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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Savage on March 10, 2011, 11:28:00 AM

Title: Arrow Building Tools
Post by: Savage on March 10, 2011, 11:28:00 AM
Could someone give me a list of tools needed for arrow building and cresting. Thanks for the help.
Title: Re: Arrow Building Tools
Post by: Mike Most on March 10, 2011, 11:47:00 AM
wood or carbon aluminum??
Title: Re: Arrow Building Tools
Post by: Savage on March 10, 2011, 12:07:00 PM
Mike, mainly looking at wood now since it seems to me it takes more tools.

Thanks for the list Pearl.
Title: Re: Arrow Building Tools
Post by: Mike Most on March 10, 2011, 01:52:00 PM
From a starting out standpoint for wood
1. a nock/point taper tool (I started with the pencil sharpener type)
2. some sort of fletching jig, I think I started with an Arizona easy fletch (it does three feathers at a time)
3. I use ferreltite for gluing points and now have gone to duco for nocks
4. I use a plain old screwdriver with a round shaft to straighten arrow shafts which arent.
5. feathers you could buy precut, but I have a couple of choppers now and save by getting full length feathers by the 100 pk
6 Only other thing I made was a pvc dip tube because I like the look of wood shafts dipped in polyurethane.
  :thumbsup:

I also used testors model paints for cresting and hand crested them until I finally built a cresting machine from a sewing machine motor.
Title: Re: Arrow Building Tools
Post by: Savage on March 10, 2011, 02:04:00 PM
Mike can you post a pic of your PVC dip tube, I should be able to make that. I already have a Jo Jan multifletch. I saw a tapering tool that looked like a block of wood with angled slots in it that you use with a disc sander. I could probably make that too if I knew the angle. Are they any good? I also have a lathe if I could find some way to use it as a cresting machine.
Title: Re: Arrow Building Tools
Post by: Mike Most on March 10, 2011, 03:37:00 PM
I will see if I can get a pic of the dip tube. I happen to have to the wood block with the angles cut, three Rivers sells em 5 degrees for points 11 degrees for nocks. Once you use it a few times your good to go.

http://www.3riversarchery.com/Arrow+Building+Tools+Taper++Guide+Block_c52_s8_p109_i8044_product.html

you may have to slow the lathe down a bit.
Title: Re: Arrow Building Tools
Post by: Mike Most on March 10, 2011, 03:55:00 PM
(http://i587.photobucket.com/albums/ss315/Mikey1949/DCP01432.jpg) (http://i587.photobucket.com/albums/ss315/Mikey1949/DCP01433.jpg)

There ya go, 1/2 on the bottom I think the top is 2" Long enough for 32 inch shafts. It will hold enough to do 12 arrows plus.
Title: Re: Arrow Building Tools
Post by: NYArrow on March 11, 2011, 05:54:00 AM
Mike n Savage,

 Not to intrude on the post but I always avoided the pvc tube thinking it would break down with the poly in it. (read it somewhere no actual practical knowledge of it) I assume yours has held up well?
Title: Re: Arrow Building Tools
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on March 11, 2011, 07:26:00 AM
I have a PVC tube that has held poly for over a year since I starting using the gasket system rather. The poly is still liquid and the tube seems fine to me. I will let you know in another year what it looks like! That just made a light go off! I could dip youth bow's in there for a perfect finish every time.
Title: Re: Arrow Building Tools
Post by: Roy from Pa on March 11, 2011, 09:55:00 AM
I have used gasket lacqure, polyurethane, and spar urethane all in dip tubes. The polyurethane, and spar urethane I used without the rubber gasket on the dip tube. I've found the spar urethane gives me the best results, but it takes 2 coats in 2 days. The polyurethane only needs 1 coat as it goes on thicker, downside is it takes 3 days to dry before fletching.
Title: Re: Arrow Building Tools
Post by: Savage on March 11, 2011, 10:08:00 AM
Thanks for the pic Mike. That looks doable.