I'm considering trying White Birch for arrow shafts.
These are not laminated, but just plain White Birch.
Any advice or opinions would be helpful!
Thanks, Paul
I've used them and I like them. Straighten them with heat. They have a nice smooth finish when you work them.
Jason
I like their durability. The wood shows no grain separation as often seen in northern pine or other conifer woods. Without this pronounced variation in woodgrain they are also easy to taper with the ordinary pencil sharpener typ taper tools. The wood is not porous either.
If you like to paint your arrows the light wood color will make the paint stand out.
I like their weight too. I shoot 160gr up front and total arrow weight will fall somewhere in between 650-680 grains for me.
... and after all, you can always point to the fact that Pope & Young used birch shafts for their African Adventure.
:archer:
Thanks for your responses!
The only reason that I'm really considering Birch, is that I need a longer arrow (32" BOP to VON) and a higher spine (90-95). Birch can do that.
The only drawback, and it could also be viewed as a big plus, is the arrow weight. With a 125 head, my finished arrow weight will be roughly 750 grains.
Basck in the old days guys like Pope and Young shot birch, as did Hill, Bear and Pearson. They are very tough, and as Falk indicated, they are easy to work with hand tools. I made custom arrows for a number of years and used white birch and ash. I preferred the birch because they weren't overly heavy. I have plenty of birch leff over from the arrow business but don't have any in your spine or I would send them to you. I think you will like them.
I've never even handled a birch arrow, so I really don't know anything about them.
What about grain runout and such. Is it as critical in hardwoods as it is in POC? Does it make a good flying arrow?
Thanks for your answers guys.