Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: vCo2v on November 21, 2008, 04:20:47 pm
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In the 36" section which would be the best wood to use?
http://www.atlasdowel.com/spmatdowels.htm
Would it be more cheaper to just go to a hardware store and select straight grain dowels myself or buy the bulk from that store?
Thanks in advance
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I've tried Poplar and didn't care too much for them. They're too soft for me. Cherry is good, and I've not tried them but I hear hickory, maple and Ash are all good. Personally, I'd go for Cherry. They work well and make real pretty arrows.
~~Papa Matt
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Ash makes some nice heavy arrows that can really hold up to some abuse. Ash is usually pretty straight and easy to straighten if necessary. I also like Hickory. But it is a bit tougher to straighten and keep straight.
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My selection out of those provided would be 1. Hickory ( heavy and durable ) and 2. Cherry ( never tried them, but would like to - should be straight). It is too bad ramin wasn't included - a very durable arrow material, but hard to get a matched set.
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Would it be more cheaper to go a hardware store to hand pick 12 at about a dollar each?
Or would it be safe to buy the 100 bundle at 35 dollars? I've heard that sometimes you get most that are junk.
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The prices per 100 pieces is exceptional, however, getting a matched set of twelve arrows in the desired weight and spine might prove to be frustrating. In the past I have chosen some similar lengths of 3/8 ramin and obtained a fairly economical set of arrows, but not without a lot of work with straightening, tapering and sanding, etc.
Well worth the effort to experiment a little, however.
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http://www.craftparts.com/
I've ordered from them several times, getting the 3/8" birch (I think there's some maple in there too, but you can spine them all out to the same). Top notch- out of 100, only about 15 get turned into tomato stakes.
The finished arrows, even tapered, are about 600 grains (they are quite consistent- perfect for arrows), and spine anywhere from 50-90# depending on how much you care to sand. They're also extremely helpful, and I don't think I'll be ordering from anywhere else.
The easiest way I've come across for using them, is to take a handfull and taper the last 10". Once tapered, spine them and sand them down (which makes it jsut a little more tapered- hardly a noticeable dip). I love them :)!
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oh wow thanks for the link kegan.
Definitely going to get it from there.
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oh wow thanks for the link kegan.
Definitely going to get it from there.
Glad I could help :)!
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To answer your question, yes, it's cheaper to go to the hardware store and hand pick the dowels....but you'll have to weigh the dowels to get the best match. I forget who, but one of the guys here actually brings his grain scale into the store. ;D
I get my hickory dowels from atlasdowel. You can make extremely tough arrows with them. About half the dowels are suitable for arrows that are 24" long. Maybe 1 in 4 is good for an arrow 30" long. There is a LOT of variation in weights and spines, so you'll need to buy at least 100 dowels to make a good matched dozen.
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i've done the sort and then weigh at the hardware store. love the strange looks ya' get! >:D O:)
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To answer your question, yes, it's cheaper to go to the hardware store and hand pick the dowels....but you'll have to weigh the dowels to get the best match. I forget who, but one of the guys here actually brings his grain scale into the store. ;D
I get my hickory dowels from atlasdowel. You can make extremely tough arrows with them. About half the dowels are suitable for arrows that are 24" long. Maybe 1 in 4 is good for an arrow 30" long. There is a LOT of variation in weights and spines, so you'll need to buy at least 100 dowels to make a good matched dozen.
If you don't mind slightly didfferent center diamteres, you can sand your own. Then just sort them by spine. It was in an issue of PA a few months ago, and on Jawge's site I think, but with shoots. Applied to dowels, you just sort them by weight.