Spining Short arrows

[Stalkingfox]

Ok Ive been at this for a few days now, and Im at the end. I am making short arrows for my 47 inch bow. I need to know how i can test the spine with my spine tester i made. I know theres adjustments and things i need to do But I don't know what or which. Is there a formula for this i need to work with or do i need to make a totally different tester? I was told i should throw em all out and start over because its all different with short arrows and its easier to just go with the original instructions for 28" arrows.

[Pat B]

For each inch under 28" you can add 5# of spine weight...so an arrow that is spined at 50# will shoot like a 60# spined arrow if cut to 26".

[Stalkingfox]

Wow.. so in that example.. my 24" arrows would be shooting at 80# correct?

[Pappy]

70 lb.  if you started with 50 spine at 28. Also tip weight plays a part,heaver tip weakens the spine and lighter tip stiffen it,not sure the exact amount,just have to play with that our maybe someone that does know will chim in.
   Pappy

[stringstretcher]

Stalkingfox, you did not say what spine you started with.  But as Pat said, you add 5# for every inch you shorten the arrow from the original 28".  So at 24" you would be adding 20lbs of spine to what ever you started with, assuming you are using 125 grain points.

Pappy, most use the rule of thumb that it is also 5# for every 15 grains over or under that.

[Stalkingfox]

This is gonna be more difficult than I thought, I am trying to get these all working beautifully yet still easy to build in a way I could go out in the field and build arrows. My arrows Are roughly 24" but theres also a foreshaft insert which could add 3" or so. They all have different weights due to large and small game.

[Pat B]

Your arrow length includes and footing you add. Also, make your arrows longer. Arrows don't have to be the length of your draw. My draw is 26" but I cut my arrows to 30".

[Stalkingfox]

I was actually thinkin I didnt want my arrows to extend WAY out from the bow, but maybe I should. Ill try these ideas and respond here. Im sure itll all work fine, Id hate to go to longer bows, i like the shorter ones. I want a short bow that is R/D, not sure how to go about it yet. I read to use steam but not sure how to apply or how much of the wood to bend. So many questions not enough material LOL!!

[Pat B]

Different woods prefer different heat manipulating methods. Osage likes dry heat but hickory preforms better with steam.

[crooketarrow]

 Personally I have'nt spined or weight a arrow in a dozzen years. If it shoots good from my bow I use it. If it's to stiff I sand it untill it shoots. If it's to light I just hang on to it. I'll surely make a bow light enough that it will shoot from it. I uselly give it away when I sell the bow.
  Forget the nomal spine tester and built one just for my arrows.
 To do this get arrow that shoots good out of your bow. Take your arrow lay if flat on a 2x6. Now mark in a inch from each end. But a finishing nail at each end so your arrow will set on it. Find the middle between the nails. Take 3 or 4 inchs of a ruler. Glue it where you found the middle.
  Now take the arrow that shoots from your bow. Put it on the nails. Make a 2 pound weight that hangs and hang from the middle. See where the been in the arrow reads. Thats what your spined arrow SHOULD READ no matter the arrow lenth . Sand the ones your makeing untill they read what your good (shooting)arrow reads.
  YOU HAVE A SPINE TESTER THAT WHEN YOU CUT TO YOUR ARROWS TO LENTH. YOU'LL KNOW WHAT THAT SHORT ARROW SHOULD READ TO SHOOT FROM YOUR BOW.

[bobnewboy]

From what I've seen and read, a lot of primitive tribes use very long arrows, anything up to 4 feet / 48 inches.  If you use a longer arrow you can often get quite a bit of spine tolerance, as the arrow bends at several points along its length on release, rather than a single 'node' of bending.  If you use cane or bamboo for your shafts, you get another gain in the natural taper, which seems to help more as well.  For 3D shoots, I shoot 32" bamboo shafts, spined at 50lb, with a light pile (100 grains) in a 44lb draw weight bow at a 28" draw length.  They come out lovely and straight   So don't feel you need to cut your arrows to a short length to suit your bow..........

[Stalkingfox]

thank You everyone, Ive been using maple sapling shoots for the shafts which are heavy but straighten beautifully. I also put in for shafts in case something happens to the head I can just replace the forshaft again thank you all soo much