I've just made my first dozen trad arrows!
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I've just made my first dozen trad arrows!
After my recent brief stay in hospital, my Mrs has decreed that some quiet time at home was on the cards - after the first few days, boredom was driving me insane!!!! So I arranged a quick trip (2.5hrs each way) to see Mark at TRADBITS (http://www.tradbits.com.au) to pick up all of the gear that I'd need to have a go at making my first set of Trad Arows. Mark was brilliant and had everything that I needed and provided plenty of helpful hints and advice!
I used 11/32 sitka spruce shafts with white cock feather and 2 purple to offset. 125g tip and white nock. The shaft was stained walnut and given 2 coats of satin finish clear varnish. The end was then tipped with white enamel paint and the business end given another 6 coats of the satin varnish. The Big Dipper - dipping tube was brilliant and saved so much time and gave a great finish to the arrows.
...was a great way to spend some quiet time at home...I really enjoyed the process!
Pics to follow of my process...
Cheers,
Paul
I used 11/32 sitka spruce shafts with white cock feather and 2 purple to offset. 125g tip and white nock. The shaft was stained walnut and given 2 coats of satin finish clear varnish. The end was then tipped with white enamel paint and the business end given another 6 coats of the satin varnish. The Big Dipper - dipping tube was brilliant and saved so much time and gave a great finish to the arrows.
...was a great way to spend some quiet time at home...I really enjoyed the process!
Pics to follow of my process...
Cheers,
Paul
Last edited by blu-dog on Mon Apr 13, 2009 2:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
The best trophies I can hope to acquire as a husband, father, friend or hunter are MEMORIES!
They will travel with me wherever life's path leads...
They will travel with me wherever life's path leads...
Re: I've just made my first dozen trad arrows!
...my apologies...pics have come through in reverse order!
- Attachments
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- P1010659.JPG (58.17 KiB) Viewed 3319 times
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- P1010658.JPG (52.54 KiB) Viewed 3318 times
The best trophies I can hope to acquire as a husband, father, friend or hunter are MEMORIES!
They will travel with me wherever life's path leads...
They will travel with me wherever life's path leads...
Re: I've just made my first dozen trad arrows!
Look Great.
Only one mistake - A dozen arrows is not enough what are you going to do for the rest of the week???
Only one mistake - A dozen arrows is not enough what are you going to do for the rest of the week???
Grahame.
Shoot a Selfbow, embrace Wood Arrows, discover Vintage, be a Trendsetter.
"Unfortunately, the equating of simplicity with truth doesn't often work in real life. It doesn't often work in science, either." Dr Len Fisher.
Shoot a Selfbow, embrace Wood Arrows, discover Vintage, be a Trendsetter.
"Unfortunately, the equating of simplicity with truth doesn't often work in real life. It doesn't often work in science, either." Dr Len Fisher.
Re: I've just made my first dozen trad arrows!
...having a go at making a leather back quiver - starting tomorrow!
The best trophies I can hope to acquire as a husband, father, friend or hunter are MEMORIES!
They will travel with me wherever life's path leads...
They will travel with me wherever life's path leads...
- Hellspawn
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Re: I've just made my first dozen trad arrows!
Nice work, mate!
I don't agree with the chosen colours, but that's just because I like dark colours for my gear. They look very well done; congratulations!
I don't agree with the chosen colours, but that's just because I like dark colours for my gear. They look very well done; congratulations!
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Re: I've just made my first dozen trad arrows!
mate if that is your first go...............cannot wait to see the next set.
Those bright feathers and white capping help when you have to look in the scrub on the odd occasion it happens.....these arrows would stand out nicely on a FITA target too. Nice start. My first were never as good as that......
Kevin
Those bright feathers and white capping help when you have to look in the scrub on the odd occasion it happens.....these arrows would stand out nicely on a FITA target too. Nice start. My first were never as good as that......
Kevin
never complain....you did not have to wake up....every day is an extra bonus and costs nothing.
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Re: I've just made my first dozen trad arrows!
Real nice result Paul I really like the wood finish. Good advice from Mark you wont go past good Sitka Spruce for value. Streets ahead of the quality of Port Orford thats currently available ex US. Nice for a first.
Tony S.
Tony S.
Re: I've just made my first dozen trad arrows!
Mate they are some of the best first batch of arrows i've seen.
Cheers, Toby
Re: I've just made my first dozen trad arrows!
Good work Paul, hope you are recovering quickly. If you ignore the bare-tuning part of the shenanigans, arrow making is very relaxing and rewarding. Something special about a bit of wood you stuck the feathers and bits on flying well and looking good.
- Benny Nganabbarru
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Re: I've just made my first dozen trad arrows!
Top job!
It's the great, big, broad land 'way up yonder,
It's the forests where silence has lease;
It's the beauty that thrills me with wonder,
It's the stillness that fills me with peace.
