Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: Bill Dean on December 04, 2017, 10:25:50 am

Title: Basswood for arrows
Post by: Bill Dean on December 04, 2017, 10:25:50 am: Hi,
Does anyone here have experience using basswood (linden) for arrows? I have a ton of boards in my basement and was thinking of using them. Its very light, but I'm not sure how strong it would be, and if it would hold up very well.

Thanks
Title: Re: Basswood for arrows
Post by: Pat B on December 04, 2017, 10:36:40 am: The only thing I've heard about basswood is for carving. I have no idea about using it for arrows. Maybe try some and see how it works.
Title: Re: Basswood for arrows
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on December 04, 2017, 10:37:55 am: Basswood is very brittle and a very "messy" yard tree as a result. I cant imagine it making a good shaft, but that's just a guess.
Title: Re: Basswood for arrows
Post by: Danzn Bar on December 04, 2017, 12:54:22 pm: Im with Pat and Pearl on this one....
DBar
Title: Re: Basswood for arrows
Post by: JW_Halverson on December 07, 2017, 03:04:16 pm: The guy at Allegheny Mountain Arrow Woods told me he had fiddled with basswood shafts, dipping them quickly in a tube filled with MinWax wood hardener. He said the outer coating of wood hardener worked like the the outer hard rind on cane. He said it added some weight, toughened them up, too. Second hand anecdotal evidence for what it is worth.
Title: Re: Basswood for arrows
Post by: Danzn Bar on December 07, 2017, 06:24:05 pm: Why go through the trouble....just use cane :)
DBar
Title: Re: Basswood for arrows
Post by: JW_Halverson on December 07, 2017, 06:38:33 pm: Quote from: Danzn Bar on December 07, 2017, 06:24:05 pm
Why go through the trouble....just use cane :)
DBar

Because most of the country does not have access to cane?
Title: Re: Basswood for arrows
Post by: Danzn Bar on December 07, 2017, 06:42:24 pm: Quote from: JW_Halverson on December 07, 2017, 06:38:33 pm
Quote from: Danzn Bar on December 07, 2017, 06:24:05 pm
Why go through the trouble....just use cane :)
DBar

Because most of the country does not have access to cane?
Hummmmm....guess I'm just a little spoiled...
Thanks for setting me straight JW makes sense.
DBar
Title: Re: Basswood for arrows
Post by: JW_Halverson on December 07, 2017, 07:15:35 pm: I would love to play with cane arrow shafts some day. They seem to be kinda the perfect storm, strong, tapered, resilient, and abundant when you can find them. Perfect!
Title: Re: Basswood for arrows
Post by: Hawkdancer on December 07, 2017, 09:42:41 pm: True, JW, but we got red osier dogwood! >:D Lol! :)
Hawkdancer
Title: Re: Basswood for arrows
Post by: JW_Halverson on December 08, 2017, 09:00:49 pm: Quote from: Hawkdancer on December 07, 2017, 09:42:41 pm
True, JW, but we got red osier dogwood! >:D Lol! :)
Hawkdancer

How do you know it's dogwood? Because of the bark! ;D
Title: Re: Basswood for arrows
Post by: Hawkdancer on December 08, 2017, 11:55:35 pm: But it doesn't bite, unless you miss )-w( :-K >:D!
Hawkdancer
Title: Re: Basswood for arrows
Post by: Buck67 on December 09, 2017, 06:19:05 am: I have made arrows from Basswood shoots that sprouted up around the base of a stump. They worked fine. Not sure how well a board made arrow would work.
Title: Re: Basswood for arrows
Post by: WillS on December 15, 2017, 02:37:44 pm: Basswood is one of my favourite arrowshafts. I use it for bows right up to 150lb with no problems. It works well, spines well and finishes well. You might need to go slightly larger diameter than you're used to, but that's a small price to pay for such a light, strong arrow.

I use 12mm basswood for bows up to 120lb, and 12.5mm for bows up to 150lb. It's actually very similar to aspen in both weight and average spine.
Title: Re: Basswood for arrows
Post by: DavidV on December 22, 2017, 10:26:39 am: I made a few shafts with a homemade doweller and they were okay, low spine for their diameter. Very light and very stable though.