Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: WhistlingBadger on December 24, 2018, 04:17:52 pm
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Merry Christmas, folks.
Here's my first attempt at a self-nock. I carved it out perpendicular to the grain with 4 mini-hacksaw blades taped together; finished with a 1/8" file and 140 grit sand paper. Wrapped with silk thread coated in Duco.
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1UgxDKZbXd0/XCFqfrBnNuI/AAAAAAAAA6o/3iHv8MIv2YM-dKOyARreKVhmn6LYndgVQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20181224_161143.jpg)
I am having a devil of a time getting the cuts dead center on the shaft. I've been practicing on some old, broken POC shafts. This is the first one I've tried that might actually shoot. I plan on giving it a try tomorrow once the glue is all cured up. I hope I've done it right. I'm guessing an exploding arrow coming out of a 60# longbow isn't going to feel good.
Once I master this, I'm going to try fletching with some raw turkey feathers. Then I'll try making my own shafts from chokecherry shoots. That's a ways off yet, but the direction I'm going. Hopefully by then, I'll be able to actually hit something with this new bow of mine.
Does it look about right?
Thomas
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It's a little off centre and I would make it a little deeper. I'm not sure how important having the groove on center is. I've read that it is important for accuracy but you couldn't tell by me. I start by scratching a line with a triangle file and just keep fiddling until the line is dead centre. Then I cut a groove with a single hacksaw blade. Then I widen it with two hacksaw blades glued together. I make mine about 3/8"(.7mm) deep. If they are too shallow it makes dry firing a bigger possibility.
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Looks like you are about 1 blade off center. I am not sure about the placement of the fletch in relation to the cock feather being perpendicular to the string, though. Something doesn't look right, may just be the camera angle. Not bad for the first time! You'll get better, and maybe some will get worser! Happens a lot until you get your rhythm and have made a lot of arrows.
Hawkdancer
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The cock feather is OK, but yes, the cut is slightly off center. I'm not sure how close is close enough. Honestly, as long as it doesn't explode on me, I'll probably call it good enough for a first effort.
I like the idea of scratching a groove with a triangle file first. I'll definitely try that with my next one. I might file this one a bit deeper, too. Thanks for the input!
Thomas
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For your 1st . . . you did good.
Yeah, I'd go bit deeper with nock. Maybe measure some plastic nocks and copy their depth.
To locate nock, I been using the triangle file. Then 2 hacksaw blades. Then thin thin file (I always forget what those lil files are called!) to get nock centered and fit to string.
I, myself, would not be able to use 4 hacksaw blades and get as centered as you have!
Good luck on the next ones.
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I use a curved, tapered round file. They use this files to copy keys. And in German they are called so: Schlüsselfeile- keyfile 8)
I found this was the most useful tool,too.
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I had a couple cane arrows with nocks off center like that and they didn't do very well shooting them bare shaft.
After cutting them off and centering the nock they both flew almost perfectly straight.
so I think a off center nock has a definite effect on the spine value depending on which way its turned, but I reckon you could tune it to shoot from one side or the other.
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Mike and Dons' way is the way I've done it.Your nock depth should be at least 1/4" better at 5/16".A person can make them to snap on just as well as any plastic nock.
I did make a centering jig like this at one time but after you make enough it is'nt neccassary to use any more.A square cut chunk of wood with the hole drilled with a drill press centered good then a slot cut around 1/16" wide dead center with the band saw.[The nicety of power tools.....Ha Ha].Widen it out to fit string with hobby files with base of nock filed with a small round file the exact circumference of your string serving for that snapping on effect.The jig should be made out of harder wood than the shaft.
(https://i.imgur.com/4zLe6np.jpg)
Many drill a hole at base of nock first with drill bit then cut slot which works well too.I hav'nt looked lately but I'm sure there's self build-a-longs' showing the procedure.
