Traditional Archery Discussions on the Leatherwall


Douglas Fir vs Cedar?

Messages posted to thread:
Hunt98 04-Feb-25
fdp 04-Feb-25
Stick Hippie 04-Feb-25
Stumpkiller 04-Feb-25
Nemah 04-Feb-25
Wyo_John 05-Feb-25
Mark 05-Feb-25
RonG 05-Feb-25
BEARMAN 05-Feb-25
Maclean 05-Feb-25
Bob Rowlands 05-Feb-25
dnovo 05-Feb-25
Bob Rowlands 05-Feb-25
Bob Rowlands 05-Feb-25
the Black Spot 05-Feb-25
TGbow 05-Feb-25
monkeyball 06-Feb-25
Bob Rowlands 06-Feb-25
monkeyball 06-Feb-25
Nemophilist 06-Feb-25
Nemophilist 06-Feb-25
Bob Rowlands 06-Feb-25
Bugle up 06-Feb-25
monkeyball 06-Feb-25
Bugle up 06-Feb-25
Jimmyjumpup 06-Feb-25
monkeyball 06-Feb-25
wooddamon1 06-Feb-25
Jim Davis 06-Feb-25
ottertails 06-Feb-25
ottertails 06-Feb-25
Greenstyk 06-Feb-25
dnovo 06-Feb-25
ottertails 06-Feb-25
the Black Spot 07-Feb-25
wooddamon1 07-Feb-25
Greenstyk 07-Feb-25
Corax_latrans 08-Feb-25
The Beav 08-Feb-25
Bob Rowlands 08-Feb-25
monkeyball 08-Feb-25
the Black Spot 10-Feb-25
From: Hunt98
Date: 04-Feb-25




Fir vs Cedar… what’s the good or bad of each?

What would you recommend?

From: fdp
Date: 04-Feb-25




It's all about what you want to shoot. Neither one is wildly better than the other.

I mostly shoot Surewood Douglas Fir these days.

From: Stick Hippie
Date: 04-Feb-25




I think douglas fir are a bit tougher, guess that’s a pro, the pro for cedar is they smell good when they break ??

From: Stumpkiller
Date: 04-Feb-25




Douglas fir weighs more but is much more durable. I'm big into stump shooting and just don't use cedar anymore. I taper the last 10" of my DF shafts from 11/32" to 5/16" to save a bit of weight, aid penetration, and correct from paradox faster. PITA but what else are you going to do after small game season and before it gets warm again?

Cedar definately smells better.

From: Nemah
Date: 04-Feb-25




Doug Fir arrows are heavier (elk). Port Orford Cedar for everything smaller. Cedar (Red Cedar here in the Pacific Northwest) is too brittle.

From: Wyo_John
Date: 05-Feb-25




Stumpkiller x2

From: Mark
Date: 05-Feb-25




I started building/using with Doug Fir about 10 years ago. They stain nice and stay straight after working with them. At this point I will not go back to cedar. Surewood Shafts is a good source.

From: RonG
Date: 05-Feb-25




Dougy fir for sure, tough arrows.

I agree with Mark.

From: BEARMAN Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 05-Feb-25




I get more requests for POC but I like building and shooting both. I think my CHUNDOO shafts (Lodgepole pines) are a bit tougher than both POC and Fir. I do like how heavy Fir shafts are and they do take stain very well too.

From: Maclean Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 05-Feb-25




Like Stumpkiller, I do a lot of stump shooting. I've found that I break far less arrows using doug fir over cedar. Surewood has the best shafts I've ever purchased.

From: Bob Rowlands
Date: 05-Feb-25




I dowel my shafts from boards. Its all about wood grain. Fir is very definitely tougher. But both make great arrows if the grain is primo.

From: dnovo Professional Bowhunters Society - Qualified Member Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 05-Feb-25




I have a number of Surewood shafts made into arrows. I used them more for a couple bows that I don't use much anymore as I dropped about 5 pounds draw weight. They make excellent arrows, straight and good weight. I mostly use cedar because I have about 40-50 dozen shafts in storage and they are perfect for the bows I'm shooting. But then I've used cedar for 50 years also. I don't have a problem breaking one now and then cause then I get to make more!

From: Bob Rowlands
Date: 05-Feb-25




40-50 dozen for the win!

From: Bob Rowlands
Date: 05-Feb-25




40-50 dozen for the win!

From: the Black Spot
Date: 05-Feb-25




Doug fir for me. I’m allergic to cedar(unless it’s coated)

From: TGbow
Date: 05-Feb-25




I shot a lot of cedar in the 70s n 80s but now when I shoot wood arrows In prefer Fir...it's more durable to me.

From: monkeyball
Date: 06-Feb-25

monkeyball's embedded Photo



If Douglas Fir smelled like P.O.Cedar no one would shoot cedar!

Good Shooting->->->->Craig

From: Bob Rowlands
Date: 06-Feb-25




There's a lot of preemo end grain in that photo.

From: monkeyball
Date: 06-Feb-25




And Bob, those were the Kimerey Specials. Quality only get higher from there. Surewood Shafts.......try you some!

