Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: kerbinator on February 06, 2009, 06:34:37 pm
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Hello all,
I need to find a good source that I could get river can from. I live in north east Texas around the sulphur river area. Tanks for listening.
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You probably have river cane growing along the Sulphur River.
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What Pat B said. If there is none along the sulfur or Sabine then head toward Texarkana..There is river cane growing all along Hwy 82 east of Texarkana. I've stopped and harvested several loads just along the highway. It makes really nice arrows.
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Thanks for the reply fellas. Hope to find some soon.
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Kerb., you're far enough into E.Tx that you're out of the phragmites and into river cane. You should be able to find an abundant supply along the Sulfur or Sabine. If not, along highway 82 east of Texarkana. This is the flood plain of the Red. It's growing everywhere along the highway. I live in Sherman and I know there is plenty of phragmites between here and Sulfur Springs and phragmites is not as tough as river cane, but nonetheless makes serviceable arrows.
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Xin, Does this look like the stuff. I found alot of this just down the road from me. I cut the green stuff but there was a hole lot off dry cane on the ground. This looks like it may work.
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Thats the Stuff....now cut me a Trash Can full...and I will come and pick it up!!! >:D
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Don't take the brown(tan) stuff as it is too far gone. You want second year growth so get the stuff that the paper like sheath has started to deteriorate or already has. The stuff with the sheaths in good shape is too immature for good arrows.
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The nodes look closer together than the stuff I get, but it looks like you're in the arrow making business.
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Relooking at the pictures, this could be phragmites cane, it's not as tough as river cane , but it does make good arrows. When straightening, just be careful. It's fairly tough to break river cane, but phragmites will break a lot easier.
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I believe it is Phragmite can. It will be good practice for me since I have never done can arrows. Should be no problem given all the help ive had from yall. Thanks again. ;D
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Hey Kerbinator,I was'nt to far from your neck of the woods weekend before last,openin' up the "Texas Big Nasty Hog Contest",at Pine Forest.We have both river cane and switchcane in East Texas.Sometimes it can be rather localized,but just keep your eyes peeled,you'll find plenty.Check along the rivers and creeks around your house.Like Pat said ,I cut cane with branches,you don't want the stuff with the leaf surrounding the node.That stuff is too young and will shrivel up on you. God Bless
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Kerbinator, you can go north to Paris, get on loop 286 east and then take 271 south about 8 miles. Right before you get to a store and Post Office at Pattonville there is a rest area and a creek called Mulberry Creek (there is a sign). Park at the rest area and walk just up the highway past the creek and you will see lots of rivercane on the south side of the road. If this is confusing let me know and I will try to explain it better or just take you.
Shane
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Thanks Shane ime only about 25 miles from Paris. Ill see if I can make it over there soon.
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Hope you don't mind me jumping on your thread...
I have wanted to try using river cane for some arrows but I do not have any growing in my area (cold and snowy Buffalo). I'm currently visiting my grandparents in the Pinehurst, NC area and believe I found some river cane growing along a small creek.
Can someone help me with a few questions?
1. Based on what I read in this thread, should only harvest the cane with branches?
2. Should I be looking for a certain diameter (i.e., is this stuff strong enough that I can find ~11/32" diameter cane that would be equivalent to my 11/32" POC shafts)?
3. I do not have a spine tester...if using a 11/32" diameter section of cane, what spine weight should I expect...I'm assuming dry is stiffer than green. I shoot a 45# and 50# selfbow and do not want to be over spined.
4. Does the cane need to be dry for making arrows, and if so, how long should it season?
5. I noticed that the cane is hollow...are there any special steps for cutting nocks and preparing the other end for a point?
Again, sorry for jumping on Kerbinator's thread...hopefully the responses will help others too!
Dino
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Dino, That is probably river cane(Arundaneria gigantia) or switch cane(A. tecta). either will work for arrows but the switch cane is better. IMO
You want to harvest mature cane. If the paper like sheath around the nodes is intact, leave it be. If it has started to deteriorate or is gone al together, it is ready to harvest. If it is already tan in color, leave it be. You want the diameter to be about 3/8" at the base.
As far as spine, cane is more forgiving that parallel shafting because of it natural taper. Just make your arrows longer than normal and if necessary, reduce the length a little at a time until they fly right. If you want to spine them, subtract about 10# of spine weight for the natural taper.(if cane arrow spines at 50# it will be like a 40# spined arrow)
If you harvested the cane today you should be able to work it in a month or so.
I usually(but not always) fill the center hole with a bamboo skewer(from local grocery store) or hardwood dowel for the nock and point ends. After that you can taper it for standard glue on points and plastic nocks or you can use trade or stone points and self nocks.
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What Pat said, plus keep in mind that the cane will shrink some in diameter as it dries.
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I like to cut in natural nocks just behind a node; they haven't broken yet. You can use foreshafts of wood or just attach points/tips in front of a node, but you may want to strengthen that area with some sinew wrap. Good Luck
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Dino, I don't mind a bit. Your questions have ben helpful. Ime going to try and put some flint point on my cane arrows. Ill be working on that wile they dry. Ive never done any flint Knapin so it's goin to be interesting