Wood arrows
 

This is kind of going off of Diehards thread. Whats the advantages of shooting wood arrows? Disadvantages too if you will? Is there different kinds of wood that is better? I will shoot these in the future but would like some insight from the folks who've shot them and know a thing or 2 about them.

Thanks!

RE: Wood arrows
 

I notice the advantages are the shot is quieter. Just seems the wood soaks up that noise, where aluminum is an excellent conductor for vibrations and ossiclates more. Also, wood seems to be more forgiving in spine.

But wood is dynamic, where it will change spine over its life. You have to hand staighten them and often. Aluminums you don't. Points can be a pain to keep on, espeically if you target practice in cold weather.

RE: Wood arrows
 

Then aluminum or other woods?

For wood:

Better would be described as what attributes you are looking for.

For straightness, I think cedar is best.
For weight, the heaviest would be ash/maple/laminated birch. Fir is also heavier then cedar but lighter then the others mentioned.
For ease of straightning, I think fir would be the easiest. Some of the hard woods require heat.
For retention of straightness, I think cedar would be best.
If you are looking for higher FOC, you could use a footed arrow. But you still won't too high.

RE: Wood arrows
 

Other than being quieter, there really aren't a whole bunch of advantages to using wood arrows. Just like there aren't a whole lot of advantages to driving a '49 Chevy pickup vs a brand new Silverado. But it's kinda neat, getting behind the wheel of a 49 and tooling down an old gravel road once in awhile. Same with wood arrows. It reconnects me with my archery roots. Nostalgia, if you will.

Besides, if we were wanting advantages, we wouldn't be shooting traditional gear. Now would we. ;)

RE: Wood arrows
 

I don’t know much about them, but I did shoot them when I jumped back into the trad thing. That was a bad combo. They broke, easily and often. I’m sure now that I’m a better shot, I’d break them less often, but I still like durability in my arrows.

RE: Wood arrows
 

They are a pain in the butt for me. I have gone all carbon. Forgive me trad gods, but I got lazy and tired of dealing with wood. Ive used ash, cedar, and cain. All cool and are truly traditional, but as mentioned, wood will warp, and when and animal lays on one, its toast. I like to get a lot of life from my shafts. The only thing I can think of for using them is to stay as traditional as you can. Other than that, they dont do anything more for me than any other shaft. They are a bit quieter, but not enough for me to go back to them. I look at it this way, buy/make a wooden shaft that will cost time and/or money, that is not the most durable. Or go with another material that will last. I guess im a cheap arse.:D

RE: Wood arrows
 

Good stuff there guys!! Reason I want to do it is to try and be more "Traditional" I guess. I was surprised in most of the replys. I thought there would of been more positives then what was listed.

BobC,

If I do this what type of wood arrow should I go with in your opinion? What would you suggest for a 1st timer shooting woods? You know my bow set up already.

RE: Wood arrows
 

I'd say cedar. Fir is also good, but it seems to unstraighten easier then cedar IMO. On theother hand, it is heavier then cedar and easier to straighten. I believe that there is a cross chart between aluminum and wood arrows at Arrows by Kelly's website thatwill match you with the right wood arrow. Or if you are going to go with an arrow maker get his/her opinion.

I actually kind of shy arrow from woods similar to Burnie. I still shoot some though.

RE: Wood arrows
 

I shoot wood arrows, but could care less about being more "traditional". They are quiet and forgiving--and most of the larger tournaments I shoot in require wood shafts to compete in the longbow and selfbow classes.

It has gotten harder to get good shafting, and they are time consuming to make, and the prices have gotten out of reason......but I still like 'em.

Chad

RE: Wood arrows
 

I want to try river cane but not sure of a good source. They say its hard to find the right spine and wieght. Usually wieght is too low.

RE: Wood arrows
 

Good point, never thought of it that way!

RE: Wood arrows
 

BC, I've never made arrows from it but I can cut a truckload of the stuff with 1/2 a mile of my house. I made a ground blind from it last year--about a 10 x 10. The blind didn't work--it was so dry here all the leaves fell off--but it looked real good for a couple of weeks (before season opened).

I've been tempted to try it, but I don't have time for the projects I have now.[&o] Heard it makes a great arrow.

Chad

RE: Wood arrows
 

when you guys talk about laminated shafting is it "Flat" laminated(like plywood) ?????
do they make Radial laminated Arrows?????

