Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: Markus on May 18, 2011, 11:15:22 am

Title: Arrow shafts.
Post by: Markus on May 18, 2011, 11:15:22 am

Does anyone have experience using Ponderosa Pine dowels for arrows? Thank you.  Markus.

Title: Re: Arrow shafts.
Post by: Pat B on May 18, 2011, 01:35:26 pm

I don't have any experience with Pondarosa pine but most of the pines will make good arrows.

Title: Re: Arrow shafts.
Post by: Mark Anderson on May 18, 2011, 02:26:24 pm

I've used some ponderosa pine Made some decent arrows. The growth rings were bigger than I would have liked and it gets pretty knotty but if you can get enough of the hard ring in there and have a straight enough piece of lumber that is knot free it should work fine.
Mark

Title: Re: Arrow shafts.
Post by: Markus on May 18, 2011, 02:27:34 pm

I happened to find an American firm who sells Ponderosa Pine dowels in many sizes. 3/8" x 36" sells for 215 dollars for a thousand pc. Even if you had to throw away half of them it would still be a good price. The draw back is that the minimum order is 14000 pc. But if the price is right one could always think long term I guess.  ::) Markus.

Title: Re: Arrow shafts.
Post by: Pat B on May 18, 2011, 03:00:52 pm

Now that I think about it I believe that Pondarosa pine shafts are called Chundo in the trade.
  You should be able to sell or trade raw shafting or matched sets of Pondarosa shafts if you do buy them.

Title: Re: Arrow shafts.
Post by: JackCrafty on May 18, 2011, 06:16:25 pm

I've made some and they work great.  I like douglas fir a little better, but you can't beat the price of pine.

Title: Re: Arrow shafts.
Post by: Traxx on May 18, 2011, 09:34:46 pm

Pat,
Chundoo,is another name for shafts made from Lodgepole pine.

Title: Re: Arrow shafts.
Post by: Pat B on May 18, 2011, 10:05:45 pm

I knew it was one of those western variety of pines, Traxx. Thanks for setting me straight.  ;)

Title: Re: Arrow shafts.
Post by: LEGIONNAIRE on May 20, 2011, 02:55:40 am

Personally Id be worried with buying so many dowels. take into consideration grain runnoff spine and many other things and you will potentially have 20-30% good dowels and the rest crap. best case scenerio 40% which may be good but not guaranteed spine. The reason I tell ya is because I checked out the packs of dowels at lowes, homedepo and at the lumberyard and found this to be the case, so perhaps think twice. Plus bad dowels can cause an arrow to break and go through your hand, so just my two cents. on the other hand if they turn out good then you are set.

Title: Re: Arrow shafts.
Post by: Markus on May 20, 2011, 05:24:18 am

Thanks for the advice, I have decided to leave the Ponderosa Pine dowels where they are.  Markus.

Title: Re: Arrow shafts.
Post by: Pat B on May 20, 2011, 07:56:33 pm

Marcus, go to Lowe's or Home Depot, next to the red oak is poplar and white pine boards. These are relatively expensive per board but you can make a bunch of arrows from one board. You will need a table saw or band saw and a hand plane to work the boards to shafts.  George may even have info on "how to" on his site.  ;)