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Author Topic: Wood choice for arrows  (Read 7960 times)

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Offline Nasr

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Wood choice for arrows
« on: August 24, 2019, 09:30:26 am »
 Most of my bows are around 50-55 @ 28"  rang and I would like to make arrows that are 9gpp to 10 gpp for target shooting or lighter. I would like to know which of these woods would be my best choice for the weight. I have Hickory, Ash, Pine, Birch, and poplar.
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Offline Pat B

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Re: Wood choice for arrows
« Reply #1 on: August 24, 2019, 01:17:50 pm »
Hickory would be heavy, ash makes good arrows but in my experience hard to keep straight, pine would be good as would be birch or poplar.
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Offline Woodely

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Re: Wood choice for arrows
« Reply #2 on: August 24, 2019, 06:45:36 pm »
I would try most of them and you will find out what works best,  like Pat says "pine would be good as would be birch or poplar."   
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Offline Deerhunter21

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Re: Wood choice for arrows
« Reply #3 on: August 24, 2019, 08:58:51 pm »
ive always heard that poplar is really good.
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Offline Pat B

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Re: Wood choice for arrows
« Reply #4 on: August 24, 2019, 09:50:26 pm »
Poplar is one of my favorite dowel shafts. Very tough and about the same weight as POC.
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Nasr

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Re: Wood choice for arrows
« Reply #5 on: August 25, 2019, 06:52:11 pm »
so definitely gonna try poplar. I have tried pine but the stuff I get seems really weak. I wanna try Birch if I can get the same weight as Poplar.
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Offline Woodely

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Re: Wood choice for arrows
« Reply #6 on: August 25, 2019, 07:56:08 pm »
I have settled on Hemlock.   Have tried poplar, cedar and doug fir.
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Offline burtonridr

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Re: Wood choice for arrows
« Reply #7 on: September 16, 2019, 09:31:37 pm »
+1 Pine is very weak. I build some last year with pine, I think I broke every single target arrow already, usually they broke the first time I missed the target.
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Offline Pat B

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Re: Wood choice for arrows
« Reply #8 on: September 17, 2019, 06:59:32 am »
That should keep you from missing the target.   >:D
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Offline willie

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Re: Wood choice for arrows
« Reply #9 on: September 17, 2019, 09:50:52 pm »
birch and poplar are both considered diffuse porous, which might help with the durability. some pines have  better ring structures than others and arrow quality can vary widely between pine species also. I have had good luck with fine ringed lodgepole, and avoid juvenile wood with most conifers
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Offline Woodely

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Re: Wood choice for arrows
« Reply #10 on: September 21, 2019, 02:08:23 pm »
Anybody used maple or hickory.  If so what is your take on them species.
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Offline Pat B

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Re: Wood choice for arrows
« Reply #11 on: September 21, 2019, 05:55:14 pm »
Hickory makes a very heavy arrow. Pine Hollow sells hickory shafting. Don't know about maple but I'd guess it would work.
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline DC

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Re: Wood choice for arrows
« Reply #12 on: September 21, 2019, 07:09:56 pm »
Quote from: Woodely on September 21, 2019, 02:08:23 pm
Anybody used maple or hickory.  If so what is your take on them species.

Big Leafed Maple might be interesting. If you found a piece with straight enough grain you could make an arrow with only 1/2 a growth ring :D
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Offline Woodely

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Re: Wood choice for arrows
« Reply #13 on: September 22, 2019, 03:33:24 pm »
Quote from: DC on September 21, 2019, 07:09:56 pm
Quote from: Woodely on September 21, 2019, 02:08:23 pm
Anybody used maple or hickory.  If so what is your take on them species.

Big Leafed Maple might be interesting. If you found a piece with straight enough grain you could make an arrow with only 1/2 a growth ring :D
Doubt if it would hold to soft.  I only use Eastern maple.
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Offline George Tsoukalas

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Re: Wood choice for arrows
« Reply #14 on: September 23, 2019, 08:08:51 am »
Make my arrows by hand planing. I find pine to be more time efficient for me. Jawge
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