Middle Earth Ranger Forum

Batch of arrows to go with the new bow.
Douglas Fir shafts, natural barred wild turkey feather and a few yellow for 3D ranges.





I use various grains of sandpaper glued to craft sticks to finish the nocks.




Natural barred wild turkey compared to dyed farm raised from Trueflight(which are still great feathers) below.










I use a craft paper chopper to cut full length arrows. I haven’t actually noticed a difference between the new cut for the barred and the grey fletching.

How much twist have you put on those fletchings?

I do like making use of the natural angle of the barbs, although I tend to just nip the trailing corner off. Not a hard crop like the grey arrow..... I'll have to see if I've got any left of my handcut fletchings.

Wild turkey does look a lot nicer then the dyed ones.

Lovely set of arrows all round

ForgeCorvus wrote: ↑Fri Feb 16, 2024 7:51 pm How much twist have you put on those fletchings?

I do like making use of the natural angle of the barbs, although I tend to just nip the trailing corner off. Not a hard crop like the grey arrow..... I'll have to see if I've got any left of my handcut fletchings.

Wild turkey does look a lot nicer then the dyed ones.

Lovely set of arrows all round

Thank you!

Nice arrows! and your nocks are made with patience and precision, some beauties!

I love natural feathers too, more flexible and resistance than the treated ones.

Normally, with feathers cut like your grey ones, your arrows will be more silenced when the arrow is flying.
With feathers with long tip, it will be more noisy but the arrow will fly better on short distances because it will straighten faster.

Sorry for my bad English, I hope you will understand me

Wild Vins wrote: ↑Sat Feb 17, 2024 10:57 pm Nice arrows! and your nocks are made with patience and precision, some beauties!

I love natural feathers too, more flexible and resistance than the treated ones.

Normally, with feathers cut like your grey ones, your arrows will be more silenced when the arrow is flying.
With feathers with long tip, it will be more noisy but the arrow will fly better on short distances because it will straighten faster.

Sorry for my bad English, I hope you will understand me

Thanks Wild Vins.
You’re right. The grey “shield” cuts are quieter. I’m guessing that’s why almost all manufactured arrows use shield cut. Most days I’m shooting inside so I can hear everything, sounds actually amplified. So far, out to about 30 meters flight performance seems about equal, at least at my skill level. I was getting some upward kick on the arrows at release, but adjusted the string knock and that fixed it.

And you’re English is much much better than my French or any second language for that matter

Thanks again

Those look great, good job on the nocks. Are you using glue or tape for the fletchings?

Wilhelm wrote: ↑Tue Feb 20, 2024 2:57 am Those look great, good job on the nocks. Are you using glue or tape for the fletchings?

Thanks Wilhelm,

I use glue. I've never had any experience with tape. Of course I only do small batches.
your arrows look amazing btw.

Andy

ForgeCorvus wrote: ↑Fri Feb 16, 2024 7:51 pm How much twist have you put on those fletchings?

Hey, I didn't see the first question. Sorry.

I'll post some pics hopefully showing the twist. I can't honestly say if its a deep or shallow twist. I just adjust the jig so the base of the feather has the most surface contact with the arrow shaft.

A Mayer wrote: ↑Tue Feb 20, 2024 6:14 pm

Wilhelm wrote: ↑Tue Feb 20, 2024 2:57 am Those look great, good job on the nocks. Are you using glue or tape for the fletchings?

Thanks Wilhelm,

I use glue. I've never had any experience with tape. Of course I only do small batches.
your arrows look amazing btw.

Andy

Having tried both, I would advise using the adhesive tape ONLY if you are attaching the feathers ENTIRELY LENGTH with thread.

If you only attach the top and bottom of the feathers, it will start to peel off after a year with adhesive tape

Personally, I use the glue when I'm attaching just the top and bottom and I use the tape when I'm attaching everywhere.

It starts like in this photo, then ends up peeling off the entire feather

A Mayer wrote: ↑Tue Feb 20, 2024 6:14 pm

Wilhelm wrote: ↑Tue Feb 20, 2024 2:57 am Those look great, good job on the nocks. Are you using glue or tape for the fletchings?

Thanks Wilhelm,

I use glue. I've never had any experience with tape. Of course I only do small batches.
your arrows look amazing btw.

Andy

Thank you very much!