redkneck Posted March 2, 2009 Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 Me and my buddy were talking about getting a jig and saw to make our own arrows. Both of us are shooting the same Easton Axis with blazer vanes and paying about 120/dozen. For those of you that make your own, about how much do you have in shafts, inserts, vanes, etc.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casey Posted March 2, 2009 Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 Me and my buddy were talking about getting a jig and saw to make our own arrows. Both of us are shooting the same Easton Axis with blazer vanes and paying about 120/dozen. For those of you that make your own, about how much do you have in shafts, inserts, vanes, etc.? Give VermontHunter (Luke) a shout, he does all of his. He's got some super nice looking arrows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted March 2, 2009 Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 Prices are going to vary from what brand arrow each person buys. My Carbon Express arrows are much cheaper than Lukes Gold Tips. However it definately saves money to make your own. I like being able to fix my arrows. It nice to be able to re-fletch an arrow if a vane is torn off. Get yourself a Bitz Jig and you will never look back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Straight Shooter Posted March 3, 2009 Report Share Posted March 3, 2009 Shafts vary on cost since everyone uses different arrows and inserts usually come with them. Vanes vary as well. Knocks are the same way. My shafts Goldtips cost 72.00 Easton knocks are 3.50 Blazer vanes 14.00 Glue 5.00 Total 94.50/12 = 7.86 per shaft You can genreally add 2.50 per shaft for them to be fletched at Pro shop or manufacturer. 72.00 + 30.00 = 102.00 = 8.50 Fletched mine for year and will never have anyone do mine again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archer Posted March 3, 2009 Report Share Posted March 3, 2009 I see your using blazer vanes. If you ever switch to feathers try bohning premium fletching tape. I like it...works great. Here is what i use: jo-jan fletcher- straight clamp aluminum arrows 4" feathers You can save some $$$ building your own arrows. Have fun and enjoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Straight Shooter Posted March 3, 2009 Report Share Posted March 3, 2009 My buddy uses that tape on his feathers and loves it. Quick and easy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted March 3, 2009 Report Share Posted March 3, 2009 Prices are going to vary from what brand arrow each person buys. My Carbon Express arrows are much cheaper than Lukes Gold Tips. However it definately saves money to make your own. I like being able to fix my arrows. It nice to be able to re-fletch an arrow if a vane is torn off. Get yourself a Bitz Jig and you will never look back. Yep ... Shafts vary on cost since everyone uses different arrows and inserts usually come with them. Vanes vary as well. Knocks are the same way. My shafts Goldtips cost 72.00 Easton knocks are 3.50 Blazer vanes 14.00 Glue 5.00 Total 94.50/12 = 7.86 per shaft You can genreally add 2.50 per shaft for them to be fletched at Pro shop or manufacturer. 72.00 + 30.00 = 102.00 = 8.50 Fletched mine for year and will never have anyone do mine again. And Yeppers .. Here's just a sample of mine .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted March 3, 2009 Report Share Posted March 3, 2009 I have only fletched my traditional arrows so far. I use feathers and cedar shafts but I have broke down and bought the Goldtip traditional arrows that look like wood and they are more durable than the cedar shafts. I use Bohning fletch glue and a Grayling jig with left and straight clamps. You do save money no doubt, and you get to customize as much as you want for the least amount possible. It is just like loading your own cartridges. Custom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slider Posted March 3, 2009 Report Share Posted March 3, 2009 You don't save a lot of money by building your own arrows. But you get to choose your shafts,vanes,knocks and wraps. You also get a lot of personal satisfaction. And you can repair broken knocks and vanes. With a little time and effort you can make perfectly matched arrows. Unlike the mass produced ones you buy. Check the distance from the end of the vane to the begining of the knock on your current arrows and you will see what I mean. They will NOT be the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted March 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2009 Thanks, everyone. Those were all great posts. I didnt think i'd save much, it was more about DIY i think, the satisfaction part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom2008 Posted March 4, 2009 Report Share Posted March 4, 2009 Like everyone else said it won't save you much money, but its fun to play around with different colors and wraps and stuff like that. A little personlization to your set-up is always a great touch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike13candace Posted March 6, 2009 Report Share Posted March 6, 2009 loVE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted March 6, 2009 Report Share Posted March 6, 2009 loVE Huh?? :confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWSmith Posted March 6, 2009 Report Share Posted March 6, 2009 (edited) Prices are going to vary from what brand arrow each person