Is there any difference other than wood type between a 60 lb spline port orford cedar arrow vs a Douglas fir arrow?

No "spine" difference, just wood type.

What George said. Same spine, same physical weight of either type should shoot in the same group.

Same spine, different woods.

I didn’t think so but what do I know....... trying to learn more about wood arrows getting ready to take the plunge. I seem to see more folks embracing Douglas fir over POC is there a reason why?

I like either but tend to go to D. Fir, better grain I've found, I also believe they're a little bit stronger shaft, plus they take to stain better, all IMO. I get mine from Surewood, excellent service, I get mine tapered and they have a very consistent taper.

I'm sure everybody has a different reason for preferring one wood over another, but I find For to be a little more durable as well as it being easier to find quality shafts.

There's no doubt but that Doug fir is a bit more durable than POC. On average, it's also a little heavier, but there is some physical weight overlap between the heavier POCs and the lighter Doug firs within any given spine range.

Surewood shafts, the primary maker of Doug fir shafts nowadays, makes excellent quality shafts. Only one major maker of POCs left, and the quality is not as good or consistent. My preference is still POC, when I can find good stuff.

POC...generally lighter mass weight shafts than Douglas fir for lightweight bows and I use a hand tapering tool that works better with POC but you can always have the supplier taper DF once you know length as has been mentioned.

If Doug Fir would smell good when they break, they would be about perfect. I also find the Surewood shafts more durable than POC.

Same spine - different weight for equal dimensions otherwise. The Douglas fir is about 1.2X heavier (varies) and (I find) more durable for stump shooting and roving.

Thanks fella’s!!!

More difference in hardness between early and late wood in DF. The hard early wood is harder to work with hand taper tools and is splintery. A sanding disk taper setup works well with either.

Stumpkiller is right about the weight/density difference.

FITTER:

Spine is nothing more than, how much a shaft when supported between uprights 26" apart will bend (deflect) when a 2# weight is suspended from the shaft half way between the supports (13"). That deflection is measured in thousands of a inch. You then divide that measurement into 26, That will give you the pounds of spine for a 28" arrow. And it doesn't matter what arrow shaft material is used.

Bob

By the way, the only dumb question is the one that wasn’t asked...

Some people might argue that static spine and dynamic spine are different.

One thing I have noticed about Doug Fir compared to POC. It takes more effort to get a really glass smooth finish on Fir than POC. The grain is more "open" on the Fir. I have not tried a sanding sealer on them yet but plan to on my next batch. The fir do take stain better than POC though.

The Doug fir will be a bit tougher shaft. I have shot Doug Fir into a brick wall. The taper was damaged by the broadhead ferrule but the shaft was reusable.

Why do people talk about carbon recovering faster?

Thanks for the good info I appreciate it :)

I have shot both and I feel their about equal. Fir is lighter I don't if their any tougher than POC. POC is easier to work with as far as getting a taper.

'cause it is something to talk about. :).

The smell is what we know and the grain is better. If you have older Acme shafts that got darker and harder then I'd rather shoot them. Also where the cedars are coming from the owls get their habitat reduced. The Douglas the spruce grouse get their habitat reduced.

Just thought I'd add in the mix.

I like and shoot both. As well as older Acmes cedars. Douglas darker wood when stained up.

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