My First Self Arrows
This was my first attempt at making my own arrows. I made a jig for holding square stock to be planed into round. The jig is just two pieces of wood with a 45 degree groove to hold the shaft as I plane it.
In researching for what kind of wood to use, I found almost everything from pine to hickory mentioned.
Here I am using poplar.
I start by splitting the lumber to make sure the arrow has straight grain. If it doesn’t split straight from one end to the other I don’t use it.
I plane the end smooth and rip 3/8″ x 3/8″ squares.
Using a block Plane I’m rounding the square stock into as close to a dowel shape as I can.
I tried both the block plane and molding plane. Each seemed to work about equally well. The block plane is a bit easier to adjust but the molding plane may have saved just a little in sanding.
i actually think with a little more practice with the block plane the drill may not even be necessary.
This block has a hollow I made by drilling a hole slightly larger than the arrow diameter and cutting the block in half right down the center of the hole.
A complete round shaft
Here I should have tapered the nock end. Marking 2 line at 6″ and 9″. Lightly plane to the 6″ line then to the 9″ line for a slight taper.
I cut the nocks with a band saw and sanded them (I actually used the 2×72 grinder…very carefully)
I then wrapped them with artificial sinew.
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