Making your own archery arrows could save about 8 to 10 dollars but it is even better for you to build your own. Wooden arrows have been made by the archers for thousands of years. Making arrows is a labor-intensive but gratifying experience. Here are the five steps for you to make your task easier.
Buy wooden shafts
Arrows need matching bows to shoot accurately. You can buy a test kit together with shafts where you will find different sizes of the shaft. If you catch the right shafts, buy dozens of them and start making your arrow.
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Require tools:
- Arrow shaft
- Arrow straightener
- Hack saw or arrow saw
- Arrow sealer
- Taper tool
- Glue-on nocks
- Glue-on points
- Dip tube
- Feather fletching
- Fletching jig
- Fletching glue
How to Make Archery Arrows – Step by Step
Step 1: Straighten
To straighten shafts, sight down and spin the shaft slowly to look for a wobble that directs its bent. You can lay the shaft on any flat surface and roll it looking for a bend. Gently bend it in opposite direction by using an arrow straightening tool.
Step 2: Cut and Taper
After straightening the arrow, cut the desired length. The proper length of the arrow consists of the distance from the point to the nock. You have to leave an adequate shaft out to mount them. you must choose the tapering tool matching with the diameter of the shaft and then taper the split ends of the shafts. The tapers help archers to mount the points and nocks, so you have to make exceptional tapers on shafts.
Step 3: Stain and Seal
Preventing the arrow from gripping moisture, your next step will be to stain and seal the arrow shafts. You can buy sealers, stains, and other components from an archery retailer. The best is to use dip tubes that are filled with sealer and results in a consistent coating. The fast and easy is to wipe on polyurethane but it can increase the arrow weights. After this, allow them to dry and apply another coat of sealer.
Step 4: Install Points and Nocks
In this step, you need to heat the hot-melt glue and then smudge some onto the point taper. Grab the point through a plier and hold it over the spark. Insert the taper into the point and spin to dispense the glue and wipe away the excess glue gently.
Fix the nock by using super glue but careful about the nock’s orientation. Grain lines have to sit perpendicular to the bow while fixing the nock. Lastly, place the nock onto the arrow shaft.
Step 5: Fletching
Place one of your shafts in the jig and then put fletching in the jig’s clamp. Apply a bit of thin beading glue down the fletching’s length. Tap it lightly on a paper towel to get rid of excess glue.
Now put the clamp on the jig and allow the fletching to sit against the shaft by applying a little pressure. Don’t forget to let the beading glue dry well. Repeat the same process for your next fletching.
Conclusion
When done, you will be the proud DIY owner of some nice-looking wooden arrows ready to hit your target! You can use these homemade arrows in competition, for hunting, or just for fun in the backyard.
