Fact Sheet 6 Making Ronald A. Howard Jr.*

Many archers enjoy making increase mass. Wooden been exposed to the graphite their own arrows because it shafts must be lacquered or fibers. Those fibers are hard, allows them to exercise painted full length to protect stiff and fine. They survive personal quality control, add them from moisture. cooking well and can cause injury if swallowed. Many special features, personalize the Fiberglass shafts are lighter than target archers, particularly arrows in other ways or add to wooden shafts of the same spine those shooting bows equipped their shooting enjoyment. weight. They remain relatively with overdraws, prefer graphite Making arrows involves straight, and they can be matched shafts. several steps, but it is not in spine and arrow mass much difficult. High quality arrows better than wooden shafts. Aluminum shafts have been the can be made with care and Although fiberglass is a tough standard of both target archers attention to detail. material, these shafts are subject and bowhunters for many Shaft Selection to splitting on impact. They also years. The shafts can be made tend to shatter or splinter if to very close tolerances in a The first step is selecting the variety of alloys, offering easy shaft type and size desired. struck along their length. Shafts with internal damage may even matching in spine and weight. Arrow shafts are available in Aluminum shaft materials may wood, fiberglass, graphite, shatter during a release. Fiberglass has been an excellent be obtained in inexpensive soft aluminum and graphite- alloys that are easily bent or aluminum combinations. arrow material for beginning archers, combining toughness, straightened, or very hard ones Wood shafts are traditional. durability and reasonable that are durable but hard to Historically they have been consistency with modest cost. straighten and expensive. The fairly inexpensive, but quality However, fiberglass shaft range of materials makes shafts may be difficult to find. material has become much more finding an optimum shaft Finding shafts that match in difficult to obtain. material for your shooting spine and weight can be a Another composite material used application possible. challenge, and keeping them in arrow production uses graphite Aluminum-graphite straight can be an even greater fibers for its strength. Graphite combinations combine features one. American Indians used (carbon) is much stiffer than of both materials. several hardwoods for shafts. fiberglass (silica) even though it Arrows must be matched in The most common material is is lighter in weight, which results mass and spine, and they must Port Orford cedar. Some in a thinner, lighter arrow for any be straight to allow accurate wooden shafts, like Forgewood given spine. Graphite fibers are and precise shooting. Shaft shafts, are compressed to also more expensive than glass manufacturers and reduce their diameter without fibers. Arrow manufacturers supply houses provide graphs sacrificing strength. Bow recently recommended that or tables to assist the shooter in hunters seeking very large graphite not be used for hunting selecting the proper shafts for game sometimes insert a arrows unless care was taken to his or her bow and shooting compressed wood shaft in remove all meat that might have purpose. In most cases, any another type of arrow shaft to

• 4-H and Youth Development Specialist, Texas Agricultural Extension Service.

