Straightening Arrows

Cuban Missile · January 09, 2011, 07:37:00 PM

Hi everyone! So I have a ton of dowels that I wanted to make some arrows out of but there are some that are a little bent. I was wondering if anyone had a good methods for straightening them out? Thanks for the help!

ranger 3 · January 09, 2011, 08:03:00 PM

You can take a round screw driver shaft and rub the shaft on the outside of the bend with just enough pressure to get it straight. Sometimes you have to go little further with the pressure to get it straight. Hope this helps

GREG IN MALAD · January 09, 2011, 10:41:00 PM

If they are hardwood you will probably need to heat them. In the summer I put shafts on the dashboard of my truck, when it's cold I put them in the bow oven or use a hot air gun. When they reach about 140 deg. they become pliable and easy to straighten. I used a hot air gun on 2 dozen hex-pine shafts today.

Cuban Missile · January 10, 2011, 09:22:00 AM

Thanks guys. I'm using a long chain link to rub them straight. The inside round works pretty good. I guess i'll dig out the heat gun today.

Rob DiStefano · January 11, 2011, 04:21:00 PM

heat, then pressure is the best straightening method. after warming up with a heat gun, i use the concave back of a steel slide to pressure the bends straight ...

Grey Taylor · January 12, 2011, 02:22:00 AM

That's a very interesting tool, Rob.
Is it a slide as is used in guitar playing?

Guy

KellyG · January 12, 2011, 04:54:00 AM

Grey go to his web page I bet you can answer that. I would say yes just after a brief look at his webpage.

razorback · January 12, 2011, 09:15:00 AM

C.M.
I am in the process of making some hardwood shoot arrows and they need more straightening than any dowel you would consider for an arrow. I am using the heat gun and pressure method and having great success.

Couple of things I've picked up.
-Do your straightening in a couple of sessions. Get rid of main bends, then go back and straighten, then some more and finally get them arrow straight.
-when done with a session, leave them on a flat surface so gravity and their own weight don't reshape them while they cool.
-Don't test their spine while they are still warm. Got myself a thin round boomerang the other day doing that one.

Dowels can make great arrows, sometimes. Watch the grain and check/test them real careful before shooting them. I've had several come apart on me, luckily no injuries.

Good luck and so us some photo's of your finished products.

Cuban Missile · January 12, 2011, 09:52:00 AM

Ok so I was looking around and found this tool on 3rivers and I decided to make one yesterday. Save myself 40 bucks!

I'm not sure if the groove is deep enough. I might make it a little deeper.

Pat B · January 12, 2011, 11:03:00 AM

The groove shouldn't have to be deeper, Cuban. Actually a shallow groove will concentrate the pressure more locally where it is needed.
These are my primitive arrow making tools. The piece of osage with the cup hook in one end and the screw eye in the other is my arrow straightener. Works the same as the other pressure tools. I use the hook or eye to rub the outside of the bend to eliminate it. If too bad of a bend, I use heat and hand pressure to straighten. I use the arrow wrench when working with sharp kinks or working close to the end of the shaft to get leverage.

Sal · January 12, 2011, 12:34:00 PM

Rob, please give us more info on that tool, it looks really useful.

hova · January 12, 2011, 01:35:00 PM

pat. what on earth is that tool at the bottom? is that a nock saw or something?

-hov

Pat B · January 12, 2011, 03:14:00 PM

Yes, that is a tile blade for a hacksaw. Makes a slot just a bit smaller than a nock so you can sand it smooth when done. I just added an osage handle to it.

Roy from Pa · January 12, 2011, 05:11:00 PM

Pat, I like your style and choice of tools. I made a few just like em.