Author Topic: Poplar 5/16 dowel rod arrows  (Read 8387 times)

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Offline greenstick

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Poplar 5/16 dowel rod arrows
« on: February 06, 2010, 07:44:25 pm »
Made six Poplar 5/16 " dowel rod arrows with turkey feathers. The spine tests out between 38-47. The materials were either free or cheep, so the end cost approximately $ 1.97 per arrow. Best part is they shoot good. Anybody out there have good experience with 5/16 dowels?
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« Last Edit: February 06, 2010, 10:57:23 pm by greenstick »
I have not failed, I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.-Thomas Edison  ( Indiana )

Offline Pat B

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Re: Poplar 5/16 doll rod arrows
« Reply #1 on: February 06, 2010, 08:03:21 pm »
I like my dolls a bit bigger.  ;D  Sorry, I couldn't help myself.  ::)   5/16" poplar dowels make good light weight arrows.
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline youngbowyer33

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Re: Poplar 5/16 doll rod arrows
« Reply #2 on: February 06, 2010, 08:48:36 pm »
ive made a couple for a light bow and i like em
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us"

Offline Bushbow

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Re: Poplar 5/16 doll rod arrows
« Reply #3 on: February 06, 2010, 10:55:52 pm »
Poplar in general is a great wood for arrows. I like the 3/8" dowels planed down to about a 50 lb spine. Your arrows look good, I think you will find they are stronger than POC

Offline greenstick

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Re: Poplar 5/16 dowel rod arrows
« Reply #4 on: February 06, 2010, 10:59:22 pm »
Thanks Pat, corrected now. 
 Bushbow, how do you plane them down and still be uniformed?
I have not failed, I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.-Thomas Edison  ( Indiana )

Offline adb

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Re: Poplar 5/16 dowel rod arrows
« Reply #5 on: February 06, 2010, 11:49:44 pm »
5/16" ramin dowels work great for me. I can find some that spine out to 50#, and with a nutter, they're deadly for stumpin' and bunnies. And cheap too, complete arrow for about $1.

Offline Bushbow

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Re: Poplar 5/16 dowel rod arrows
« Reply #6 on: February 07, 2010, 12:27:01 am »
Greenstick See the drawing below. I generally taper both ends by marking lines with pencil and then  use a small plane to remove from the line to the end of the shaft. The center section is then reduced as required to the desired spine. Leave the spine about 5 lbs high, sand smooth. You can also put the shaft in a drll and use a piece of sandpaper.


Offline scattershot

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Re: Poplar 5/16 dowel rod arrows
« Reply #7 on: February 07, 2010, 10:37:08 pm »
They make great arrows. You can buy them from American Woodcrafters for around $25.00/100.  just be sure you check them for grain runout and knots before you use them for arrows. Even if you throw a few away, that's still pretty cheap shootin'!
"Experience is just a series of non-fatal mistakes"

Offline The Gopher

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Re: Poplar 5/16 dowel rod arrows
« Reply #8 on: February 08, 2010, 12:47:00 am »
yup, i've made several arrows with 5/16" poplar and love them.
45# at 27"