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My first self-nock

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WhistlingBadger:
Merry Christmas, folks.

Here's my first attempt at a self-nock.  I carved it out perpendicular to the grain with 4 mini-hacksaw blades taped together; finished with a 1/8" file and 140 grit sand paper.  Wrapped with silk thread coated in Duco.

I am having a devil of a time getting the cuts dead center on the shaft.  I've been practicing on some old, broken POC shafts.  This is the first one I've tried that might actually shoot.  I plan on giving it a try tomorrow once the glue is all cured up.  I hope I've done it right.  I'm guessing an exploding arrow coming out of a 60# longbow isn't going to feel good.

Once I master this, I'm going to try fletching with some raw turkey feathers.  Then I'll try making my own shafts from chokecherry shoots.  That's a ways off yet, but the direction I'm going.  Hopefully by then, I'll be able to actually hit something with this new bow of mine.

Does it look about right?

Thomas

DC:
It's a little off centre and I would make it a little deeper. I'm not sure how important having the groove on center is. I've read that it is important for accuracy but you couldn't tell by me. I start by scratching a line  with a triangle file and just keep fiddling until the line is dead centre. Then I cut a groove with a single hacksaw blade. Then I widen it with two hacksaw blades glued together. I make mine about 3/8"(.7mm) deep. If they are too shallow it makes dry firing a bigger possibility. 

Hawkdancer:
Looks like you are about 1 blade off center.  I am not sure about the placement of the fletch in relation to the cock feather being perpendicular to the string, though.  Something doesn't look right, may just be the camera angle.  Not bad for the first time!  You'll get better, and maybe some will get worser!  Happens a lot until you get your rhythm and have made a lot of arrows.
Hawkdancer

WhistlingBadger:
The cock feather is OK, but yes, the cut is slightly off center.  I'm not sure how close is close enough.  Honestly, as long as it doesn't explode on me, I'll probably call it good enough for a first effort.

I like the idea of scratching a groove with a triangle file first.  I'll definitely try that with my next one.  I might file this one a bit deeper, too.  Thanks for the input!

Thomas

Knoll:
For your 1st . . . you did good.
Yeah, I'd go bit deeper with nock. Maybe measure some plastic nocks and copy their depth.
To locate nock, I been using the triangle file. Then 2 hacksaw blades. Then thin thin file (I always forget what those lil files are called!) to get nock centered and fit to string.
I, myself, would not be able to use 4 hacksaw blades and get as centered as you have!
Good luck on the next ones.

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