4-H Shooting Sports Guide 1 Revised 08-14 (GA) given draw weight and length will Hunting archers and many field to be held in place until the have a range of sizes suggested. archers cut their shafts a little adhesive sets or cools. If Most target archers can use the longer. The broadhead needs to screw-in adapters are used, a lightest shaft that will fly well in clear the back of the bow, the precaution should be sued to their bows. Bowhunters are often archer’s hand or the rest on the prevent glue from getting wiser to select a shaft on the stiff overdraw. Usually an allowance of into the threads. Apply a side. The heavier, more massive about two centimeters (3/4 inch) is liberal amount of petroleum heads used in tend to added to the length. This jelly to the threads of a “soften” shaft behavior. Consider compensates for overdrawing the broadhead (without blades) your personal experience with your shaft when the shooter is excited. or a field point. Screw the bow and tuning when selecting the Specify the draw length or cut head into the adapter, being proper shaft. length of the arrows when careful not to get the petroleum jelly on the Cutting to Length ordering shafts. Draw length is measured from the bottom of the outside of the adapter. Then Once the shaft type is selected, the string notch in the nock. One of attach the insert as described shafts must be cut to the the best ways to measure draw above. An added advantage appropriate length. Extra length length is with a draw-check arrow of having the head screwed may be helpful for young people, in a light bow. Draw to your into the adapter is the ability but it adds arrow mass and softens anchor and have a friend note the to check the alignment of the the spine of the shaft; this results in true draw or the distance to the adapter in the shaft. Spin the reduced arrow speed, greater drop face of the bow or the rests on the arrow on its point. If it at any given distance and higher overdraw. Once that distance is wobbles, re-heat the adapter trajectories. Errors in distance known, determine the length the area and adjust it until it estimation become more critical shafts should be cut. Be sure the spins true. with slower arrows. Missing high person cutting the shafts de-burrs Composite shafts may have or low is a greater problem for them when they are cut. adapters at both ends. Most archers using them. archers prefer to use epoxy Wooden shafts may be Attaching the Inserts adhesives to attach the manufactured full length, then cut Wooden shafts are tapered with a inserts. The epoxy is mixed to length and tapered just before cutting tool resembling a hand according to manufacturers the is attached. Other pencil sharpener to receive the instructions. It is applied to types of shafts are cut to length nock and the point. Other shafts the body of the insert and before the arrow is made. Cutting are tubular. They use inserts or inserted into the body of the requires use of an abrasive cutoff built-in tapers for the nock and the shaft with a pushing and wheel. Home cutting is not re- point. Some types of inserts have twisting motion. If screw-in commended without proper tools, screw-in adapters that accept adapters are used, the because some techniques alter the several types of points. precautions outlined above to diameter, shape or character of the The type of shaft material prevent fouling the threads shaft around the cut end. influences the way the inserts are with glue should be followed. Target archers usually cut their fixed in place. Meltable adhesives, Be sure to use the appropriate shafts to true draw length. The base like ferrule cement, are usually adapters in each end of the of the head reaches the rest at full used on aluminum shafts. The shaft. draw. For young people and cement forms a solid bond that is beginning archers, draw length slightly flexible and durable. It is Cleaning and changes over time. Cutting to true applied by melting a small amount Preparing the Shaft draw length gives maximum of adhesive on the insert, warming performance, but it may result in the end of the shaft and pushing Spending a little time and arrows that are “out-grown” in a the insert into the shaft with a effort preparing the shaft short time span. twisting motion. The insert needs before applying the fletching

4-H Shooting Sports Guide 2 Revised 08-14 (GA) can pay great dividends in loosely, or they may snap onto the than feathers. Several durability. Most adhesive string. Snap-on nocks are available specialized types of vanes are manufacturers encourage applying a from several manufacturers in available to the target shooter. base of lacquer to aid in the bonding several styles. All nocks come in a Many target shooters use process. A clean surface is essential variety of sizes. Shaft feathers indoors and vanes for good adhesion by the lacquer manufacturers specify the proper outdoors. base. nock size for their shafts. The use of the arrow dictates Lacquer manufacturers supply the amount of fletching instructions on preparing the shafts Before the nock is applies, the nock insert or nock taper must be cleaned needed for stability. Light for good adhesion. Metal shafts may target arrows can be shot with be scrubbed with a milk cleanser, thoroughly. Excess adhesive or lacquer should be removed by only three small vanes for rinsed and dried. They can also be guidance. Heavy broadhead cleaned with a lacquer thinner or scraping or with a small piece of sandpaper. Use a rotating motion to hunting arrows may require lacquer remover and rubbed dry. three or four much larger Composite shafts can be scrubbed avoid making flat spots or irregularities in the nock taper. vanes to achieve the same with a cleanser and rinsed, washed amount of stability. Flight with alcohol or otherwise prepared Place a drop of fletching cement on arrows have very small as instructed by the manufacturer. the tip of the nock taper. Turn the amounts of fletching. On the Care taken with the cleaning pays shaft to spread the glue around the other end of the spectrum, off over the life of the shaft. taper. Attach the nock with a there are arrows designed for If the shafts are going to be dipped twisting motion, much like placing limited flight. Flu-flu arrows full length, they may be dipped as a nut on a bolt. The nock must be use massive amounts of soon as they are completely dry. If aligned with the shaft for best fletching, six full-length they are going to be dipped only shooting results, so care in placing feathers for example, to slow partially, each shaft should be it is essential. Some serious hunters the arrow rapidly after a short lightly marked with a pencil at the and target shooters use a jig to flight. ensure proper nock alignment. end of the dipped area. Lacquer is The fletching style represents best applied by dipping the shafts Set the shaft aside for a few minutes a compromise. Straight one at a time into a tube filled with to let the adhesive set. By the time a fletching, with the vanes the desired lacquer. If you want to dozen nocks have been applied, the aligned with the shaft gives keep the natural color of the shafts, first one will be set up firmly less control and more speed use a clear lacquer instead of a enough to allow the fletching to be than those types that impart colored lacquer if you prefer. After applied. more spin to the shaft in the arrows have been dipped, allow Applying the Fletching flight. Some archers like to them to drip for a moment to angle the vanes slightly to remove the excess lacquer. Hang Selection of fletching material is a give the shaft additional spin. them by their tips in a clean, well- matter of both personal preference Others prefer a helical fletch ventilated place to cure. The lacquer and use. Feathers offer more to give the shaft a higher is extremely durable, so make sure control. In archer’s jargon, they are spinning rate, accepting the the floor and other surfaces are more forgiving. They hiss in flight, sacrifice in speed for the extra protected. Once the arrows have are affected by inclement weather control. Whether three or four dried completely, they are ready to and tend to slow the shaft’s flight vanes are used is largely a finish. more than the plastic vanes. matter of preference. Archers Feathers are also the traditional Applying the Nock argue over the merits of fletching material. Soft plastic fletching styles. Experiment Nocks come in several styles, and vanes yield more arrow speed but at to determine your own the choice is primarily a matter of the cost of some control. They are preferences. preference. The nocks may fit rather more durable and weather resistant

