Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: bjrogg on July 24, 2021, 03:36:26 pm
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Well I got a chance to work on my trade arrow. It was supposed to go to Allen but he got to busy and wasn’t really feeling like he was up to it. It’s going to Jake now.
It got me thinking I could maybe try to do a quickie build along to help someone else out. I have wanted to but it’s always hard to get pictures and stuff when your hands are full.
Well going to give it a try.
First need to straighten this river cane shaft.
Bjrogg
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I do some preliminary straightening and file down the nodes a bit.
Bjrogg
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Then I wrap sinew around each end to keep shaft from splitting. I wrap notch end about half inch from end and point end about one inch from end.
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I think I’m going to use this stem point I knapped out of obsidian.
I use angle grinder and cutoff wheel to shape my basic notch and fit point end to arrowhead.
Bjrogg
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I give it a good dry fit and spin test.
Bjrogg
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Then I mix just a dab of 5 min epoxy. I lightly apply to areas of shaft that will contact arrowhead. I could use all pine pitch but this avoids troubles I’ve had with setting in vehicles in the sun.
I do spin test again and then let epoxy set up.
Then I warm up my pitch glue and also my point. I hold the point a bit high over the heat gun. I don’t want either the obsidian or epoxy to get to hot. I do want it pretty warm though. I apply my pitch glue to the warm point. Then I spin it a bit high over heat gun again to get in all the nocks and crannies filled and smooth everything out.
Bjrogg
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Then I sinew wrap point. I start by getting a good tight wrap or two on shaft and then work my way up the stem towards the tip. When I get it tip of stem I start wrapping back towards shaft. Trying to keep the sinew wide, thin and even.
I also added a drop of TB2.
Now it’s time to let this dry a bit. Gotta go to church tonight. Hopefully I can get back at this tomorrow.
Bjrogg
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Oops i posted this in wrong section.
Bjrogg
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You may have posted where you didn't want to Bj, but this is in a fitting place my friend...Enjoyed that stone point getting hafted up! Always interesting to see that, excellent work...
Don
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Thanks Don. I’m glad you found it. Might not have seen it if I hadn’t accidentally posted it in the campfire section. I tell you what. When I couldn’t find it in the arrow section I was really hoping I didn’t guff up and somehow delete it. Was kinda glad to find it in campfire section.
Thanks Pat for your never ending dedication to this site and fixing my guff up.
Bjrogg
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:OK
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Looking good BJ.
BJ how do you straighten your cane?
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Thanks Rob. The cane is still stuff I got in supply trade from you.
I use a heat gun. It give a nice concentrated heat. I wear gloves to keep from burning my hands and do the majority of straightening with my hands. Especially the longer sweeping bends.
For the kinks I use a block of wood with two different sized holes. Its in the ninth picture I think. I’m doing my spin test on it.
Bjrogg
PS I’m not saying this is the best way to make a arrow and certainly not the only way. It’s how I’m doing this one though. If it were for hunting I would do several more steps. If it were for target I would shoot it right now without fletch and observe it’s flight. I wouldn’t fletch until it flew straight without fletch.
Bjrogg
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I’m going to try to sneak this build in between honey doo jobs.
My next step is cresting. The first thing I do is smooth shaft down a bit with some steel wool. Then I give shaft a coat off clear satin Poly.
The clear poly helps to keep my colors from bleeding. It also makes it so if you have a guff up you can wipe off the color.
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I use water base paint. Red and blue. I bought these two small cans several years ago.
Next I paint my red. I paint my markings. Now I’m going to have to get some more honey do jobs done while this paint dries.
Bjrogg
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Glad I stumbled upon your arrow build a long BJ. That's looking really nice and the cresting just adds another layer to the detail work. Thanks for taking us along.
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Great build along! I think you will see quite a few of us copying your techniques!
Hawkdancer
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Thanks Steve glad you found it.
My wife asked me. Why do you paint them?
I asked her. Why don’t you like it?
She said no. She liked it but wondered why?
I told her that when man hunted together in groups. They had markings on their arrows and fore shafts. That if you had your arrow in the killing wound. Your family got a bigger share of the animal.
I told her if I ever go buffalo hunting with a big bunch of my PA friends and my arrow is the killing arrow we will know and get a bigger share of the buffalo. And the more likely, when I lose my arrow at a shoot everyone knows who’s it is if they find it.lol
Well I didn’t get as far as I hoped today but I did get my Bjrogg markings on.
I finished the blue
Bjrogg
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Thanks Jerry. Your welcome to copy everything but my markings. Gotta make sure I get all my buffalo.
I will let this dry overnight. Then give it a couple coats of clear satin poly tomorrow. Maybe even get some fletch on.
Bjrogg
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Enjoyable read, BJ. Thanks for taking time to document.
Ya gonna show at Elm Hall?