buys. My Carbon Express arrows are much cheaper than Lukes Gold Tips. However it definately saves money to make your own. I like being able to fix my arrows. It nice to be able to re-fletch an arrow if a vane is torn off. Get yourself a Bitz Jig and you will never look back. Exactly why I started doing my on arrows right there. I could have probably gotten away with not doing my own for alot longer if I did not try to shoot groups:D ...but it is also alot of fun to try different stuff as well. If you want to make your arrows sound like the ones in a RobinHood movie...just for fun try this 4-fletch: ...and in the process you also end up making your own Blazers too:D Edited March 6, 2009 by GWSmith resized pic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitetail Freak Hunter Posted March 7, 2009 Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 (edited) http://www.3riversarchery.com All those nice arrows look great. I'm going to be ordering things from this catalog above as I will be getting into a nice recurve bow myself and using a bit more traditional stuff for it. I have a friend that is going to assist in my first bow making attempt at a takedown recurve of lamint wood. Edited March 7, 2009 by Whitetail Freak Hunter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted March 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 That is a neat site. I'm planning on shooting my longbow some this year, but i think i'll just borrow some carbons from my compound and get some 2-blade magnus stingers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted March 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 Huh?? :confused: You got me. I guess he had it on his mind and had to get it off his chest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammerforged Posted March 7, 2009 Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 Okay, where can I go or what can I read to learn about making my own bolts for my Crossbow? I already forge my own Damascus broadheads but don't know the first thing about making my own bolts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdvantageTimberLou Posted March 7, 2009 Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 Lots of fun to do it yourself. I just starting doing it myself and love it. Funny because as I type this I just got done with some Easton FMJ's with Mathews wraps and Realtree Blazer vanes for this years season. They look awesome! Here are some I did in the past few weeks. Lots of fun that is for sure and relaxing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWSmith Posted March 7, 2009 Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 (edited) Okay, where can I go or what can I read to learn about making my own bolts for my Crossbow? I already forge my own Damascus broadheads but don't know the first thing about making my own bolts. http://worldcrossbow.com/design.html Bolts for modern crossbows require the same basic materials and techniques as conventional arrows. Cut 31" aluminum arrow shafts at the center to produce two bolt shafts. Points or threaded inserts are cemented in at one end, endcaps at the other. Endcaps may be purchased from Horton Mfg. Co. for 26 cents each (the Horton LS6 cap fits 2117 shafts); they can also be made by cutting down a plastic arrow nock. A forked nock suitable for trackless crossbows can be made by enlarging the fork of a plastic arrow nock with a file or a heated metal rod to fit around the larger diameter of crossbow bowstrings. If a flat endcap is used, it will be easiest to fletch the bolt in a three- place fletching jig. A single-place jig can work, but it will be difficult to accurately position the second and third vanes without a forked nock; one way around this is to install a forked nock, fletch the bolt, then saw and/or file the nock flat. Plastic vanes seem to last longer than feathers on hunting crossbow bolts, provided the target material used is dense enough to prevent the bolts from burying themselves to the vanes. Feathers and vanes work about equally well with less-powerful target crossbows. When making bolts for a factory-made crossbow, try to obtain at least one factory bolt to measure its length and weight. Bolt length does not seem to be very critical on tracked crossbows, but you would do well to make your bolts be the same weight or slightly heavier. Lighter bolts will fly faster, but may shorten the working life of the lath. Bolt weight is a careful compromise, usually determined at the factory through destructive testing, and it would be most cost-effective to accept their recommendation. Ross, When reading this article something occurred to me that you may need to be aware of. If your using Arrow Shafts that are made with a "Weight Forward" design you would not be able to make 2 bolts out of one regular length arrow shaft and have them fly with similar accuracy or consistency. You may also be able to get the help you need on these forums: http://www.excaliburcrossbow.com/phpBB2/index.php Edited March 7, 2009 by GWSmith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike13candace Posted March 7, 2009 Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 After reviewing what I typed... ??? Darn must have hit enter early... I wanted to say... love making my own arrows complete. Allows me to try different fletching length setups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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