In addition to making bows, I like to make my own arrow shafts as well. I know, I'm a sick monkey and a glutton for punishment. But, I enjoy making my own equipment.
Anyway, I've had good success with poplar. I've been buying excellent 4/4, quarter sawn stock from MacBeath out of California. I've been experimenting with some other woods, most notably Douglas Fir. I can occasionally find a nice piece of clear vertical grain fir at Woodcraft, but it's pretty hit or miss.
So, can anyone tell me where I could buy some old growth, high quality Doug Fir, Sitka spruce, or even Port Orford cedar as lumber suitable for shaft material?
Google seems to be keeping this information a secret.... ;)
I hand plane white pine into arrows. I buy from Home Depot and have some old boards I inherited from Dad.
I like to inspect my lumber for straightness and tightness of grain so early have not bought any from otherwise.
Jawge
just be careful of using wood that has been kiln dried, the process can really damage the wood on a cell structural level!