Main Discussion Area > Arrows

Cane nodes...reduce or not?

(1/5) > >>

GregB:
I've been getting all the information I can here lately on cane arrows since I've been making some. I've read several different ways the nodes are handled from...leaving them alone, sanding them flush with the shaft, reducing them with heat, etc.

I'd like to get more feedback on this part of the cane arrow making process discussing what you do and why concerning nodes. Please go into some detail if needed. Also, if you are working the node down...do you do it before, after, or during heat straightening?

Thanks!

TRACY:
I'm with you on this matter Greg. I too am working my first batch and have read a lot of differing opinions from sanding them even to not at all. I realize that there is more than one way to do things, I just want the "greenhorn" fail safe method since I don't have access to local cane and don't want to waste what I have.

Thanks Tracy

Hillbilly:
Greg, I usually work them down slick as a baby's butt-even with the shaft. I've heard people say that it weakens them, but I don't see it in actual practice. Believe it or not, my arrows often make "unscheduled impacts" with trees and rocks when I'm shooting 3D or hunting :) and so far, I've never broken a cane arrow. Never. I've splintered and destroyed loads of wooden ones, though. I've seen pics of bowstrings made from cane with the nodes smoothed down, and we all know how much stress is on a bowstring. The only time that the nodes are a weak spot is when you're heating and straightening them. So I do the major straightening before I work the nodes down, as sometimes the nodes are bent at a pretty sharp angle. After the major straightening, I take a file, knife, or more often lately, a sanding drum on a dremel or belt sander, and work the nodes down. Then I go back and fine-tune the straightness until they roll straight on a flat table without a bunch of wobbling. I don't know why anyone would want big bumps sticking out of an arrowshaft when it doesn't hurt anything to smooth them down, I've tried them both ways, and really don't see a difference in durability after shooting thousands of shots with cane. Also, on hunting arrows, I don't really want those bumps sticking out to inhibit penetration. I think the "leave the nodes alone" thing is just something that everybody has heard, but few have actually tried to test out to see if it's true. 

n2everythg:
Everything that HBNC said.

I have done them both ways. flat and left alone.
Never broke one either way while shooting. they are almost indestructible.

if you have a spine tester of some sort I would say let that decide whether to take the nodes down a bit or not.

luck
wade

Papa Matt:
Tracy, where did you get the cane that you have? I'd like to try cane. Does it even grow around here?

-Matt

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page