RE: Wood arrows
 

Check this out (Whispering Winds type shaft):

RE: Wood arrows
 

i call that Radial lamination....(cross section looks like a cut pie)

wheni think about it Flat laminated shafting shouldnt even work becase the spine is inconsistent...depending on which way the laminates are laying...(it bends more one way than the other..)

here is a laminate Cue shaft....
http://www.meuccicues.com/blackdot-chart.htm
they put a Black dot on it thats supposed to face up all the time when you hold your cue to shoot....because the shaft flexes more one way than the other...they mark the area where the spine is consistant

.....(for those that play pool i think deflection because of cue shafts...(meucci's sales pitchis complete BS.)


look at this lamination...its radial but different than the "pie" type

RE: Wood arrows
 

Wish I lived where there was more. If I ever get down south ever again, I will cut some. I would have to sort, spine and separate by wieght.

RE: Wood arrows
 

BC, if you can figure out an economical way to ship them, I can send you a bunch.

I could be wrong, but I just don't buy into the laminated shaft thing. Wood has variables--no two pieces are just alike. That doesn't change by glueing a bunch of them together. I've tried a few, several years ago, but went back to "regular" shafts. That's just me though.

Chad

RE: Wood arrows
 

I just prefer wood. More traditional ( I know Microflites, Alum's been around a while too!). Wood is aesthetically prettier, my opinion is they penetratebetter, I like Cedar, but I like Doug Fir even better, penetrate better, and have great arrow flight. With proper spine and evenly matched weight and tuning, I don't feel there are any disadvantages.

RE: Wood arrows
 

I might try to come to a trad event next year near ya.

RE: Wood arrows
 

Cool! Barring no disasters, the one I'd suggest is the TN Classic at Twin Oaks, the first weekend of May. A couple other great ones are the Howard Hill and the Jerry Pierce shoots.

Chad

RE: Wood arrows
 

I will plan for it. This year wife has a short leash on me with the 3month baby. I was supposed to go to Denton tomorrow but she suggests it might be better to stay at home.[:o]

RE: Wood arrows
 

dont worry you'll get used to that Short Leash[&:]

whats the deal with "Compressed" shafting.....do they do this with all shafting????
or is it an extra step that some makers take...

compressed from what i understand is that they take the dowel or shaft,im not sure when they do it during the process........ but they compress the wood with a heavy die

RE: Wood arrows
 

But that ring in the nose will always be an irritant. And it never goes away. [8D]

Hardly any shafting is compressed, Alpha. I don't know who's making them now, but Bill Sweetland started making compressed shafts a long time ago, named Forgewood arrows. Don't know when he started making them but they've been around at least as long as I have. But you're right. They run them through a die, basically squashing 23/64th cedar shafts into 5/16ths shafts. It makes them a lot tougher and they're less susceptable to changes in humidity.

RE: Wood arrows
 

Steve, Without looking at the other threads I'll give you my opinion...

I actually never shot carbon or aluminum with my recurves when i shot them...only because those were the cards I was handed by my uncles..I sort of listened to them...I guess whatever flies the best and works best for you...Obviously you're deadly...I think you use aluminum?

If you can find a good cedar that flies right for you...I'd give it a go....I think the WheelLESS bows and cedar make a nice match.....and cedar looks good with a little blood on it...especially when mamma is taking a pic of you, a deer..and your little baby..... :)

RE: Wood arrows
 

in certain 3D competions,,traditional wood is thrown in with carbon,,no separate class,,,wood vs carbon it does make a difference.. wood should have its own class,,for every shooy
jpw

RE: Wood arrows
 

The tournament I shot last Sat. was a "mixed" shoot, with everyone who shot a bow without wheels put in the "traditional" class--longbows, recurves, selfbows, flatbows; wood, aluminum, carbon, arrows. I was shooting wood, shot half the course in the rain, and came within a few points of setting a new course record in the traditional class. Good wood arrows will shoot as good, if not better, than any. Wood shafts seem to be more forgiving--I've talked with several folks, some of who could out-shoot me any day of the week, who feel the same way.

I prefer POC, but spruce and fir also make good shafts IMO.

The big problem with wood is the quality can vary a LOT--I've seen shafts that wouldn't make good tomato stakes for sale, and even made into arrows.

Chad

RE: Wood arrows
 

I dont know what wood(poc) shafts cost now, but back in the day, we could get 100 shafts for 10 dollars. Seconds were 5 dollars. Those days are gone ,sadly. Tox