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Newbie Questions About Wood Arrows

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rebsr52339:
Sorry about that, I see it is NC. There are a bunch of traditional/primitive guys/gals here in NC. If you are near Mebane NC just off I85/40, We can help with hands on and save you a lot of time. Help is out there and all you got to do is ask.

Philipp A:
Hi Kristin,

I am glad you are trying to make your own primitive arrows, it is a lot of fun! I attempt to give you my perspective / answers to your questions:

What types of wood do y'all like to use when building your arrows? Answer: For purchased arrow blanks Douglas-fir and Sitka Spruce are great. I have started to make my own arrows from hardwood harvested from my bush. The first ones are from White Ash and they seem to perform well. I will also makes some from yellow birch but don't yet have experience with the wood as arrow wood

What are the reasons for your choice of wood? Answer: browsing primitive archer for advise, purchasing arrow blanks from reputable supplier and then experimenting with my own wood available from my bushSame goes for any other materials you use (river cane, reed, etc).

Does anyone have any tips for building wood arrows (or any kind of "primitive" arrows) and fletching for the first time? Answer: Carson Brown of Echo Archery has an excellent tutorial on primitive arrow fledging on Youtube and I can highly recommend reviewing it. Here is the link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Y_tbjwwlvA That is what I have reviewed when fledging my first arrows. I would also buy the nock and point tool to prepare the nock and to add the point (if you want to add field or trade points). It is a bit like a pencil sharpener. With the nock I use it to only sharpen it to a point halfway and then cut with a metal saw perpendicular to the grain a slot. I then drill a hole at the end of the slot that represents the width of the serving you use on your bow string. After that I use key files to widen the slot, flare it towards the end about half way in the slot and then also widen it to the width of the drilled hole in the other direction. You will end up with a narrowing in the centre of the slot that will clip your arrow into the end of the slot when shooting much the same way as when you buy a commercial nock. I paint my arrows with the colours and decoration I like before fledging, since it is easier to do than after you mount the fledging. I leave the point unpainted, so the field point bonds better. I use the Bohning Ferr-L-Tite Point Glue. With that glue you can easily remove the field point and replace it with a trade point etc by just reheating the point

I have some real deer leg sinew that I got for another project and I'm thinking of using it for these arrows. Can I fletch with just the sinew or is it good to also add glue? Answer: I don't use any glue with the sinew but I chew it well before using it so it seems that this activates the natural glue in the sinew and I have no problem with it coming loose later. I find dipping it in hide glue makes things sticky when trying to attach the fledging. I later seal the arrow with shellac and the arrows hold up really well even when getting wet.

What kind of points do y'all like to use? Answer: I used 125 grain field points for target shooting and I would use steel broadhead points for hunting arrows if you hunt. I also use obsidian points but I don't hunt with those points and they go on the wall for my bow and arrow exhibit at home. I intend to make next some bone and antler points, so just experiment and see what you like. I Bone or stone or something else?

Is it hard to knap stone points or to make bone points? Answer: I have not yet tried to knap points until I master the other aspects of arrow making. I however think it is great if you want to learn it. I will ultimately get there myself as well.

If there is a way to make your own field points at home, what can you use for that? I saw a discussion thread here where duplex nails were suggested, but I'm in an apartment and don't have any access to any kind of workshop or machinery. Anything I do will have to be very "primitive." :-P Answer: there are a lot of options available for you but to be honest if you are at the same time wanting to become a good shot I suggest you stick with commercially purchased field points with the same weight until you are sure that your form is perfect and then venture to make your own field points (you would have to make sure that the weights are the same). The advantage of buying commercial field points with a specified size and weight matching your arrows is that you can then replace the field points with equivalent broadhead points for hunting bigger game and you will know that you will still hit your target. You indicated that you would want to hunt small game first, so making some blunts would be a good option. There are lots of different options for blunts available (lots of Youtube info on this)

I hope this helps, happy shooting and hunting!

Phil

KristinB83:
Thank you so much, everyone! All of the posts are very helpful! Mebane is about an hour and a half drive from me and is actually where I got my Snake bow at. I sometimes go up to Alamance County for traditional archery shoots with a group up there. So I may be able to give a shout at you, rebsr52339. :) Looks like Brevard is a good ways away from me (4 hour drive, according to Google maps), but I see it's near Nantahala NF. I may be headed out there one of these days just to see that part of the state. Anyway, until then, it's an honor to learn from all of you and thank you for the tips!

rebsr52339:
Kristin, You probably got your bow at Eagle Archery in Mebane. Don Ward is a good friend of mine. Everything Philipp said is good advice. If you come to a match at "Barefoot Archery Club" (They are few and far between), Call me, Dick Bernier,  at 1 336 562 3700. I am retired and can host you any day or "most weekends". My friends and I have a boatload of equipment gathered over the years and you can have hands on trying them out before you "purchase anything". I am also a flint napper and can "introduce" you to it. You are about to enter into a hobby which can consume you. You will not regret it.

PS I have archery and shooting ranges out to 200 yards for practice on my property.

Dick

KristinB83:
Barefoot Traditional Archers is the traditional archery club I joined whose shoots I go to! And, yes, Eagle Archery/Don Ward is exactly who I bought my Snake bow from! LOL Small world! I just got my POC shafts the other day that I had already ordered, but I'm a little nervous about trying to straighten them and taper them. I may be giving you a call to ask you a few questions about it. I will be at Barefoot Traditional Archers' March 16th shoot. Hope to see you there, if I don't meet you before sometime! :) Thank you so much!

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