Why do you make your own arrows?

[atlasman]

What is the benefit?

How do you cut them??......do you guys have saws??

Does it save you a lot of money?


I was thinking of getting a fletcher to fix some vanes and got to thinking maybe I would make myself some arrows.

Is it worth it or should I just get my arrows premade from the proshop?


Thanks

[ewolf]

There are several reasons why I make my own arrows.
1. I'm better at it then anyone else.
2. If I make them on my jigs its easy to fix damaged vanes.
3. I use aluminum glue on carbons, because it is a bettter glue. It works great have never had one come off. Its a slower setting glue, but more weather tolerant.
4. I enjoy doing it.
5. I sunk $700 in good fletching jigs, I got to get that money back somehow.

I cut mine with an Apple rotor saw. Its up to you if it is worth it. I make about 20 dozen arrows a year, I have gotten really good at it and enjoy doing it. It takes time to get good at making arrows, but you care about the outcome, some guy in a factory could care less if the arrows are perfect. It will cost about $200 bucks to get started. You could get the shafts cut to length from some mail order companys, to save the cash on the saw.

[Kanga]

How do you cut them??......

With an axe

No seriously I cut them with a saw the reason I like to do it is at, a pro shop or mail order place they usually only cut the arrow from one end where I like to take an 1" off the nock end then cut to lenght.

Also if you have your own jig then as Ewolf said you can repair one vane/feather.
Over time you can save a lot of money by making and repairing your own arrows.

If you are just starting out then get the Arizona Easy Fletcher it does all 3 at the one time and is simple and easy to use.

Check out ebay for the arrow saw you can pic up some bargains there.

[PA.JAY]

why would you cut 1 in. off the back ?

[Trushot_archer]

You certainly have more control over your eqipment if doing it yourself. If you go through a ton of fletch (like I do) than it can be cheaper. My buddy has a small shop and he let's me use his saw but I fletch them old school, right helical, one at a time on the Bitzen jig.

Mostly I just do repair work due to lack of time. I work a lot and when I have free time I'd rather shoot than fletch.

[JeffB]

Because I'm totally anal about my arrows...especially carbons.

IME carbons need to be cut from both ends to get the straightest shaft. Then I grind down the ends square to make sure components will fit as straight as possible.

I also like my fletches to be a bit further up the shaft than most people fletch them. Keeps them from making contact with my face/goat-tee.

Plus I like to experiement for best spine & FOC along with different degrees of helical/offset, size of vanes/feathers, and different vane types.

And it's fun.

Once in great while I'll buy shop or factory fletched but it's purely a convenience thing. My shop does a pretty good job w/ fletching but I still prefer to "roll my own"

[BGfisher]

True what the others said. I've "rolled my own" for almost 30 years now. Once you have your jig set you can repair one vane/feather at a time. If you're like me then you experiment with different vanes, different angles, You can pick the colors you want. You don't have to wait. And it's FUN. It like taking a little pride in what you do with your own two hands.
To expand on what Jeff said about cutting from both ends of a shaft, he's speaking of carbon. Carbon shafts can be "not straight". If this is so it is usually at the ends. So what many of us do is cut an equal amount from each end when we cut the shafts. This almost ensures that you are getting most imperfections out. It's not fullproof but works pretty well.

[rcd567]

Because I'm an Archery Junkie![]

Hello,
My name is Bob and I'm an Arrow Aholic.[&o]

I'm sorry but the little voices in my head keep telling me I need more arrows.

[pdq 5oh]

I'm with Jeff here. I have absolute control over my arrows if I pick out the shafts, then "roll my own". I almost enjoy watching TV while fletching some arrows. You can also pick the exact color fletches you want. I use fluorescent yellow and orange on my hunting arrows, and red, white, and blue on my target and 3D arrows. Besides, I don't think anyone will take the time to do the best possible job on YOUR stuff, as you will.

[Kanga]

why would you cut 1 in. off the back ?

Jeff answered for me.

IME carbons need to be cut from both ends to get the straightest shaft. Then I grind down the ends square to make sure components will fit as straight as possible.

If you have ever spun some bare shafts prior to cutting you will be surprised just how many will have a slight wobble on the nock end
And no tuning is going to help an arrow fly right if it has a slight wobble on the nock end