Main Discussion Area > Arrows
Shaft Materials?
Pat B:
Steve, I have a bundle of sweet shrub in the utility room but haven't made an arrow from it yet. I'll have to give it a try. Pat
Hillbilly:
I think you'll like it. Smells good when you're working it, too.
huntertrapper:
ive found good arrow woods, by just cutting some small shoots and found they make good arrows. not sure what this wood is but it is strong and straightens well, but i knwo ash is good, hickory, im sure any wood will work and depending on what you plan on using it for.
hawkbow:
We have a wood here called salt cedar (I think).. heavy and hard as nails.. I am going to try and cut some next time i get down to the Greybull river.. has anyone tried it ? Hawk
JackCrafty:
Since you have access to nearby woods, I suggest gathering shoots from as many different trees and shrubs as possible. Peel the bark off them, label them with the name of the tree/shrub, put a date on them, and put them aside to dry (the car dashboard is NOT a good place, by the way...unless you're very impatient).
Some shoots will dry faster than others. You can weigh them (to see when then they stop loosing water weight) but I'd just wait two or three weeks.
Try straightening the shoots by hand first (without heat). Most shoots will not stay straight after hand straightening but if you find a species that will stay fairly straight your search is over. Rejoice and gather more of these. Count yourself lucky.
Here in TX, there is only one shrub that I have found that can be hand straightened: Roosevelt weed.
If none of your shoots respond to hand straightening then use heat. Most shoots respond to heat but some will get brittle. Discard these.
If all the shoots you gather turn out to be "crappy"...then I suggest using birch dowels. That's what Ishi did.... ;D
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