FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Q: Are wood shafts as good as carbon?
A: Heck yes! IMO they are better. Wood may not have the same high tech appeal as carbon, straightness from the "factory", and diameter/spine ratio, but it excels in many other ways. It is easy to work wood with out the need of a high speed cut-off saw, you can stain, paint and decorate the shafts very easily, they are heavier, especially for the hunters and I also believe they are more durable, with less trouble with points(inserts) coming out, pushing in the shaft, or nocks popping out. Sure wood needs a little more babysitting(see Care of wood shafts), but that is such a part of shooting traditional equipment. Our bows need very little attention, so we can focus on our arrows, because after all, a great bow with mediocre arrows is a pretty fancy walking stick!
Q: How do I cut wood shafts?
A: Simple! Any fine toothed saw will work. A hacksaw, coping saw, Japanese saw all work. I often use a band saw with a fine blade on it. A miter saw with a fine toothed saw also works.
Q: How do I fasten points on the shafts?
A: Wood arrows are really simple to put points on, and take them off too! All you need is a way to taper the end to a 5 degree point. I use a taper tool that cuts both nock and point tapers. Once the pile end is tapered, then you need to use some hot glue, super glue or epoxy to stick it on there. I use hot melt glue because it is super easy to remove one head or point and put a different one on. If you shaft becomes bent a little, you can remove the point to straighten. Also if the arrow breaks at the point, at the base of the taper, you can often re-taper and put a point back on, with you arrow being a little shorter. As long as you have the length, these work well for stumping arrows, where you arrow flight isn't as crucial.
A: Heck yes! IMO they are better. Wood may not have the same high tech appeal as carbon, straightness from the "factory", and diameter/spine ratio, but it excels in many other ways. It is easy to work wood with out the need of a high speed cut-off saw, you can stain, paint and decorate the shafts very easily, they are heavier, especially for the hunters and I also believe they are more durable, with less trouble with points(inserts) coming out, pushing in the shaft, or nocks popping out. Sure wood needs a little more babysitting(see Care of wood shafts), but that is such a part of shooting traditional equipment. Our bows need very little attention, so we can focus on our arrows, because after all, a great bow with mediocre arrows is a pretty fancy walking stick!
Q: How do I cut wood shafts?
A: Simple! Any fine toothed saw will work. A hacksaw, coping saw, Japanese saw all work. I often use a band saw with a fine blade on it. A miter saw with a fine toothed saw also works.
Q: How do I fasten points on the shafts?
A: Wood arrows are really simple to put points on, and take them off too! All you need is a way to taper the end to a 5 degree point. I use a taper tool that cuts both nock and point tapers. Once the pile end is tapered, then you need to use some hot glue, super glue or epoxy to stick it on there. I use hot melt glue because it is super easy to remove one head or point and put a different one on. If you shaft becomes bent a little, you can remove the point to straighten. Also if the arrow breaks at the point, at the base of the taper, you can often re-taper and put a point back on, with you arrow being a little shorter. As long as you have the length, these work well for stumping arrows, where you arrow flight isn't as crucial.