shaft species

[GaryR]

I'm trying to keep it primitive, meaning making my own without home depot's involvment. I have some bamboo drying now. What other options do I have. I have access to oak, hickory, elm, cedar and various other species native to East Texas.
Gary

[Pat B]

Gary, are you planning to split out shafting or use shoots for shafts?

[GaryR]

Whatever you recommend Pat.

[Pat B]

Jackcrafty(Patrick) lives in Texas and makes excellent NA arrows. He has some build alongs in the How To section.
  I like making hardwood(sourwood for me) shoots arrows. They are tough and when made right, they fly great. They can be as spine tollerant as cane because of the natural taper...and they are tough! 

[GaryR]

Thanx, Pat

[JackCrafty]

Thanks for recommending my how-to's, Pat!

Gary, try to locate some yaupon holly in the woods.  It's an understory shrub.  Google it.  The shoots make excellent arrows and the wood is very light colored which makes paints and pigments brighter.  Also, you might find privet or indigo in your area.  These species grow right next to each other sometimes.

Other Texas options for shoots are sage, poverty weed, kidneywood, roughleaf dogwood, and non-natives like salt cedar and crepe myrtle.

[aero86]

dont forget wild rose as well.

where in east texas are you located?  im in north east texas and have located a few river cane patches.  havent been back in a long time now actually, should be a few more waiting for me to cut now.

[GaryR]

Jackcrafty, no need to google yaupon holly, that stuff is embedded in my brain as it grows so thick and fast and is hard to remove. It makes property management that much harder. I will have to google some of the others though. Thanks a lot.

aero86, Our property is near Palestine. I have spotted some cane off the side of the highway. After I use the bamboo I now have, I'll try river cane as well. I expect them to be about the same.

[Gus]

This is a cool Thread.
Been doing some research and working up my Arrah building supplies and tools.

Mr. Pat, when you say Sour Wood, is that the knobby looking tree, that the living bark will numb your tung?
If its the one I'm thinking of the Northeast Texans call it Tickle Tung...

Thank You,

-gus