Hello,
   I am new to arrow making and I am looking for good wood that is available to me in western Oklahoma.  I have orange Osage, red oak, curly maple, and macadamia nut woods in my pile.   I understand red oak is a good but heavy material. What are the qualities of they other woods that I have?  I am most curious about using orange Osage because I have several pieces that would be good candidates, for arrows. Being straight grained and about the right length.  

     

I know of shafts made from maple and osage, rather heavy though...

Big jim's bow company

I would wonder that as dense as osage is if it would be too heavy for arrows.  I had a straight 30" cut off of hickory that I made an arrow from.  It weighed like 900 grains.
Red elm put me in the 450 grain range.  I quit after 3 arrows, though.  Just didn't have the patience to round them and try to get them close to the same weight.  
If I had to make one, guess I'd go with oak or maple and see what they weighed in at.  But I'd wonder if curly maple would be durable enough for arrows.  It would definitely make a pretty arrow.  

Curly maple would blow up. Osage is heavy but durable.

What is the problem with heavy arrows. Other than slower speed? Osage is super durable. Would a thinner arrow be possible? To save weight.

What is the problem with heavy arrows. Other than slower speed? Osage is super durable. Would a thinner arrow be possible? To save weight.

Gotta consider the spine of the arrow, too.  Especially if it's a wooden bow that isn't center shot.  Maybe a longer, smaller diameter osage arrow would work.  Maybe not.
Only one way to find out.

I use almost nothing but hickory arrows. I've used them in spines ranging from 50 to 85 lbs, all in 11/32" diameter. Maple would work too.

Hickory's specific gravity is almost the same as osage. The only reason I haven't yet made osage arrows is because, as a bow maker, I have a hard time chopping up osage with perfect grain for anything other than bows. I really want to. I just haven't YET.

Curly maple, Bowjunkie? It blows up on bows, how's it gonna stay together in a skinny arrow?

I've seen plenty of osage attempts, no bueno. Its very flexy and requires a beast of a shaft to acquire decent spine. No good at all IMO.

Think of it this way. Why do none of the shaft guys offer osage shafting? We all know the love affair archers have with the yellow stuff.

Good point about the Osage.    The natives used river cane here. The trick is finding some.    I'll start with the good ole. Lowes oak 1x4 for now. Thanks for your help.

I think osage would be too brittle for good arrows.

Osage brittle? HA! That's funny right there.

Roy, no, not figured hard maple.... GOOD maple.

You guys.

Poplar is looking good for my ongoing build.  But, I've not shot them so it remains to be seen how they work out.

I like heavy arrows, but prefer the weight up front.   I'm working on a single arrow of plain pine with a teak foot and drilled for 5.5" of 1/8" solder.  So far, without nock or Fletch it comes in at 23% FOC with a 190 gr point on It.

Also, you should post your question on the Pow Wow since there are many arrow makers there that may not read here on the bench.

Hmm...living and learning here.  Maybe after I retire and have way too much time on my hands, I'll try hickory shafts again.  I see that 3 Rivers sells ash shafts now and I've got arrow length ash.
X 2 posting this in the Pow Wow section.

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?topic=28697.0

My best arrows I have made were from home depot bamboo following this build along. They have held up longer than my cheap carbon arrows.

Neat build along.  Thanks for posting it.