Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: Eric Krewson on May 01, 2019, 06:37:08 am

Title: Doug fir shaft material
Post by: Eric Krewson on May 01, 2019, 06:37:08 am
Back in the day I made arrow shafts on a router shaft machine, finding quality wood to run through my machine was difficult. I would usually buy a doug fir board from Lowe's and could only make 13 shafts from it, the board cost $6 and none of the spines or weights would match.

I was in Home depot yesterday and noticed 4X4X8' doug fir posts for $12. All of the posts had knots but there would be sections of clear wood 36" long in the post. Going through the pile I found a few posts with very straight grain and at least 20 grains to the inch, perfect shaft material.

I have gotten lazy in my old age and buy or trade for shafting material but wish these posts had been available back in my shaft making days.

Just a heads up.
Title: Re: Doug fir shaft material
Post by: Russ on May 01, 2019, 08:59:41 am
thanks! now I know where to get my shaft material!
Title: Re: Doug fir shaft material
Post by: Hawkdancer on May 01, 2019, 10:03:48 am
And veterans get a military discount!  At Lowe's, too!
Hawkdancer
Title: Re: Doug fir shaft material
Post by: Knoll on May 01, 2019, 08:07:40 pm
Though was just there yesterday, may have to make the 15-mile trip again soon to check em out.
Thanks for heads up.
Title: Re: Doug fir shaft material
Post by: Eric Krewson on May 02, 2019, 06:08:24 am
And they reserve a nice parking spots for vets near the door at both Lowe's and Home Depot, kinda' makes me feel special when I pull into my "reserved" spot.

No one will question my right to use the spot.

Title: Re: Doug fir shaft material
Post by: Woodely on May 02, 2019, 08:09:17 am
I know what you are saying about finding and digging thru lumber yard material, it can be difficult to obtain good stuff.   This is why I use Hemlock most stufff is knot free the grain is very straight and out of 40 shafts I get at least 20 that are spined 3# within each other.  On another note I hand plane mine from square blanks and finally sanding them to 11/32" ..  I End up with very straight shafts, I was buying my shafts from a Professional before and he made them using the router drill method and to many of them were cock-eyed and they had bad grain.

Nice car plate.  :)
Title: Re: Doug fir shaft material
Post by: Eric Krewson on May 09, 2019, 06:20:49 am
Another footnote; the wood I mentioned is wet on the inside, I have been making bee traps out of the 4x4, when I drill the center hole the sawdust from the center has a lot of moisture in it. One would need to rip the 3/8" blanks and let them dry a bit before turning them into arrow shafts.