Hi all. I trying some bamboo shafts for the first time and was wondering if anyone has any tips? Looking over previous threads I found the following:

- insert a dowel in the ends to get a good taper. - use a sander to grind the tapers rather than a bladed tool. - use heat to straighten the shafts.

I didn't notice any tips about sanding or finish for the shafts. Any input here would be welcome.

thanks Toms.

Have you seen the video by Clay Hayes on Youtube? If not, here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LzAlOqC86s

When straightening bamboo, or an cane shaft, remember that it is best to straighten in 2 steps. First, straighten the shafts at the nodes. Then, go back and straighten the area between the nodes, or vie versa. Folks have different ideas on that.

You don't HAVE to use a dowel for the tapers, but you can if you choose to.

Make sure you get the area around the nodes smoothed out well.

Finish them like any other arrow you would make.

Also, there are many varieties of bamboo and some are not well suited for making arrows. I have found Japonica to be one of the best for arrows.

Also, there are many varieties of bamboo and some are not well suited for making arrows. I have found Japonica to be one of the best for arrows.

If you are cutting self nocks, be sure to wrap just below the notch to reinforce that area. You can cut the shaft at the node to cut your nock, too, but I’d wrap anyway.

I use about two or three inches of a bamboo skewer stick in each end and use titebond three for the glue. As mentioned you don't have to but it sure adds strength to the ends of the arrows, allows you to use a taper tool if you are not into self nocks and you don't have to wrap the ends, For me it is a must on the point end as I use stone points and it gives me an extra glueing surface to my stone point.

As far as sanding goes, I do a light sand on the entire shaft and then use wipe o poly.

The Tonkin Bamboo I get from China has a very small hole if any at all. It hasn't required any straightening and don't seem to need any finish. I did use a wipe on poly on the last set. It doesn't need dowels and I have yet to break a self nock with up to 50 pound bows. I do wrap them with thread then coat the thread with glue. The river cane has to have dowels, & be straightened.There has already been some good posts on that. Love my bamboo arrows and they bare shaft great too. They seem to be more forgiving.>>>----> Ken

Thanks for all of the input. I am looking forward to trying these out. Needed a shaft which could stand up to all the stump shooting i do and which also didn't cost a bunch when i loose an arrow.

I'm not sure of the bamboo species I got. I ordered the arrow shafts from the large auction site. They were spined but not weighed so I'll need to get one of those inexpensive digital scales - i'm curious to see what the weight range will be like.

Watch "Twisted Limbs" Ryan Gill's video, great help. John

Agree with Ken

https://traditionalknowhow.blogspot.com/2018/07/bamboo-arrows-crafting-and-review.html

Yes Sir that looks just like the bamboo I use. Arrows look a lot a like but so far I have only used self nocks. Then wrapped behind the nock and coated the thread with a clear glue. They snap on just like plastic nocks. When you get your tools sized just right,it only takes a minute or two to sand for the correct string fit. Hope that helps. >>>----> ken

Where did you get the Tonkin shafts?

I ordered them from China but went through eBay. Oulay Bamboo If you go to their web site direct they only show the very large and construction Bamboo. Big company and they have been extremely nice to deal with. Aprox. $2 a shaft and free shipping. Shipping was much quicker than I thought also.>>>----> Ken

Are they lighter weight than POC?

Don't have any cedar. Cut to 30" point tapered and self nocks they average a little over 300 grains. Fletched and with points glued on they are 460ish. I wouldn't consider them to be a light weight. they seem to be in the 10 grain per inch range. A little heavier than most carbons but seem to be about as tough. I haven't broke one yet. They seem very hard cutting the nocks in them.>>-->Ken

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