Question on Building Wood Arrows: Part 1

[msubu21]

Now that I have a Longbow I am on to my next project....building some wood arrows for it. As my wife would say...I am on to my "next addiction.":) Just wanting to try them out...spend some time making them look good and all since this city life affords me plent of time indoors!!:pukey:

Anyways...the questions I have: I have a Martin Stick 50 lbs @ 28inchs.
I measured the carbons I am shooting and the shaft itself is 24.5 inches. From the end of the shaft to the valley of the nock where it joins the string is exactly 25 inches. I can shoot this 25 inch long shaft with a Muzzy broadhead without hitting my fingers....so I am guessing my drawlength is somewhere around 25 inches. (25 inches for the draw minus the 1 inch length of the broadhead) If I recall reading....you take away 5 pounds draw weight for every inch below stated draw length....in this case the bow is rated for 28inch draw but I am drawing 25inches....equalling a 35 lb. pull weight rather than 50lb. Do I need to buy arrows spined for 35 lbs. or 50lbs as the bow is rated at?

[tpoof]

You will need the lighter spined shaft as that is the force that your draw is produceing. It is best to get them full length and then without any fletch shoot them with your best form. If they fly to the right for a right handed shooter then start cutting them back a 1/4 inch at a time till they fly straight then put your fletch on, this will give you perfectly flying arrows!

[AKRuss]

You may be confusing bow draw weight and arrow spine. A bow usually looses or gains about 3 pounds per inch of draw length. If you're pull a 50# @ 28" bow only 25", you're probably holding about 41# when at anchor. You can measure this directly but most spring scales are pretty inaccurate. The old rule of thumb for arrow spine in relation to length and point weight are; an arrow gains about 5# of spine for every inch it's cut short or 35 grains less weight on the point. So, a shaft that is spined 50# @ 28" (125 grain point weight is considered standard) that is cut to 25" now is spined at about 65#. The static spine measurement would stay the same but the dynamic spine (the actual flight characteristics) would increase. The old wood arrow spine standard is, unfortunately, slightly different than the newer synthetic arrow spine. Not to make this more complicated than it really is, but arrow spine generally does NOT relate directly to bow weight very well. I have found that the wood arrow spine standard works pretty well directly with my Howard Hill longbows. That is a 60# arrow shoots well out of my 60# bow (I have a 28" draw). For this bow, I use arrows spined 60-65# to allow for the extra length of broadheads which despine the arrow slightly due to their length (1"~5#). With bows that are cut to or past centershot, I generally have to use arrows that are spined substantially higher than the bow weight would suggest. Though I have shot a few Martin sticks, I haven't experimented with their arrow spine characteristics. You could assume your Stick is pretty close with my HH and simply try 40-45# shafting and take it from there. If they're spined too heavily, you can always leave them an inch longer. Good luck!

[msubu21]

The old rule of thumb for arrow spine in relation to length and point weight are; an arrow gains about 5# of spine for every inch it's cut short or 35 grains less weight on the point. So, a shaft that is spined 50# @ 28" (125 grain point weight is considered standard) that is cut to 25" now is spined at about 65#. ....... You could assume your Stick is pretty close with my HH and simply try 40-45# shafting and take it from there. If they're spined too heavily, you can always leave them an inch longer. Good luck!


AK and tpoof....thanks for the good info, especially considering the long informative posts! This is exactly what I needed.....Descriptive posts that get to the point and drive it home. I was not aware of how much cutting the arrow off increased the spine. Like you said tpoof.....I can always start off longer and then take more off as needed. This def. gives me more to think about in my never ending search for more information regarding archery! Thanks again guys.