Milton, in a way you make my point for me. Yes, on paper 1lb is 1lb, regardless if it's feathers or steel. However, saying that the results would be the same with either one? It doesn't take a genious to figure that out.Let's take it a step further--say the 1# of steel is a cylinder with a sharp end, and thesharp endis pointed down--still won't make a difference? It's still 1# vs. 1#. That's the difference between an equation on paper and the real world--the real world has variables that don't always show upon paper.


On the arrows, I don't claim to be an expert, but I'm not a novice either. Just for giggles, I pulled three different arrows made from three different woods and checked the weight and spine. Here's what that not-so-scientific test showed.

Port Orford Cedar, spined 75-80, weighed 566 grains
Sitka Spruce, spined 75-80, weighed 644 grains
Ash, spined 80-85, weighed 750 grains

Why else would folks tout certain arrows for added weight? Maple, ash, and hickory all will weigh a lot more than spruce, cedar, or fir in the same spine. Nobody has to take my word for it--ask anyone that deals in wood arrows, especially those folks that make a living at it, and see what answer you get.

Simply put, density does not always equal stiffness when you are talking about different woods. Shoot, you build bows--do you ever use laminations from a particular wood that are lighter, but stiffer than a different wood? Why would you think that wouldn't apply to arrows also? Now, if you are comparing apples to apples, that does usually apply to some degree. A Port Orford Cedar shaft that spines out 85# isgoing to weigh more than another POC shaft of the same diameterthat spines 40#, but that rule doesn't apply when you are comparing POC to Ash.

The ash arrows are, by the way, leftovers from a bow I no longer own that was about 10 lbs lighter in draw weight than the one I currently shoot. They spine weak on the bow I shoot now, even though the old bow was cut past center and the one I shoot now is cut to center. Spruce and POC that isspined 10# lighter than the ash shoots just fine.

The bottom line is everything about this sport can't be figured out on paper with a calculator and a slide rule. The laws of physics do generally apply, but certain variables have to be considered. Unless of course you are a bumblebee, who doesn't pay any attention to physics at all.

I don't agree with everything O.L. says either, but he does have some good info. on tuning. I like his info. because it's based on the results you get, which is all that matters in the end.

Chad