Author Topic: Aluminum or brass arrowheads  (Read 2689 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Sammakesbows

  • Member
  • Posts: 45
Aluminum or brass arrowheads
« on: August 27, 2020, 05:26:35 pm »
Would either work for arrowheads? Could you mix them together?

Offline Pat B

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 37,483
Re: Aluminum or brass arrowheads
« Reply #1 on: August 27, 2020, 05:46:27 pm »
As long as you aren't hunting big game. They would probably work fine for squirrels and rabbits or for target points.
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Deerhunter21

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,253
  • What do you despise? By this are you truly known.
Re: Aluminum or brass arrowheads
« Reply #2 on: August 27, 2020, 09:58:11 pm »
yeah i bet it would work just remember that both of those metals are pretty soft compared to iron, steel or rock.
Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before destination.

Offline dylanholderman

  • Member
  • Posts: 787
Re: Aluminum or brass arrowheads
« Reply #3 on: August 30, 2020, 10:40:05 am »
i think that brass might work (there are a lot of surviving bronze arrow heads)  aluminium i think would be to soft and too light weight.

in the "Encyclopedia of native american bows, arrows, and quivers" by Allely and Hamm page 30 there are three brass arrowheads in the shape of barbered broad-heads, wither or not they were ever used in anybody's guess but they did exist.

Offline Yooper Bowyer

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,114
  • formerly Tradcraftsman
Re: Aluminum or brass arrowheads
« Reply #4 on: August 30, 2020, 05:12:44 pm »
.38 casings and fancy field-points (probably meant just for targets) are brass, but I don't know of any brass broad heads.  How many times would you want to shoot one?

bownarra

  • Guest
Re: Aluminum or brass arrowheads
« Reply #5 on: September 08, 2020, 02:04:20 am »
No and no :)

Offline JackCrafty

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 5,621
  • Sorry Officer, I was just gathering "materials".
Re: Aluminum or brass arrowheads
« Reply #6 on: September 08, 2020, 12:18:37 pm »
Since aluminum weighs almost the same as stone (very similar specific gravity) you can practice with aluminum arrowheads and switch to stone for the hunt.

Brass works fine, in my opinion. Depends on the alloy specs. It can be made to hold an edge better that wrought iron or copper, I imagine. Similar to bronze (used for arrowheads for centuries), as already stated. If mixed with aluminum, it becomes stronger.
Any critter tastes good with enough butter on it.

Patrick Blank
Midland, Texas
Youtube: JackCrafty, Allergic Hobbit, Patrick Blank

Where's Rock? Public Waterways, Road Cuts, Landscape Supply, Knap-Ins.
How to Cook It?  200° for 24hrs then 275° to 500° for 4hrs (depending on type), Cool for 12hr

Offline Mesophilic

  • Member
  • Posts: 876
Re: Aluminum or brass arrowheads
« Reply #7 on: September 21, 2020, 02:18:50 pm »
Not sure about aluminum but brass can be work hardened.  You only need it to do the job once.  I would test extensively before going after large game, but I think if it were properly constructed (don't use thin sheet brass),  and work hardened to hold an edge and not permanently bend on impacts,  it should work fine. 

I'd want a center ridge to reinforce...look up ancient cast bronze beoadheads.  You could probably use brass bar stock and grind your bevels so that you have a thick center cross section.

But if I were going to all this trouble,  I'd just use steel.
Trying is the first step to failure
-Homer Simpson-

Offline Yooper Bowyer

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,114
  • formerly Tradcraftsman
Re: Aluminum or brass arrowheads
« Reply #8 on: September 22, 2020, 05:37:12 pm »
What about casting bronze? I think it is 90% copper 10% tin.  Just make a wax arrow head, burry it in sand, and pour molten bronze over it.  Simple, right?  :)

Offline JackCrafty

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 5,621
  • Sorry Officer, I was just gathering "materials".
Re: Aluminum or brass arrowheads
« Reply #9 on: September 29, 2020, 08:13:30 pm »
Will Lord uses an earthenware and lost wax technique to cast a bronze axe head in this video:

---https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FluD0DRdK2Y
Any critter tastes good with enough butter on it.

Patrick Blank
Midland, Texas
Youtube: JackCrafty, Allergic Hobbit, Patrick Blank

Where's Rock? Public Waterways, Road Cuts, Landscape Supply, Knap-Ins.
How to Cook It?  200° for 24hrs then 275° to 500° for 4hrs (depending on type), Cool for 12hr