Good Shooting->->->->Craig

From: Nemophilist
Date: 06-Feb-25

Nemophilist's embedded Photo



I like both Douglas Fir and Cedar and both make nice arrows, but if I had to choose one, I'd stick with cedar. Just a personal preference.

From: Nemophilist
Date: 06-Feb-25

Nemophilist's embedded Photo



From: Bob Rowlands
Date: 06-Feb-25




monkeyball, I dowel df from premium grain S2S boards I pick at my hardwood supplier.

From: Bugle up
Date: 06-Feb-25




monkeyball x 2. If Doug fir smelled like cedar, everyone would shoot fir...

From: monkeyball
Date: 06-Feb-25




And Carson is a great guy to deal with!

Good Shooting->->->->Craig

From: Bugle up
Date: 06-Feb-25




True about Carson Brown. Plus it's fun to follow him on Facebook and see his posts on his arrow making process...from standing or down tree to shafts.

From: Jimmyjumpup Professional Bowhunters Society - Associate Member
Date: 06-Feb-25




I agree with Nemo. If I shoot wood it would be cedar. Just what I always shot nice pics Nemo. Lets see some more pics of arrows you guys are making,

From: monkeyball
Date: 06-Feb-25

monkeyball's embedded Photo



Lot of guys think that wood won't compare to carbon or aluminum.

If you take the time to spine them, weigh them, and build them correctly you will be surprised. And in that sentence lies the hidden word "time".

I think one of the main reasons guys have stopped shooting wood is the time element it takes to make a solid dozen. Just my opinion, but I know how quickly I can assemble a dozen aluminums or carbons compared to wood.

I started with wood and find myself heading back that way.

Good Shooting->->->->Craig

From: wooddamon1 Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 06-Feb-25




Nice arrows, guys and sweet bow, Craig!

From: Jim Davis
Date: 06-Feb-25




I like spruce. I can pick a good board at a local building supply.

Don't break many and I can repair them.

From: ottertails
Date: 06-Feb-25




Hunt98, either one. Consensus here lately seems to be Doug Fir. Myself, I invested in POC long ago, it's what I prefer and wouldn't hesitate to use on any animal here in N. America.

I've used Doug Fir and they make a great arrow but no better than cedars imo. I broke them just as easily as I did cedars. They are a bit heavier but I found them to be somewhat brittle. With Cedar, you have that oil that can't be air or kiln dried out, making them more resilient I would think. That oil can leach out on certain shafts as I can attest to on those I've had stored for 25-40 years. No big deal other than it messes with the stains ...I've let those leachers out in the sun to hopefully evaporate that oil, it worked some but I gave up on that.

Does it really need to be said? Here it is anyway, a quality wood arrow that's tuned to the bow with a sharp head will get it done, Cedar or Fir.

From: ottertails
Date: 06-Feb-25

ottertails 's embedded Photo



Just another benefit to crafting POC arrows, that wonderful smell eh?! Back when I used a plane to taper my shafts I saved a few containers of the shavings....it's the best potpourri imo! :))

From: Greenstyk
Date: 06-Feb-25

Greenstyk's embedded Photo



Nemo and Jimmyjumpup X3. Cedar is my favorite. Wapiti has very good cedar shafts. As far as durability if you shoot a stump that isn’t rotten even a 2018 can’t stand the impact.

From: dnovo Professional Bowhunters Society - Qualified Member Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 06-Feb-25




Monkey ball X2 I see so many guys in a hurry to make arrows regardless of wood, aluminum or carbon. Making wood arrows is a labor of love. They speak to you like the others can't. Take the time to do it right and enjoy the process!

From: ottertails
Date: 06-Feb-25




I'll add to above post,...the personal satisfaction of taking game from wood arrows you've crafted yourself.

From: the Black Spot
Date: 07-Feb-25




Nice “flower” greenstyk! :)

From: wooddamon1 Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 07-Feb-25




I like them both, but cedar is my favorite for the reasons ottertails mentioned. And dnovo X2

From: Greenstyk
Date: 07-Feb-25




I’ve split several 2216s but never a 2018 and never had one flower out like that arrow did. Probably couldn’t do it again if I tried.

From: Corax_latrans
Date: 08-Feb-25




Takes a well-tuned arrow and you’ve gotta hit something really square-on…. Definitely a rarity!

From: The Beav
Date: 08-Feb-25




Another cedar guy here. Hunt with them elusively. Wood is good.

From: Bob Rowlands
Date: 08-Feb-25




Short story on cedar arrows.

I was finishing a $$$$ house several years ago and spied a pile of 8/4 rough cedar drops the framers had left in the garage. Splattered with drywall mud and dirt from sitting there for months.

For kicks I looked through the pile and found a couple drops that looked to have straight and tight arrow grade grain. I ended up making a few dozen arrows from those drops. I mean high grade arrows that fly great. A couple dozen became Christmas gifts that year.

From: monkeyball
Date: 08-Feb-25

monkeyball's embedded Photo



From: the Black Spot
Date: 10-Feb-25




Bob, cool story!

Craig? Shooting a 90# bow or what? :)





If you have already registered, please

sign in now

For new registrations

Click Here




Visit Bowsite.com A Traditional Archery Community Become a Sponsor
Stickbow.com © 2003. By using this site you agree to our Terms and Conditions and our Privacy Policy