It's the forests where silence has lease;
It's the beauty that thrills me with wonder,
It's the stillness that fills me with peace.
Re: I've just made my first dozen trad arrows!
Thanks for the feedback gentlemen!
Keen to make another set now!!! I really enjoyed spending some time out in the shed!!!
Keen to make another set now!!! I really enjoyed spending some time out in the shed!!!
The best trophies I can hope to acquire as a husband, father, friend or hunter are MEMORIES!
They will travel with me wherever life's path leads...
They will travel with me wherever life's path leads...
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Re: I've just made my first dozen trad arrows!
I liked your arrows so much that I had a few more looks....I did notice something that might be worth considering........
I got the impression that you might have used fletching tape with almost straight fletches. As a cautionary note I have found as well as some others, that the feathers tend to lift off unless there is at least a slight hellical twist. I tie mine on after using the tape and have no trouble at all......even with straight fletching that is slightly off set.
Mick Smith started a long and interesting discussion on this that is on here somewhere and it is certainly worth consideration.
Kevin
I got the impression that you might have used fletching tape with almost straight fletches. As a cautionary note I have found as well as some others, that the feathers tend to lift off unless there is at least a slight hellical twist. I tie mine on after using the tape and have no trouble at all......even with straight fletching that is slightly off set.
Mick Smith started a long and interesting discussion on this that is on here somewhere and it is certainly worth consideration.
Kevin
never complain....you did not have to wake up....every day is an extra bonus and costs nothing.
Re: I've just made my first dozen trad arrows!
Thanks for the suggestion Kevin...I'm now looking into getting a helical jig for my next set... What do you tie them on with?
The best trophies I can hope to acquire as a husband, father, friend or hunter are MEMORIES!
They will travel with me wherever life's path leads...
They will travel with me wherever life's path leads...
- stringnstik
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Re: I've just made my first dozen trad arrows!
Great thanks bludog, My Shannen loves that colour combo, now she wants some
"I am the arrow..the arrow is me...together as one...I fly to thee"
"the stick maybe crooked and the string hath no form,
then married by bowyer, transforms when first drawn"
"twang....thud"
"the stick maybe crooked and the string hath no form,
then married by bowyer, transforms when first drawn"
"twang....thud"
Re: I've just made my first dozen trad arrows!
They look lovely mate, have you had a chance to let them fly? How do the sitka spruce shafts go? What poundage bow will they be used with?
I was extremely disappointed with some vic ash shafts I bought previously and am looking for alternatives to that and port orford cedar. Someone recommended scots pine?
I was extremely disappointed with some vic ash shafts I bought previously and am looking for alternatives to that and port orford cedar. Someone recommended scots pine?
- Gringa Bows
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Re: I've just made my first dozen trad arrows!
arrows look good Paul.................Rod
- Brett Finger
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Re: I've just made my first dozen trad arrows!
great job mate,
glad you have stuck with it and came to the dark side...
why the hell you not ring me and let me know you been crook,i had the abnormaly large one over the other day fiting security screens and he didnt mention anything . ( i could have thrown stones on ya roof at night... hehehe )
i got a new phone yesterday and recieved yours ( and half of australias messages )
will tex / ring you today for goss,
thers some good Pigs geting around at the moment, so will have to see how ya go when back on deck
Brae and i will be out next sunday week for a shoot,( off to the bay for a 3 day Hot-Rod show this weekend ) finally got the Mk2 Zepher out the way and sold ( new project in shed )
the weathers coling off again, so its back into hunting full time.. hehehe
once again, good job on the arras ...
Kind Refgards, Brett
glad you have stuck with it and came to the dark side...
why the hell you not ring me and let me know you been crook,i had the abnormaly large one over the other day fiting security screens and he didnt mention anything . ( i could have thrown stones on ya roof at night... hehehe )
i got a new phone yesterday and recieved yours ( and half of australias messages )
will tex / ring you today for goss,
thers some good Pigs geting around at the moment, so will have to see how ya go when back on deck
Brae and i will be out next sunday week for a shoot,( off to the bay for a 3 day Hot-Rod show this weekend ) finally got the Mk2 Zepher out the way and sold ( new project in shed )
the weathers coling off again, so its back into hunting full time.. hehehe
once again, good job on the arras ...
Kind Refgards, Brett
So long as the new Moon returns in heaven a bent, beautiful bow , so long will the fasicnation of Archery keep hold of the hearts of Men
Foundation member - East Coast TRAD Bowhunters - E.C.T.B - we are smoke, we are rumor
NUTGRASS >>----> Nobody knows where he came from, & nobody knows how to get rid of him
Foundation member - East Coast TRAD Bowhunters - E.C.T.B - we are smoke, we are rumor
NUTGRASS >>----> Nobody knows where he came from, & nobody knows how to get rid of him