Ok not totally my first time, but first time using this method. I have build a few arrows from red dogwood branches, this is my first go at building arrows from pine 1x3.
I want to thank everyone here for all the great information, it was a ton of help figuring everything out and this build saved me a lot of money buying shafts, etc. Plus it is a lot of fun.
Alright, so I started with 1x3 pine board and cut it down to 33". Then I rigged my jig saw on a board upside down and clamped a slide at around 3/8" away from the blade. This is just basically a table saw built with a jig saw. I ripped a bunch of 3/8"x3/4"x33" pieces, then ripped those in half to get 3/8"x3/8"x33" sticks. Then I created a dowel maker out of metal and clamped it down, and used a power drill to run the 3/8 sticks through. These gave me rough looking dowels around 3/8" in diameter. Then I used the drill and 60 grit sand paper to sand them down to around 5/16" dowels. Smoothed them up with 100 grit sand paper and 150 grit sand paper. I created a quick spine tester with a few nails, clamp, and micrometer. I learned I should shoot for 10lb under my bow weight, so I sanded the shafts down until I got .64" of sag (40lb spine). After that, I applied stain to the shafts. When that dried, I rubbed them down with fine grit steel wool.
On to the knocks, I used a triangle file to start the knocks, and I've got a doubled up hack saw blade to cut them down to depth. Then I used sand paper and small files to smooth out the knock slit. I also heated up a small finish nail red hot and burned the bottom of the knock thinking it might strengthen the area. I do intend to wrap the knock later, but I want different colors for different arrow points and havent decided on colors. I scored a bunch of goose feathers early this year, so I made a mess of fletchings with them to fletch the arrows. Glued them on with cheap super glue in a helical form. Trimmed the fletchings on the shaft with straight edge and utility knife with brand new blade. I have some left over house paint, so I used it for the cresting. Glued on a standard 100 gr target tip. Then finished it off with a few coats of linseed oil.
Must say it shoots super nice, very happy with the first arrow. I plan to build 3 with target tips and 3 with tonto points(from circular saw blade). Then I might also use a few of the extra shafts to make small game arrows with blunts, maybe a fishing arrow... Well see.
These are 31" long, 40# spine, Canadian goose fletched, 100 gr target point.
