Cedar question - brand new to this

[BigWapiti]

I have ordered the Boyer's Bible, just last night.

But was out walking the woods last night and while there grabbed some vine maple for staves.  I also grabbed some VM shoots, do they make good arrows??  should I peel them first or let them cure (how long?)?

Also, re cedar arrows.  do you use the cedar shoots (I assume this means young trees) or branches?

I was looking at the seemingly dead, but still flexible, bottom branches of the larger cedar trees.  the eye pokers, of the forest...  the one's sticking out of the the bottom trunk, without leaves.   Do they make good arrows if cut and cured?  maybe not enough sap in them to straighten... just curiuos.

Thanks!!  What a great site, didn't even know it existed.  Thanks all.

[DBernier]

Welcome BigWapiti, It would help if you filled in your location, state, in your stats. Saves time for others so they don't have to ask. Then some of the people could give better advice and alternative arrow making "stuff"

Dick

[BigWapiti]

done.

Central Washington State.

[Hillbilly]

Commercial cedar arrows are usally made from logs-split or sawed into boards, then made into dowels. You can do it yourself, I've made them that way from pine and poplar. Never tried VM shoots, but red maple shoots work, so give them a try.

[DBernier]

What I would do, depending on your bow weight, is find a cedar arrow that works good. Then try and spine a VM one to that weight. Be careful you do not go too light in spine because there is a chance you could shatter the arrow on release and injure yourself. Take care.

Dick

[DanaM]

Define cedar, here in northern michigan cedar is northern white cedar other places its eastern red cedar which is a juniper, common names are misleading at best.

[BigWapiti]

Define cedar, here in northern michigan cedar is northern white cedar other places its eastern red cedar which is a juniper, common names are misleading at best.

Good point - this is Western Red Cedar, here in WA state.

[BigWapiti]

Be careful you do not go too light in spine because there is a chance you could shatter the arrow on release and injure yourself. Take care.

Yikes, I just envisioned myself with half an arrow stuck into my artery - I think i better wait for my book.  Matching a spine...  not even sure how to do that other than give it a hand bend for feel??   

Do you guys wear welders gloves with leather going up the arm to test shoot your arrows?  This sounds tongue in cheek, but its an honest consideration.  One wierd defect and you could be in hurt on that first shot, no?

[DanaM]

Nope Its just all part of the fun

[Hillbilly]

If you've got the first volume of the bowyer's bible coming, it has an excellent arrow making chapter by Jay Massey. He covers both split timber and shoot shafts.

[DBernier]

Hillbilly got it right and I meant Port orford cedar (POC)

Dick