When I build wooden arrows, should the grain be perpendicular or parallel to the string when the arrow is nocked?

Conventional wisdom says perpendicular. Primarily based on the way self nocks would blow out the shaft years ago when done parallel.

Every time I answer this question I am usually in for a long, long battle.

But here is what I do and did even when using plastic nocks. This is the way I was taught to make arrows.

I orient the groove of the nock perpendicular to the end grain.

Then I look at the arrow all along its length.

If the arrow is cut properly there will be no run offs.

But...

You may see these >>>>>>>>>> on one side and underneath you may see these <<<<<<<<<.

As best as I can I orient these <<<<<< Have fun.

Jawge

Perpendicular is how I was taught about half a century ago. Shooting with the grain can cause breakage quicker if you have grain runout or other anomaly with the grain. I will tell you though that I know guys who do it otherwise and seem to be okay. I trust the way I was taught.

Common sense told me perpendicular but it never hurts to check with people who have been in this a lot longer than me. Thanks

Pic or drawing please. Or like this

M60, that line should be aligned with the cock feather. Make sense?

Ken the answer is obvious, I also agree with perpendicular. Jim :)

and rift on top pointing towards the point

The picture came from another site where the same question had been asked. The line in the picture is where the nock goes according to the author. That is not the way I learned either but I am no expert so I just finished a dozen with the nock lined up like in the pic. I may or may not see any difference because these arrows came out to average over 10grains per pound of draw weight. I do know from shooting heavy arrows mistakes can be hidden. The shafts started life as "German pine" I had these laying around for several years half finished.

if you shoot other than perpendicular you will eventually learn not to.

one broken shaft through my wrist was enough,, & that was a factory BEAR cedar out of the box in about 1968, first shot.

55# super Kodiak, 60-65 spined cedars, but one was parallel.

That is a good enough reason for me doug. Ouch!

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