Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: cowboy on August 30, 2007, 02:45:50 pm
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Sorry, don't have them made yet. Am sitting here working down the nodes and straightening right now (some Phragmites reed shafts from Kowechobe Bob). It's most likely been posted before, but one question before I go too far - any need to seel reed, boo, cane arrow shafts? Thanks, will post some pic's when thier done.
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Npoe Paul, no need ta seal arras ya mentioned. BTW those were tonkin I sent ya ;) ;D ;D ;D....bob
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Thanks Bob! I'm headed out to put the dowls in the ends as we speak ;D.
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Whelp - straightened the shafts, cleaned up the nodes, got all the dowls in, made self knocks, broke three, and fletched one - first time to work with real sinew from real deer killed myself last year, hmm could get used to that :). This might turn into a arraalong so you guys that have been there can tell me what I'm doin wrong ;D.
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Paul, Your cane arrows look great. One suggestion I have is to cut the nock end about 1" above a node. This will give better strength to your nocks. Yours will work fine, especially with sinew wrap. Do you chew the sinew before applying it? Pat
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very nice. i love that look. did you tie the nock end of the feathers, bend them over and then wrap the tip end?
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They do make nice arrows don't they, about all I shoot now days. Kenneth
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Hey Pat, and Arne - oops, too late :(. I did just the opposite and cut the business end about 1 1/2" from a node - figured the shock of impact with a target would be greater than the string on the nock?? Pat, I just had the sinew soaking in a bowl of warm water while I worked, I did use both hands and my teeth while fletching that one though :).
Yes Marius, that's the way I started the feathers - I like that look too :). I think they'll be hunters Littel John, starting to look purty good as I go along.
Inexperience: Good thing I only fletched one last night - got to looking at it this AM and the cock feather is about ninety degrees wrong ;D. Musta had my eyes crossed while laying it out....
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I did not know that phragmaties (spell) was tough enough and had anough spine. I am brand new and know nothing. How long do you make inserts for point and nock? Will ash etc work for this?
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Hey Rich - turns out these are Tonkin cane and not Phragmites. I personally don't know one cane from another. Got these in a trade from Florida, I'm in TX and thiers bamboo lookin stuff that grows around here - I will gather some of that next :).
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Cowboy, one of the things that makes cutting the tip 3 or 4 inch's from a node is this. You can up the weight of the arrow by inserting 3 inch lengths of 1/32 dia solder, if the shaft of cane is hollow. What I do for kicks is weight all the stuff on a digital scale and then add lengths of lead solder to even out the weight. I CA it in and then add a tip or just sharpen it. For small game etc probably does not make a bit of difference except at long range. I do it cause its fun and you have to keep making brain cells at my age. ???
Dick
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Paul, the other thing you need to check before you cut your nocks is to find the stiff side of your arrow.I know,you already cut them.Any way,Lean one end against a short table and the other end on the floor.With it at an angle,put pressure to the center of the shaft so it bends a little.Now roll it with the palm of your hand.When it get's to the stiff side it will flip or roll real fast.Find that spot and mark it.That is the side you need facing your bow rest or side.After you find this then cut your nocks.
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looking real good now if only you could make decent points. ;D
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Yea Jamie, I was thinking the same thing. Maybe in a few years, you know, practice, practice etc. ;D ;D ;D ;D
Dick
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OK, now all the little pointers are comin out, exactly why I wish I lived closer to some other primitive types ;D. Dick: I will employ your weight techniques next time (wish I could do it on these, but have already inserted the dowls). Eddie: your right, it's too late for your piece of advice too - but will use it next time :). Now if I only knew how to knap.................... ;D ;D.
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Got a question about this sinew: I've been using one piece of backstrap sinew so far, but the pieces are getting shorter. How do you guys deal with that - I'm wondering if you splice them together somehow or do several wraps and ties on each end of the fletching? Hope that made sense.
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Cowboy, One reason I chew sinew before using it for a wrap is because the sinew and saliva together make a bit of glue. I usually use 2 or 3 pieces of sinew, one at a time to wrap around points and the nocks. Remove one piece from my mouth and wrap it then the next and so on as needed. At the end I spin the wrapped area between my fingers to smooth as I wrap them let them dry. After its dry I add glue to seal the wrap. ??? ::) does that make since? Pat
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OK Pat, after reading that a few times I'm pretty sure I understand. You don't make any kind of knots in the sinew - you just glue it right? I used some kind of knot (don't know what it's called) think it's the way they wrap eyes on fishing poles, make a loop start wrapping around toward the loop, at the end thread your sinew through the eye and pull it all back underneath the wrap - does that make sense? ;D, quite a bit of waste doin it that way.
Got em all fletched - not the prettiest job but think will work. Points on hold over the weekend - dove season :).
