heat treating arrow shafts

[paulc]

Is heat treating the way to go to make an arrow shaft a bit stiffer?  I am using clear pine from Home Depot that I cut up into square dowels and then took the corners off the dowel.  Some of them are a bit bendy and I wanted to stiffen them rather than use them for the fire.  Thanks, PC

[hawkbow]

fire will harden them.. but won't help much with the spine... shortening them will make them stiffer spined... good luck.Hawk

[chessieboy]

also lowering the point weight will raise the spine.

[markinengland]

The Saracens used to dry their pine arrow shafts and then bake them in an oven to temper them.
Tempering makes a bow stiffer so should also make an arrow stiffer.
Try it and see.Tempering needs to be done so that a very slight colour change happens not scorching.

[mullet]

 I would go with shortening them, like Hawk said. If you don't know what you are doing heat treating them I think you are setting yourself up for some exciting shots. When wood gets dry and brittle, it is also unpredictable.