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Post by hawkeyes on May 10, 2023 6:01:06 GMT -7
Yesterday I had some time to search for some arrow shafting. I'm planning a few bow builds as I have a plentiful supply of hickory and osage staves ready. What I wanted to do here is start a thread on how I make my natural wooden arrows from the Southern arrowwood plant. A longtime favorite of many first nations peoples here in the woodlands and for good reason. Easy to find and identify I selected my shoots averaging around 3/8". There is a natural taper to the raw shafts which is obviously excellent. Now harvesting these green shafts one will not make arrows right away. Once collected I'll allow them to dry for a few days with the bark on and gradually hand straighten them daily for a few weeks. Once dry enough I'll peel the bark and move forward with dry heat straightening which ultimately will lock the shafts into final form. To be continued!
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Arrows
May 10, 2023 6:57:16 GMT -7
Post by spence on May 10, 2023 6:57:16 GMT -7
Interesting. That plant is new to me, thanks for the education.
Spence
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Arrows
May 10, 2023 9:13:04 GMT -7
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Post by paranger on May 10, 2023 9:13:04 GMT -7
Awesome topic, Hawkeyes! Can't wait!
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Post by spence on May 10, 2023 10:25:22 GMT -7
Easy to find and identify I selected my shoots averaging around 3/8". There is a natural taper to the raw shafts which is obviously excellent. Hawkeyes, is it only the young shoots which grow long and straight enough to be useful, or are there sections of the mature plant which can be used? Spence
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RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 973
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Post by RyanAK on May 10, 2023 10:46:15 GMT -7
Neat! Great topic. One tip from straightening bamboo fly rod shafts… if a green stick is hung with a weight dangling off the tip, they’ll dry straighter and require less use of heat and hand straightening.
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coot
City-dweller
Posts: 151
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Post by coot on May 10, 2023 12:26:27 GMT -7
I had never heard of arrowwood but it appears to be native to almost the entire eastern US. I will try to spot some here in central VA.
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Arrows
May 10, 2023 17:05:20 GMT -7
Post by Black Hand on May 10, 2023 17:05:20 GMT -7
Red Osier Dogwood is my favorite.
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Post by hawkeyes on May 11, 2023 3:17:42 GMT -7
Easy to find and identify I selected my shoots averaging around 3/8". There is a natural taper to the raw shafts which is obviously excellent. Hawkeyes, is it only the young shoots which grow long and straight enough to be useful, or are there sections of the mature plant which can be used? Spence I've used both with good results. However I favor base shoots if at all possible as their natural taper is more prominent. Once dry and properly worked into serviceable arrows both preform equally from what I've noticed. It's a labor of love without a doubt.
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Post by hawkeyes on May 11, 2023 3:21:12 GMT -7
I had never heard of arrowwood but it appears to be native to almost the entire eastern US. I will try to spot some here in central VA. I find it almost exclusively along most of the edgelines of the forest and clearings. From my observations it really likes sunlight for most if not all arrowoods I've found and harvested are in open sun. My other theory to that is I've never came across any deep in the forest under the canopy. Also, doesn't seem to grow in the middle/ Northern parts of Ohio, only here in the Southern portions which is also another reason Northern Ohio is terrible, desolate and should be avoided...
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Arrows
May 11, 2023 3:27:47 GMT -7
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Post by hawkeyes on May 11, 2023 3:27:47 GMT -7
Red Osier Dogwood is my favorite. No go here... Send me some!
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Arrows
May 11, 2023 4:30:38 GMT -7
Post by Black Hand on May 11, 2023 4:30:38 GMT -7
We can work a trade. Unfortunately, the shafts should have been cut in winter for the best outcome. Honestly, I can't really tell the difference and don't remember when I cut the last batch I used.
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Post by Black Hand on May 11, 2023 4:32:29 GMT -7
I understand that blackberry makes a strong & heavy arrow shaft. Anyone tried this?
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Post by Black Hand on May 11, 2023 4:36:17 GMT -7
Excellent book: One of the many pen & ink plates:
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Arrows
May 12, 2023 7:06:00 GMT -7
via mobile
Post by hawkeyes on May 12, 2023 7:06:00 GMT -7
I understand that blackberry makes a strong & heavy arrow shaft. Anyone tried this? Collected a good amount yesterday. I'll report back in.
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Post by hawkeyes on May 12, 2023 7:23:53 GMT -7
Luckily I was able to find a few shafts that were already dry which enables me to keep the post moving. After about three/ four days I like to quickly straighten the green shafts by hand. Being green it's very easy and as they slowly loose moisture they progressively continue to hold their shape. When the point is reached for stripping the bark (usually a week or two) I'll scrape the bark a proceed to dry heat and straighten more meticulously from there till satisfied. Worth noting, unlike river cane which is very pliable under heat and can be scorched without issue to properly heat straighten wood shafting the inner core needs to be well heated. One may inevitably scorch the outside quickly and think there is enough heat to bend and it will, however the bend will not be permanent. I slowly heat the area until it's to hot to touch and wait for a little darkening to develop then bend. You'll know when you've reached a moldable state as the wood has plenty of give. After I'm satisfied I'll cut to length, final scrape, burnish and apply whatever finish. Keeping it totally primitive I prefer bear grease. I can't stress enough not to rush the process. Be slow and methodical and the efforts will be rewarded. To be continued!
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