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advice on first time shaft buy

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mud duck:
 Once upon a time I'd have spotted the smoke from this campfire and politely approached to within shouting distance. Then I'd have hollered "Hello in camp!" and waited for somebody to reply. And then of course I'd have passed around the customary tobacco before asking any questions, "no offence intended..."

 Been away from archery for a long time. I have 2 old bows here, a 30# shoots off the hand, and a 35# shoots off a little shelf. Nothing special about 'em, but nothing wrong with 'em either; and from what I remember, it's all about the arrow anyway. I started off looking to just buy some arrows, but then I started thinking, maybe carbon arrows weren't designed to perform off the hand/shelf?
 So then I started thinking about a new bow (center or past center cut riser) and some carbon arrows. I remember when martin archery first came out with the hatfield takedown. I wanted that bow so bad back then I could taste it. After a quick amazon browse of hecho en china takedown recurves, I can't even stomach the thought. I'd sooner buy a crossbow.

 Nope, deep down I feel like, in spite of all the modern FPS & FPE advancements, we're loosing a very old, very important art. There's no stopping it. No fighting it. Momentum will surely drive the industry into ILF & ultramagnum bullpup crossbow futures. Billions & billions served, right? I fired my first, and most likely last, crossbow bolt last fall. 50 yard bullseye on the 1st try. Scope makes it accurate as a rifle. AWESOME. If I planned to hunt, that's what I'd get; but I digress... what a dreadful contraption...

 I fletched (jig) a few shafts as a kid, poplar I think? or maybe birch? Some flew pretty good. Aluminum was what I thought I wanted back then. Most of the really old arrows I remember were doug fir, but then cedar came along, and of course fiberglass, and by the time I was born easton aluminum was all the rage. But again, I digress...

 I want feathers & wood, baby! self nocks!! I've had this idea rolling around in my head now for about a year. I'm just an old man, and I won't leave much behind when I go, so I'm on a mission to hand down some damn fine backyard arrow heirlooms for the young folks to remember me by.

 Granted the learning curve is HUGE and I'll probably have to make like 100 before I get it right, so I'm looking at a bulk shaft buy. Obviously bare shaft tuning is first on the menu here. I've done my homework, but I'm still not quite sure where to begin?

 After reading the excellent bamboo build along here, I looked at some big box raw tonkin cane. The local stuff looks pretty iffy to me, so maybe carmelized tiger shafts? I found the sitka hunter shaft bundles online, and shopped ash/birch/poplar dowels. Whatever I settle on, I expect to sort through a bunch.

 Ok, so, now that I've poured my heart out to all you experts, steer me right and I'll do ya proud. Again, 30# & 35# recurves. It would be nice, ultimately, to reach out to 30 yard target (max range here), but I might settle for 20 or 25. And for sure, I want self nocks. I think?Right? so what shaft material would you start with, if you were me?

 Thank you kindly in advance,

  mud duck

Pat B:
 Welcome to PA, mud duck.
Commercial Port Orford cedar(POC) or Sitka spruce would be good starting point. Your supplier can make recommendations as to diameter and spine with a little info from you. Self nocks are easy but time consuming. I make a single saw cut across the grain lines then open the throat with a thin knife and sand paper folded over and over again until it fits your string. Be sure to add a wrap below the nock. I like sinew but have used strong, thin thread like silk then set it in super glue, TBIII or other sealer.
 We have sponsors here on PA that are arrow and shaft venders and could help you with your choice.
Please keep us posted with your progress...and we love pics.   :OK

sleek:
Funny you say you want Feathers and Wood. We have an outstanding vendor here who happens to be named that very thing. Feathers and Wood. Give them a holler, they WILL fix you up right.

Russ:
wait sleek, whos the vendot? are you talking about TSA or three rivers?

Pat B:
Deerhunter, check out our sponsor's list.

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