Make Your Own Arrows - Start a Business!

Make Your Own Arrows

Bowhunting can be quite an expensive hobby. Making your own bowhunting equipment can help you save some money. One of the easiest things to do is to make arrows. Here’s how.

Shaft
Start making the arrow by working on the shaft. Get a log, preferably one made of cedar, pine, redwood, fir or spruce, and dry it off. Next, cut the log into squares that are a little thicker than how you want your arrows to be. Carve these squares until the edges are rounded; use sandpaper to smoothen the edges. Remember that any unnecessary bumps in the shaft can catch air and cause interference to the arrow’s flight. When the shaft is already smooth, cut a small groove at one end for the nock. Put varnish over the entire shaft to seal it and prevent moisture from damaging the wood.

Fletching
For the fletching, gather goose or turkey feathers. Take away the base of the quill and split it into two pieces. Trim the quill carefully until it lies flat on the surface. Notice the natural shape of the feathers, whether they are pointing in a clockwise or counterclockwise rotation. Sort the feathers based on this, making sure that they do not mix. Next, cut the feathers into fletches; a single feather can be divided into 2 to 3 fletches.

Use the sinew to attach the first fletch to one end of the arrow. Make sure that this fletch is directly perpendicular to the nock. Next, secure the second fletch approximately 1/3 of the way from the first one. Finally, place the third fletching at approximately 120 degrees from the first two. Encircle the shaft with the remaining sinew, still making sure that the fletching is lying flat against the arrow shaft. Use contact cement to glue down the fletching to the shaft. Next, use varnish to seal the sinew. Do some finishing touches by trimming the fletching in order to make it look as professional as you can. You can also use a plastic vane instead of feathers, which you can buy from local archery shops.

Arrowhead
To complete the arrow, you need an arrowhead to place at the other end. Broadheads are the most commonly used for bowhunting. You can get these broadheads from the local archery shop as well. Attach this at the front of the arrow. If you want to make your own, you can also do it by using fire to sharpen the tip until you form a pointed end.

Every dozen arrows that you make saves you anywhere from $5 to $10. Aside from saving you money, you can also experiment with different varieties by changing the components, such as the sizes of the shafts and the styles of fletching. Making your own arrows can thus help you find out what the perfect arrow for your bowhunting set-up is, and can prove to be useful when you’re out on a trip. The best thing about making your own arrows is that you get to have fun while learning more about your craft!

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