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Thanks for posting this build along, BJ. I'm sure it will be helpful for lots of folks and we want to be sure you get your fair share of the buffalo. :OK
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looks good BJ, Really like your self nocks..
DBar
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Thanks Knoll good to hear from you.
I’m going to try to sneak out there part of a day and a night at least. It’s fair week and grandkids have animals there. They are pretty excited about it seeing how they couldn’t have spectators last year.
Right now it’s kinda looking like maybe Friday . Alway the spontaneous one.
Thanks Pat I’ve been wanting to do one for quite some time but it always seems harder than it should be to actually get it done.
Thanks Bill I really like yours to. You certainly make some fine shooting arrows and the ones you gave me get shot a lot.
This morning I put a couple coats of clear satin poly on to lock the color on. Then I gave it a light polish with steel wool.
This afternoon I started fletching.
First I picked three nice primary wild turkey feathers. I like to kinda match them up pretty fair.
Bjrogg
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Then Starting at least a inch from the end I start to pull the fletch off of the quill. Kinda like pealing tape off the wall after painting. You want to pull almost straight back.
Slowly peal it back till you get to the base and it separates.
Bjrogg
PS sometimes getting them a little damp with a wet rag helps. Fresh ones usually strip easier.
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I have five marks on my parts washer. The out side ones are length of quill for 4 1/2 inch one set over for four inch. I cut the quill with scissors to proper length. Then I mark length of fletch and cut part of it off both ends of quill. This area of quill will be sinew wrapped.
Bjrogg
PS wish I had someone to take pictures. Hard to hold right with one hand.
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I have a old Jo Jan Fletching jig . I put a mark on the clamp where I want the back of fletch to line up.
Bjrogg
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Before I glue fletch on. I take a razor blade and scrape area that glue will contact. It will remove some of my markings but most of it will get cover by fletch anyway. I think this helps the glue to adhere.
I turn the index to all three positions and scrape each of them. Then I wipe off any loose stuff so it doesn’t end up in glue.
Bjrogg
Ps if there is a stiffer side I put it towards bow.
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Then I carefully apply glue to the fletching and place clamp in jig. I check to see that it is making good contact the entire length of quill. I use my razor to push any stubborn areas down.
Bjrogg
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Good idea scraping down the finish, generally my glue sticks to my finish, but not if there is any paint there.
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I’ve tried several types of glue. This is Bohning fletch tite. I find this usually works best if I give it several hour to set up in the jig.
It’ll probably take me till tomorrow night to finish and next morning to remove, cut and sinew wrap. Basically you just repeat the process two more times though.
Bjrogg
I’ll be back
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Nice build along and nice work, BJ. :OK
Nice arrow Eddie. :OK
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Been really busy again past few days. Did get signed and put a coat of clear satin poly over to lock it on.
Bjrogg
PS still need to sinew wrap the fletch but pretty close to done now.
Hopefully finish up tonight
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nice job! Luckily, I won't try to duplicate your markings, and as far mine are concerned, I don't think any one else knows much Irish! Could be wrong though! Sliante!
Hawkdancer
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I finished up sinew wrapping the fletch last night. I didn’t have anyone to take pictures and I had my hands full.
First I wrapped front of fletch. I added a couple drops of tb2. Then I used longer sinew . After a couple tight wraps on front I spiral wrapped the fletch. Could’ve been a little longer sinew, but I think it will do. Then a drop of tb2 on the rear and I wrap rear of fletch with sinew.
I picked up a piece of driftwood from the shores of Lake Huron. Or as I affectionately call it. The big lake. I think I’m gonna send it along . If Jake want to use it for display he can. If not maybe he can find something else to do with it.
I guess I’m gonna call that a wrap
Bjrogg
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The driftwood display
Bjrogg
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Awesome job on the Build along Bj...That is multi tasking at it's finest, as busy as you are this time of year...PA hat's off to ya Sir!
Don
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i really envy your guys's ability to make freaking AWESOME arrows!!! awesome job BJ!
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Just takes practice, Russell. ;)
Nice arrow and display, BJ. I think I could recognize your arrows anywhere, Very distinctive. 8) :OK
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Well I still didn’t get it packed and mailed. Lots going on here. Won’t be till at least Tuesday now as our post office is closed on Monday.
Thanks Don. I always appreciate whenever someone does a build along. Many have helped me and I know they are harder to do than a person would think.
Russell you can do it. Making something that just looks like a nice arrow isn’t that difficult. Making a arrow that is tuned to a bow and has very good flight takes several more steps.
Thanks Pat and thanks again for everything you contribute to this site. I have learned so much from you and others here about arrows. I guess you probably aren’t the only one who recognizes my arrows. I lost one at Elm Hall and before the day was over someone found it, recognized it and returned it to me.
Now for that big buffalo hunt.
Bjrogg
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Very nice BJ. That came out great. You're comments about making an arrow tuned to a specific bow are so true. Very important especially when a successful harvest is the ultimate goal.