| For some archers, arrow building is the only way to | | | | resistance the better. If you have bumps or other |
| go. They enjoy the idea of crafting their own arrows | | | | deformities on the shafts, you'll find that they will |
| and letting them fly. Archery arrow building does take | | | | pick up wind resistance and they'll wobble in flight. |
| some practice and can be time consuming, but if you | | | | It is easier to make short arrows and they require |
| enjoy picking up new hobbies, archery arrow building | | | | less fletching, don't break as easily and are much |
| might be something worth looking into. | | | | easier to carry. Make short arrows whenever |
| You can make some nice arrows from Douglas fir, | | | | possible. |
| cedar, pine, spruce and redwood. One way to do it is | | | | Next you can make your nock. A deep nock will tend |
| to take a hatchet and split the dry logs into squares | | | | to weaken the arrow, so a shallow nock is usually |
| and then whittle them down into arrow shafts using | | | | best. Just cut a groove in one end of the arrow, and |
| a pocket knife. Once the wood is whittled down, you | | | | you'll have a serviceable nock. |
| can use sandpaper or sandstone to round the shafts | | | | The fletching is probably the hardest part. You want |
| off. If you make a dozen or so arrows from the | | | | to use good strong feathers, either from a bird like |
| same section of log, it will go a long way to making | | | | the wild turkey or the eagle. Any feather will do |
| sure each of those arrows have the same spine or | | | | really, but some are better than others. |
| stiffness. | | | | Once you have the feathers, you have to strip them |
| Willow wands are another excellent source of arrow | | | | and lash them to the arrow using sinew, dental floss |
| shafts. Just make sure each shoot is long, straight | | | | or any other suitable material. |
| and strong. You can also use hazel shoots, wild rose | | | | The next step in arrow archery building is to make |
| shoots or any type of cane in your archery arrow | | | | the point. You can either fire harden the point of the |
| building. | | | | existing arrow, or use an artificial arrow head, such as |
| When using either logs or shoots, make sure that the | | | | bone or flint. |
| wood is not full of knots and are of a uniform length. | | | | Now you should have a few serviceable arrow |
| You also want to make sure that the wood/shoots | | | | heads, and it's time to try them out. If you end up |
| aren't broken or weakened by anything. | | | | with four or five arrows that fly the same, you did a |
| When you are done whittling the wood and sanding it | | | | good job with your archery arrow building. |
| flat, you can polish them if you wish. The less wind | | | | |