Footed arrows

[wingate_52]

Having forgotten/not enough time to saw up my ash and wenge/padauk/bubinga (all guitar spare pieces def not off-cuts). And desperate to get off my rear on xmas day. I went into my workshop for short intervals and have made jigs and simple tools to make footed longbow arrows in bubinga and port orford cedar. First coat of polish is now on and it's looking good. None of my club members shoot footed arrows. Do members here use them, views?

[long doc]

Have recently made a set of footed arrows for indoors with a view to having really heavy arrows which I can shoot point blanc at 20 yards. Used some purple heart off-cuts supplied by Ken Ward in Bridlington.

[Little Miss Purple]

what do you mean by 'footed' arrows??

[Bald Eagle]

Longbow arrows with about4" to 6" of hardwood,usually purple(your fave colour)heart, rosewood, etc, joined at the foot of the arrow with a spliced joint, like the bottom of a snooker cue. It's supposed to make the arrow stronger at the pile end when it hits a stone in the ground!! Bill Searle, agood friend of mine, made me some with rose wood footings years ago and they are still good to shoot. They look good too.

[laminatekid]

footed arrows are the way forward thepoints dont break off in the target if the arrow is barrelled it flies better than a self shaft once you mastered making them its sooooo easy
see http://www.diyarchery.com/Arrow_Peripherals.html for some prepaired timber to make life easier

[Yew Selfbow]

I have several sets of footed arrows. My favoutite footings are Ebony (great looking, very tough but a pig to make), Snakewood (again great looking but a difficult wood to work), African Blackwood (very very expencive and difficult to get hold of) and Pink Ivory wood (very good looking but difficult to glue).

[Little Miss Purple]

I have enough problems making my standard arrows!!!

[jeduffey]

What sort of tools do you use to make your footed arrows? Two wings or four? I bought a four wing footing jig from a fella about a year ago and just got around to building a table to convert a rounter to a table router, to use the jig. When I tried it, the 'plus sign' at the end of the arrow was too thick. I compensated for pushing the arrow past the end stop and then wound up with the shafts getting splintered the narrow wing areas. I'm not too keen on the results. Any help would be appreciated.

[wingate_52]

You need sharp HSS routerbits to do this. The TCT cutters are nowhere near as sharp. Add paper shims to the fence and/or jig to adjust rather than move the fence. Practice practice, and don't get overconfident and lose your fingers.

[jeduffey]

I have some wood working knowledge, but HSS and TCT are not abreviations that I recognize. Also, this particular jig uses a square channel router bit, so you are cutting the shaft with the corner of the bit. The jig is angled and as you work it across the bit the shaft is further from the bit, giving you the tapered cut.