1 Topic by Pedro C (edited by Pedro C 2015-11-07 00:22:43)

  • From: SoCal
  • Registered: 2015-08-12
  • Posts: 319
  • User Karma: 15

Topic: Bamboo shaft questions

Hello

I ordered 33" 45-50# bamboo arrow shafts from oulaybamboo on ebay. I found it difficult to tell which way it tapers, or which side is thicker, so I was not sure where the nock and arrowhead should go.

I wonder what kind of varnish and/or stain was used, I think it looks pretty good

This is an arrow I fletched. I think I did it the wrong way around.

http://i.imgur.com/Hi8AjUH.jpg

Damaged fletching and self nock that survived being shot from 50# bows several times.

http://i.imgur.com/8HrfWss.jpg

On two bare shafts, I found that the center of mass was closer to the thinner, tapered point:

http://i.imgur.com/6eMHjQ7.jpg

...rather than to the one with the node close to the end, which appears to be thicker.

http://i.imgur.com/WPuA8TU.jpg

Would this mean that the arrow point should go on the tapered end, with the node farther away from the end? How can one tell which way a bamboo grew?

Node close up. I tried, but it's hard to see. Sometimes there is a dark ring and then a light ring that appears to be thicker. I figured that the bamboo was getting thicker in the direction of the dark->light ring, but the center of mass and circumference measures I made contradict this.

http://i.imgur.com/ma7YXXV.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/DLD9Zrw.jpg

Should I mostly just put the arrowhead in the end closest to the center of mass of the shaft?

Also, I tried to measure the circumference by measuring in the area in between two nodes by wrapping a cord several times, marking and measuring, in two sides of the arrow. On both shafts, the half with the tapered end without the node close to the end had more circumference and had the end closest to the center of mass. So the arrowhead should go on the tapered end?

Thank you

Pedro C's Website

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  • Registered: 2011-11-27
  • Posts: 207
  • User Karma: 5

Re: Bamboo shaft questions

I'm no expert, but this is the way I would approach it. (I have done bamboo arrows before) Logic would say that the bamboo would grow towards the thinner end. If you cannot discern which end that is, I would say it doesn't matter, but pick the straightest end as the nock end. On those shafts which you CAN determine the tapered end, use it as the nock end. I'm not sure about choosing the end which has the node closest to it. There may or may not be a rule concerning that. If you're wanting to use the "full length" shaft then that rather eliminates being able to cut your shafts to manipulate the placement of the nodes.
         I'm also not sure what you mean by "the center mass of the arrow". Are you talking "size" or "balance" ? Balance can be controlled by the weight of your arrowhead and/or adding solid wood to the hollow core of the front end of your arrow shaft.
         You can find lots of tutorials on building bamboo arrows on line.

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