Why do you make your own arrows?
 

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

RE: Why do you make your own arrows?
 

There are several reasons why I make my own arrows.
1. I'm better at it then anyone else. :D
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.

RE: Why do you make your own arrows?
 

With an axe :D

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.

RE: Why do you make your own arrows?
 

why would you cut 1 in. off the back ?

RE: Why do you make your own arrows?
 

You certainly have more control over your eqipment if doing it yourself. If you go through a ton of fletch (like I do:D) 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.;)

RE: Why do you make your own arrows?
 

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":)

RE: Why do you make your own arrows?
 

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.

RE: Why do you make your own arrows?
 

Because I'm an Archery Junkie![:o]

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.:(

RE: Why do you make your own arrows?
 

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.

RE: Why do you make your own arrows?
 

Jeff answered for me.
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:)

RE: Why do you make your own arrows?
 

Why do I make my own?

Because no one will take as much time and care making my arrows as I will.

And then I know they are done to my satisfaction and there's only one guy to blame if they're not....

I can experiment with different fletching styles (offset, helical, straight), play with feathers or vanes, and different fletching lengths.

I can individually weigh each component (raw shaft, inserts, nocks, fletches, points) and get all my arrows virtually the same finished weight. All my current 12 Navigator field arrows are within .2-.3 grains of each other. You can't get that from any store bought arrows....

RE: Why do you make your own arrows?
 

Aside from all the other reasons mentioned here...
For me it is a completely theraputic.
You see, I have 5 small boys and after they get done driving me nuts, like on a rainy day when no one can get outside, I barracade myself in my workshop, sit down at my bench and make arrows. Aaahhhhh,...and now I feel the stress begin to melt away;)

RE: Why do you make your own arrows?
 

I get a great deal of personal satisfaction from fletching my own arrows. The sense of having accomplished something that it both practical and very aesthetic is very pleasing to me....and, as the others mentioned...you can keep a good deal of control over many of the variables that create solid, consistant arrows.

I use an Apple motorized arrow saw to cut my arrows to length.

I definitely feel it is worth it from more than just the financial aspect. Walking out on a 3D course or into the deer woods with a product that I helped to "manufacture" is a deeply satisfying experience.

I am an arrow "fabricator".....:D

RE: Why do you make your own arrows?
 

How much money do you save doing a dozen arrows for yourself and how olng does it take you??

RE: Why do you make your own arrows?
 

Most places charge around 2 bucks to fletch and arrow and you can do it yourself for about 50-75 cents or possibly cheaper.

Money is one thing but the stress relief is priceless.


EB

RE: Why do you make your own arrows?
 

I'm GOING to start making my own arrows because I've been less than satisfied with the quality I get from 'pro' shops.
I will take the time to make them all as perfect as I can. They won't.
Examples...
(1)I've had new carbons cut with inserts put in, and noticed the end of one was chipped on the end that was just cut!
The tech didn't notice this when he installed the insert ?! [:@]
(2)Then, on another batch from a different place, I found that 2 of a group of six were a slightly different length!
How the heck does that happen ?! [:'(]
(3)Another time, I wanted 5 arrows refletched to match the rest of my dozen so they would all be the same, but when they came back, they were not only a different rate of twist, but the wrong DIRECTION of twist. WTF !!! [:@][:@][:@]

I'm giving up and making my own.
I'll be proud of my accomplishment, I'll have better arrows to shoot with, they'll be exactly what I want, and I've got an excuse to spend more time doing something archery-related. :D:)
Besides, I want to be able to make cheap and quick fletch repairs at home.

RE: Why do you make your own arrows?
 

Saves money, adds a little personal touch, theyre more consistant. I use the saw at the shop i work at, fletch with a jo-jan at home.

RE: Why do you make your own arrows?
 

I am glad I am not the only one who hears those voices:D

RE: Why do you make your own arrows?
 

You won't save much up front, but if you are in it for the long haul you will save some money. And I guess that really depends on what tools you buy. Spend $400 on stuff, you gotta fletch alot to break even. I used to fletch arrows for friends and a local shop, so I got all my stuff paid for fairly quick. As for time....it doesn't take that long. For me to completely do a dozen it takes about a half hour. Most times I do it while I'm doing something else, so the time is kinda moot anyhow. I like doing my own mainly (like others have said) because I can control what I have much better.