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Paul....Another way is the same as u used BUt make a small loop outta art. sinew etc. As u near end of sinew place loop over sinew (loop side ta end of wrap side of sinew )and wrap over ta end. Pass end through loop and pull standin' ends of other side(where ya started) of loop. This will pull sinew under the wraps and u can tighten it some. Voila ! -no waste. Just some food fer thought, arras look good mon ! ;D......bob
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Those are looking real good Paul. You will have so much fun shooting them. Good luck.
Dick
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Ahha, Bob. I just read your direction's for about the tenth time and am pretty sure I understand. Do you have any pic's to show that might show a little better than tell? I'm gonna try what you said tomorrow anyway to practice ;D.
Thanks Dick: I had very little direction when I started these (and have learned a lot) on my own. Will deffinantly enjoy shooting them if they fly straight - I'm starting to think thiers alot more to arras than I thought ;D.
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was just enjoying the thread and started wonderin'... How well does that roll on that gravel? ??? :D
possum
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Bob, that is the method I use with silk thread, artificial sinew and for serving wraps on my strings and elsewhere. It may be called a nail knot. Pat
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Here ya go Paul took some. I used linen and fer loop I used a pumpkin colored nylon string so would show better. Understand si ?......bob
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..................................... Oops forgot one ! Thru loop and pull tag end understand Si ? ;D
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Yes Bob - now I understand, ha. Will still practice in the morning :) thanks for info!!
Hey possum: Now I get it (the chair) them things don't roll at all on the gravel, you have to pick them up and put em where you want em, but they sure are comfy for knappin and such ;).
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Bob, that looks like what I was teaching the cub scouts last night when I was making cordage and whipping ropes with them. ;D Yours is a little prettier than theirs. ;) Justin
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Nope Pat it aint a nail knot ! Aint got no nail ! ;D Its a hmm a Pat an Bob and lots of other foks "fracas" knot, yeah thats it ! ;D ;D...bob
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Funny Bob! Boy ain't we all just havin a good time tonight. It's about 11:00 where I am, 10:00 where you are, and 8, or 9:00 where Justin is - Hell, we might as well be all sittin around the campfire ;D.
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Be my pleasure. Its 12 midnite here, time fer a "cool one" ;D ;D ;D
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Yep! pardon, got that backward. Throw another log on and pop a top ;D.
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Paul, the other thing you need to check before you cut your nocks is to find the stiff side of your arrow.I know,you already cut them.Any way,Lean one end against a short table and the other end on the floor.With it at an angle,put pressure to the center of the shaft so it bends a little.Now roll it with the palm of your hand.When it get's to the stiff side it will flip or roll real fast.Find that spot and mark it.That is the side you need facing your bow rest or side.After you find this then cut your nocks.
Very interesting point! Thanks!
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OK, got em done. Am very pleased with the outcome! Shot em in this morning - most of them fly straigt, couple of em come off the bow like a heat seaking missile - am amazed they even hit the bale of hay. Three in particular shot good enough that I'll take em huntin ;D. Those three in the bale were from 11 yards.
Couple of question's: Like to have pulled the heads off getting them back outa the bale of hay - what do you guys like to use for targets when using broadheads? Anything homemade that works well? hmm - guess that was the only question.
Did add a picture of the failures I had while trying to get these heads knapped out - just to kinda show that makin points ain't always succesful - if those primitive's had any curse words Id'a used em a coupla times >:(.
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Paul,Those big pieces of foam rubber in couch cushions work okay.Or bags full of rags or stuffed with those plastic bags from the grocery store.
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Very nice arrows. I can see I have a long way to go with my knapping. Outstanding work
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Paul I used a cardboard box with some soft foam stuffed in it, nice arra's good luck huntin.
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Paul, same as Dana etc. My box is a 3 ft cube stuffed with rags and foam etc. The top is open so I can orient the arrowhead back out the box hole. Works good. Have one in my cellar too.
Dick
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damn nice. nothing better than a couch cushion for stone points. stops the arrow from going through and you can pull the arra through instead of out, so the heads wont loosen up or pull off. plus it doesnt dull the point. you can also cover it with a burlap deer target for a more visual target.
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Thanks guys - I'm off to find some foam rubber :).
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Has anyone ever made arrows from hardwood dowel rods?
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Yes Hunter, seems like most everyone on here has. Hilbilly has mentioned Ramen (I think it was Ramen) and also Poplar dowls you can buy at Home Depot or Lowe's. Haven't tried them myself but sounds like they work great.
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Yes i amde some i got at home depot i used turkey feathers for fletchings and caribou horn i made into a broadhead for the cutter (for small game) wouldnt shoot an arrow i dont trust on deer or elk here
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Hunter,they work,just make sure the grain doesn't run off the side.
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i actually nevr thought about that thanks mullet