill cane that PatB was kind enough to send me. That is an awful nice product but I haven't been able to find a source for it on a regular basis. I know Pat trades some from time to time and should try to find something to trade him for more in the Spring.
The Tiger cane actually gets a best buy rating from me but I have a tendency to purchase American made products when available. 

Buck67:
I don't know what kind of price that those prepared bamboo shafts cost.  However if you want to do your own sorting, straightening and cutting to length, then you might take a look at this  I bought 500 48" bamboo "tomato stakes" from AM Leonard and had them delivered to my door for $127.00.  That comes out to about $.25 cents apiece.  So far I have made about 30 arrows from the bundle and I had to discard about 10 others for being too thin or too crooked.  The bamboo from AM Leonard is mostly solid all the way through, there doesn't seem to be a hollow middle.

Your mileage may vary.

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