Arrows hold more significance to an avid bow hunter than just their utilitarian value; they can also serve as the perfect place for creative expression - an arrow can serve as the perfect space to write poetry or literary verse on its smooth wooden surface.
To create an arrow, the first step should be carving a nock into the end of your shaft so it can rest securely on your bowstring. This notch is known as the nock.
The Shaft
The Archery arrows shaft serves to hold both point and fletchings together; this part is also referred to as its nock. Most often made of wood, bamboo can also be used - just make sure that its thickness can support its weight!
Choose an arrow shaft depending on the type of bow you are using - typically, recurve bows require stiffer shafts than longbows, as does its diameter - referring to a spine chart will help determine this information.
Many new bow hunters opt to purchase pre-made arrow shafts, complete with weight and spined tips that come weighed, spun, and roughly straightened. Although this solution may work, making your arrows is much more enjoyable and may save money!
Step one in making your arrows involves cutting the shaft. A hand saw can do the job just fine; for even quicker results consider purchasing a dedicated bow arrow shaft saw. Next up: smoothing. Belt sanders work best here; however, an electric sander may work just as well if the mess doesn't bother you as much.
Once an arrow shaft has been sanded down, it should be treated with either hot or cold water to kill germs and then dried before starting the fletching process.
Feather fletchings are secured to an arrow shaft using sinew. Before beginning wrapping, make sure that your sinew is moist - chew on a piece for a bit until your saliva's enzymes break it down slightly so you can wrap it more easily.
Once the feathers have been added, you can use an arrow spinner to detect any bends. If any are detected, they can be corrected using a bow truing tool; this oversized pencil sharpener-esque device can help straighten out any curves in the shaft and keep things straight.
The Point
The point is the end of an arrow that connects directly to a bowstring, and its shaft connects back via fletching; small vanes located along its surface help stabilize flight of the arrow during flight. Finally, its completion requires attaching nock and tip.
Making arrows requires considerable thought and material consideration, particularly if using traditional bows. Modern arrows typically use composite materials that allow for precise targeting while remaining durable enough to withstand repeated impacts without breaking.
Homemade arrows can be constructed out of various materials. One popular choice is wood, and there are various kinds available that can be used. Larch is known for its water resistance and toughness while ash provides rigidity and density - two qualities ideal for DIY arrow-making.
Homemade arrows may also be slightly off in some way, which can present archers with challenges. Most archers prefer not using such an arrow as it can compromise accuracy; however, it should be remembered that even an off-centre shaft can still fly straight with perfect roundness from end to tip.
To create a shaped arrow shaft, the wood must first be cut to its appropriate length. An average arrow should measure 32 inches long but they can easily be adjusted later depending on your draw length requirements.
Once the arrows have been cut to their desired lengths, they should be sanded down to smooth out any rough edges and create an aesthetically pleasing shape. Sanding will also ensure that all arrows have equal thickness on either side; this ensures there will be no issues when adding fletching, nock, and tip components.
The Feathers
Fletching, or the back end of an arrow, helps stabilize it during flight and increase accuracy. At its core, fletching consists of small vanes or feathers which work together to spin and stabilize an arrow as it travels through the air toward its target.
Archers traditionally used natural feathers for fletchings; today however, many archers prefer plastic manufactured vanes. While authentic feathers are softer and will make direct contact with an arrow rest while plastic vanes tend to be harder and can alter its trajectory when shot.
Feathers come in many different shapes and sizes, making it essential to select those best suited to your needs. If shooting from close ranges, smaller vanes with tighter turns are recommended to prevent your arrow from deviating off course; otherwise if shooting long ranges where straight and true flight is important to you it would be more advantageous to use larger vanes that provide more stability.
Another important consideration when selecting feathers for your arrow is color. Some archers opt for light-colored feathers so as to blend into their surroundings more seamlessly, while others favor darker-hued ones so as to be easier seen under bright lighting conditions.
Once you've selected the feathers you will use to fletch your arrow, take a moment to double-check their alignment. Vanes should be placed in a helical pattern so they work in tandem to spin and stabilize it during flight.
Fletching ends with a "cock feather," placed perpendicular to the other vanes and typically featuring different colors or shapes from those found elsewhere on the fletching. This feather acts as an index to help correctly position your arrow during flight.
Before attaching the fletching to your arrow shaft, trim off any extra material on either side of the feather to make wrapping it with fletching tape or glue easier once your are ready to serve it.
The Finishing Touches
An arrow requires several finishing touches in order to guarantee its quality, safety and functionality. First it should be cleaned of debris left from cutting by wiping it with damp cloth or rag dipped in mild detergent solution or isopropyl alcohol. This ensures it's ready for fletching immediately upon its completion. Next it is checked for cracks or splinters which could pose health hazards; these cracks or splinters should be smoothed over using fine-grit sandpaper so as to not catch in bowstring.
After trimming to desired length, an arrow is then given its final touch - glueing in its nock. A nock is a plastic or rubber piece which fits into a notches on its shaft to provide gripping surface for bowstring when shooting and aiming, as well as being used for guidance into bowstring to prevent falling off during flight and guide it into an ideal location for release of string. All bowhunting arrows require this nock as a requirement when shooting or aiming bowhunting arrows for safe bowhunting experiences.
Once an arrow has been cut and completed, it is coated in Danish oil to seal and protect it as well as bring out its grain for an authentic appearance. Depending on its type, multiple dips may be done for maximum protection and durability; target shooting arrows may even be painted red all along their length so as to stand out amongst surrounding vegetation easier and be easily found when lost.
Spray on polyurethane provides an alternative, more modern and durable finish than Danish oil, while still adhering to manufacturer instructions regarding application and drying between coats. Arrows numbered above their nock can also help ensure they're being used appropriately on each hunt - thus protecting from being damaged, lost or stolen!