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A couple questions about stain and straitening.

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loefflerchuck:
A couple months ago I spent a few hundred on a dowel maker with all the fittings to turn all my own shafts. I've been making shoot shafts for decades and know very well how to straighten them and keep them straight.  I use heat and a bighorn sheep straightener. For dowel shafts, what is the best way to do the fine straightening without spending as much time as a shoot arrow? Roller?

I also have a question about stain. I made about 100 poplar shafts. I left a couple in the sprinklers for a few days and see why POC is so superior in raw form. I like the look of the natural wood instead of the high gloss shaft. I know to get the gloss look they are soaked for days. My question is, can I just rub on a couple coats of shellac or tung oil to seal the shaft enough to make it water resistant?

I am very new to turning my own shafts and your timesaving answers will be much help. I'm sure I will have more questions later.
Thanks
chuck

PEARL DRUMS:
Chuck I use the heel of my hand to straighten shafts. Its very easy to do and very hard to explain in words. Basically your palm is facing up, the bent portion of the shaft is in the heel portion of your hand and the fingers on that same hand hold the arrow in place as the opposite hand flexes the shaft downward. The heel is your fulcrum.

I seal most of mine with either Tru Oil or tung oil, 4-5 coats. Then I fletch them and follow that up with 2-3 coats of paste wax from the leading edge of the feathers to the tip. Don't wax them prior to fletching, no glue will stick :)

loefflerchuck:
Thanks Pearl. I know exactly what you mean. That is how I have been straightening them. Just seems to work best. And they stay straight that way?

BowEd:
I've turned a number of split or cut shafts from a few different kinds of wood.Most times those kind of shafts do stay straighter for me then shoot shafts.Although a lot of older shoot shafts stay straight too and like them just as well.Honey locust/maple/walnut/spruce to name a few for split shafts.Each have their own weight and spine to suit.Funny but I like walnut myself.
Usually cold straightening like described is good enough but if slight heat is needed I use my Alladin mantle lamp to get any stubborn ones.

ksnow:
I've had good luck straightening split shafts using the same method Pearl laid out.  I also burnish the shafts after applying the finish before fletching.  Not sure if it helps maintain straightness, but it sure makes them look pretty.

Kyle

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