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straightening shafts?

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cowboy:
Like Hillbilly on the straightening - alternate ends on one shaft till all innernodes are done, set aside and work on another, set aside and go back to the first one and straighten the nodes. Usually am working three at a time and I use a candle for heat with cooking oil on the shaft - works great for me.

GregB:
Sounds like a good plan Hickoryswitch!

Hi Cowboy, are you getting any soot staining on your arrows using a candle? Does the cooking oil seem to make a big difference, first I've heard of using it on cane.

Also, is the tempering necessary in order to keep the cane straight? I've got I think 19 cane arrows now and they haven't been tempered other then whatever received by straightening.

Hillbilly:
Greg, I never temper cane, and have had no problems with it warping or whatever. It does seem to help some with hardwood shoots.

Pat B:
Greg, By heat straightening you are also tempering to an extent. I believe Chris Cade tempers his cane first before straightening it. The second half of his article in the Bowyers Journal he mentions it.
   I used to use oil with cane but I don't think it is necessary. You can see the natural oils coming out when you heat it.  If you temper after straightening lay the cane on a flat table top and roll it with your hands and that will help to re-straighten any areas that re-bend.  Pat

JackCrafty:
Hmmmm....tempering cane...interesting idea.  Personally I try to use the least amount of heat that I possibly can on the cane (or reed).  There's also the possibility that too much hot air will build up inside the cane and make it "pop".

The only heat treating I do is on reed:  the natural wax on the outside gets really glossy when exposed briefly to heat.  I use a heat gun, by the way (unlike a fire, there's no smoke....and no irritated eyes ;D).

I too have noticed that cane and reed will "remember" it's natural shape when exposed to heat (after straightening).  Heck, shoots will do that too sometimes.

The only arrow wood I'll temper is hickory....and only on the sharpened wood tips.  I've tried tempering privet, but it just gets brittle.

Oh yeah, I never use grease, oil, or whatever.  I think that the grease will make paint less likely to stick to the shaft.  On cane and reed, I scrape off the natural wax in the area(s) where it will be painted.

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