Wimpy cane?

[Eric Krewson]

I have made several cane arrows lately and found that after I straighten them they often go back to a pretty crooked over night. I suspect it was the cane I used from the river bottom land. Some is like a noodle and can be straightened by hand except for the nodes but bends easily.

Did I just pick the wrong cane? what I used had spent a year in the attic and a month in my wood drying box so I know it was dry.

[El Destructo]

You sure it's Cane and Not Phragmite??

[FlintWalker]

That's the way the river cane from around here is.  It's really thin walled and even when it's dry, it won't stay straight.  I decided to go to tonkin for that very reason.

[Pat B]

Are you sure the culms were mature when you picked them? First years growth is pretty wimpy! Second year growth or early 3rd year growth is what you want t to collect for good arrows. Also, atr you tempering the canes after straightening? That will make a difference too. .

[Hillbilly]

If your cane is like that, it's definitely either immature stuff or not river cane. You shouldn't be able to bend it without heat unless you've had it soaking in water for a week. Good cane will stay straight, and ain't gonna bend and stay there without heat. Like Pat said, second or third year growth is what you want- it shouldn't have the papery sheaths on it.

[Eric Krewson]

Probably young cane, deep green when I cut it. I cut some the other day on the side of a steep hilside. It had a yellow collor to it and was pretty thick walled

[gutpile]

I agree with Pat..could be just immature cane..gut

[Pat B]

Generally the immature cane will have lengthwise wrinkles when it dries.

[billy]

HEy Eric,

Sounds like you got some immature cane.  If you get the mature stuff it should be stiff with thick walls and will dry even stiffer.  That stuff makes great arrows!