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Looks good. Shootit and see how it flys. Only two things can hapen. One good and one bad. I have a nifty nocker which allows me to center the cut. Keep at it.
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I think those nifty little files are called "needle" files here in the states, mostly. You can get them in steel or. Diamond grade. Key file works, too.
Hawkdancer
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Or jewellers files :)
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Well, I went out and shot this guy about a half dozen times today. Happy to announce that it didn't explode, and it seems to fly just fine!
Here's my second effort. Cut a shallow notch with the corner of a flat file to guide the saw; then sawed in 3/8" with a mini hacksaw. Followed that up with the four blades, and finished it with a 1/8" round file. Still need to sand, paint, wrap, and fletch. This one is centered, and it went in a LOT faster. Thanks for the input, everybody.
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zdxjSt4is5Y/XCLVVHMiRAI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/7cUTGtXVKVoGSp1fXJV251jXYWcL_VwDwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20181225_181003.jpg)
Thomas
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By the way, nobody around here has needle or jeweller's files. I might try to order one online once the Christmas craziness is over.
Also: I wasn't expecting any big presents this year, since I just got this new bow. But low and behold, Mrs. Badger and the Badgerling got me a strap-on bowfishing rig! Archery season just got drastically extended! I'll probably use it with my old glass recurve, since it's pretty much impervious to water, and of course that takes it well out of the "primitive" realm. But it's pretty exciting, anyway.
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I've been thinking that a twisted piece of emery cloth might work well for rounding nocks off. I haven't tried it yet but maybe a 1/4" wide strip twisted up tight and drawn back and forth through the nock might work well.
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Cool idea, DC. I hit on the solution of stacking three match sticks up, gluing them together, and wrapping a scrap of sand paper around for sanding out the nocks. Works pretty well!
Thanks for the input and kind comments, everybody. I got a half dozen made, fletched, and ready to shoot. Hope to get out and shoot them tomorrow.
T
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WB
I use a jig like bow ed shows, with the slot deep enough and the hole snug enough so that the arrow can be clamped tightly in the block when the block is clamped in a vice or wood workers clamp.
I also use carbide grit type saw blade
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WBadger,,
If you are near a Harbor Freight, they have the diamond needle file, Ace Hdw carries a "rod" saw blade that is about 3/8". I'm down in Loveland, CO.with ready access to those sorts of places, be glad to help out! What part of Wyo are you in?
Hawkdancer
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That's nice of you, HD. I'm in Lander, not near a Harbor Freight or much of anything else. ha ha ha We do have an Ace and a couple of lumber stores. Willie, I just have a mini-hacksaw, and Ace only has the round, carbide grit blades for full size saws. So, that's something to keep in mind for future purchases, but I don't want to buy a whole new saw just for building arrows. (My family has crazy ideas about purchases that they consider more important than archery supplies--groceries, the mortgage, dental care, blah blah blah. Screwed up priorities if you ask me, but what can you do?)
I really like the look of that jig--I'm going to have to build something like that if this self-nock thing becomes a habit.
And I think it will. I don't know if it's the nocks, the wood (these are my first sitka spruce shafts, too; I've always used POC or poplar before), or something else, but this batch of arrows is flying way better out of my self-bow than any of my old, plastic nocked arrows.
Thanks for all the help and advice, gents. Keep it coming! (SH)
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I find that I get a more accurate cut if I use a tenon saw rather than a hacksaw. The broad rigid blade is more likely to go where I want it, rather than wander off on its own direction. Like DC I mark out first with a triangular file and adjust until it is centred. Having made the cut I then widen it with two hacksaw blades and file to the finished shape. The harder the wood that you use for the shaft, the easier it is to make the nock accurately.
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I'm not sure where I saw it first, but I've had good success with heating a nail with a blow torch, then using the red hot nail to create my string nock. I was surprised at how easy it was to melt the wood. I then did like you and added a few rings of silk thread soaked in Duco. I've never had one break.