Now and then, I mention in a woody thread that I make my own shafts. They are as good as wood can be.

But I want to say loudly that I am NOT putting down the makers and sellers of wood shafts. There is a lot of work involved in making those shafts available. Somebody has to cut those logs into workable flitches. Those have to be dried, then run through one to three sizing processes to result in shafts. They may also be sanded.

After that, they have to be sorted by weight and spine, inventoried, pulled from inventory, possibly be hand spine tested and weighed again, packaged and posted.

I would never consider selling the shafts I make. I would be working for pennies per hour.

Some shafts are more expensive than others. But I'm sure nobody is getting rich marketing wood arrow shafts.

If the cost of shafts pushes you to make your own because, like me, your income is limited, go for it, But it will give you new respect for the wood arrow industry.

I have always bought my shafts from dealers. I always figured for the work and time involved, making my own shafts would be strictly a labor of love and not a money saving venture. I admire those who make their own, but while I’ve been making my own self bows, strings, processing my own feathers, and assembling my own arrows, again, self satisfaction and labor of love, I have no desire to spend the time to turn my own shafts. I cannot imaging that I can save enough per dozen shafts to warrant making them vs buying. Maybe different if I went through large volumes of arrows, but not at 8 or 10 arrows a year.

Jim, I don't disagree with anything you said, however having a production facility set up to mass produce something on a large scale is nothing like doing a few dozen of your own.

I have done both. Buddy has a verita dowel maker and when used right it makes a good shaft but I just bought a 100 cedar shafts last month. I also have about 200 nock tapered cedar shafts left over from my dads archery shop but they are the lighter spined shafts. More for kids arrows.

You bet there is worked in making shafts.

Well, for those who have been balking at the price of them, it’s likely to be getting worse! I got an email the other day from a shaft supplier saying that prices are going to be going up because the cost of logs has caught up with him. I expect I’m not the only one here who got that…

Kinda bummed about that….

I'm glad there are still those who chose to make and sell shafts.

Me too wudstix.

The shafts I buy start like this. Splitting keeps most of the grain running full length. He also only uses dead wood and carrys it back to his shop on packboards after being split off.

https://www.facebook.com/woodenarrows/videos/366160637154227

I wouldn’t know where to begin making my own shafts. Hats off to those that do. For me, I am grateful for the dealers that sell a much better product than I could ever produce.

Sorry, never tried to post a video. Hopefully it will work.

Funny, I have actually been watching youtube videos on making a dowel cutter to try and make my own. I will probably try it, but need to make a spine tester also. Did I mention I am a cheep bastard!!!.

Just looked and found that I paid $210.00 for the 100 cedar shafts, old stock. Close to .20 each isn't bad for an arrow shaft. Cheaper than making them. And a lot less work.

These were all 40 to 45# shafts and all close in weight.

Recheck your figures.

And I should have said please. The last time I bought a hundred it was around $135 and no quality. Been awhile!

Jim, if I could turn out wood shafts like you, it would give me a new respect for ME! Nice job.

Never was good at math hawkeye, lol.

Jim, I copped the dowelling jig that you posted a number of years ago and it really is a slick tool. You are certainly right about the labor that goes into a shaft. I make about half of mine from recycled fir, Doors and interior trim, and the rest are from wood harvested on my place or near by. I'm lucky to have a neighbor with a saw mill and if I come across a good looking log he's happy to cut it up for me. The number of shafts I make just to get a dozen matched spine and weight is enough to make most think it's just not worth the effort. I for one just enjoy building my own bows and arrows and feel the time spent is more than worth the effort. By the way, thanks again for sharing your design. for the dowelling jig. I've sure had fun with mine.

It's only wasting time if you'd rather be doing something else.

I have a friend with a saw mill too. That definitely helps.

I agree with you, Jim. Making shafts is time consuming. I'll spend 30 minutes on hand planing white pine but I've enjoyed it. It has been awhile. Jawge

I’ll bet Jon was happier with the decimal point where he’d left it!!

LOL

I bought about 100 “kids’ “ shafts for $75. So 6 bits apiece… Spines are sho ‘nuf all over the map, but there are enough #40s in there to put to good use on my younger son’s new #40@28” and call it a square enough deal….

And the rest… I guess are for learning how….

You got that right Corax, lol

I have made good deals on shafts in the past. When my Chris was at Mayo Clinic I would visit Terry at the Footed Shaft. He bought someone out and had bows and arrows laying all over the place. He sold me wood shafts for $1.00 each. I bought home a 100 of those and past my good deal around to my buddies.

George what kind of spine are you getting from white pine? The weight would be great but seems flimsy for arrow shafts. Thanks

If you have already registered, please

sign in now

For new registrations

Click Here