4-H Shooting Sports Guide 3 Revised 08-14 (GA) With plastic vanes, selecting a Customizing Your Arrows screwed into the adapter to right or left helical or off-set finish the shaft. If other fletching pattern is a matter of Many archers like to apply a crest inserts were selected, the preference and string or cable or signature to their arrows as a points need to be attached clearance. When feathers are personal symbol. They identify with ferrule cement. Those their arrows when several people points are attached using the are shooting at the same target or used, the direction of the offset same procedure as in in other situations where or spiral must match the attaching the inserts of identification is needed. Some- curvature of the wing. For aluminum shafts. Heat the times archers add decals or example, left helical or left off- insert and the point. Apply a individual markings to each arrow, set fletch requires use of feathers small amount of ferrule so it can be distinguished from from the left wing. cement to the insert and others in the set. That permits rotate the shaft while heating Plastic vanes are bought cut to individual evaluation. If one shaft the insert to spread the shape. Feathers may be tends to give erratic flight or cement evenly around the purchased in that condition, but consistently poorer flight, it can be taper. Using a twisting they may be applied full height. checked for alignment or motion, seat the point fully Unless the height is desired to straightness. Cresting is a series of on the taper of the insert. slow the arrow, those feathers lacquer bands. It is applied with Check it for alignment by must be die-cut or burned to brushes while the shaft rotates in a spinning the shaft on the length. Most are burned with a cresting lathe. The lather has a point and watching for any hot wire to the shape desired. collet or receiver that holds the wobble in the spinning shaft. Most feathers are cut or burned nock and one or more padded rests If the point is true, allow it to in shield or parabolic shapes. on which the arrow rotates. cool and remove any excess Availability, control, noise in Usually it includes a series of pins ferrule cement from the base flight and personal preference are or markers that can be set to ensure of the ferrule. If it is not, re- involved in selecting a feather uniform application of the stripes. heat the point and adjust it. shaped. The best shape remains a Lighter colors should be applied as matter of debate. The fletching a base coat, with darker ones Making arrows takes some should be applied using a covering them. Try several designs time and attention to detail. properly set-up fletching jig. on a junked shaft before deciding It can add to your enjoyment Each vane should be the same on one that pleases you. A few as an archer. Try making distance from the nock and they archers go one step further and add your own to see you want to should be positioned precisely. a minute “crest” at the base of the be involved with this part of The vane should be cleaned nock. Many of today’s archers archery. before it is used and be held dispense with the crest completely. firmly in place until the bead of You decide how you want to have fletching cement has dried. After your arrows look. all the fletching has been applied to an arrow, a tiny spot of Attaching the Point fletching cement should be If screw-in adapters were used, the applied to the leading and trailing point of choice could simply be edges of each vane.

4-H Shooting Sports Guide 4 Revised 08-14 (GA)