Sticky Arrows

[gino]

Yeah I've heard about compound archers in my club melting the glue in bosses and getting stuff on their arrows, I can't see why it wouldn't happen to a high poundage longbow. As for advice, I'm afraid I don't have any but what's been suggested so far sounds good! I've just bought a 57lb longbow so when I get it (and when I'm able to shoot it) I'll see if I get any similar problems.

[jeduffey]

I also have this problem with a styrofoam block target. Energy is neither created nor destroy, simply transferred. So, the moving engery of the arrow, like a car, transfers to heat from friction for stopping, like the brakes on a car. I haven't yet tried wiping arrows with the lubricated cloth. I wonder if it will make them penetrate the block even further?

As for loosing points or piles in the very dense targets or bosses, someone recommended using a 1/16 inch (?mm) drill bit to make a hole all the way through the base of the point. Then fill it with a brass rod, coated in epoxy or other glue, and brad it over on both ends. I believe this will keep the point on the shaft, but you might be up for either more broken shafts or very stubborn pulling.

Your results may vary.

[Duss]

Use Ivory soap. Rub a bar of soap onto the first inches of your arrows. Renew application when needed, usually every 3 or 4 volleys.

First clean your arrows well either mechanically (scraper) or with a solvent (ethanol or acetone).

[kernowtom]

I get the gunge - but usually by the time I have shot them into the ground a few times it is cleaned off:-) As far as losing heads - I lost quite a few parallel fit heads, but since I have been using the screw fit bullets (plus epoxy) I have not had one come off - even when it has taken four hands to pull them from a hard boss... (Now I've said that, I'll probably lose three tonight:-)
tom

[Gem=)]

I know that when i am shooting at a straw boss (mainly outdoors) I end up with brown stuff on the ends of my arrows and i use Surgical spirit to clean them (i shoot easton jazz) and it comes off quite easly. =)

[Kae]

Brown gunk on the end of arrows? I've heard of them being used as back scratchers but isn't that going a bit too far? hrmph, sorry.

Anyway,
I've found that screw on, tapered points (with glue) are the best for not coming off in bosses. Fingers crossed I've yet to lose one! whereas I was always loosing parallel fit ones.
Soap also works really well to make getting arrows out of bosses easier, and to reduce the crud build-up.

When I used to shoot at Bowplus's old indoor range (short and enclosed) you could get a strong burning smell from the friction of the arrows entering the target boss!
My aluminium's indoor arrows also suffer from layers of molten foam, now that's a bugger to get off!

[gwynn]

Originally Posted by alanesq

I have not tried anything to stop it happening (you can get lubricant to put on the arrow to make it easier to pull, this may be worth a try?) but I have found that scotchbrite and a bit of washing up liquid easily removes it from the arrow

I wax my arrows every now and again, which seems to help. The downside is that they then go in further! And don't wax them just before you shoot as your fingers get all slippery, like, and you tend to drop arrows

[steve58]

I'm really grateful for all the suggestions. Have just experimented and can report that for me at least a non-stick pan scub and lots of cheap washing up liquid gets the gunk off better than nail varnish remover. That's good because I really don't like the smell of nail varnish remover! Not sure it's doing much good to the finish of the arrows either! Will experiment with some of the ideas on Friday night and report back. Quite like the idea of waxing the first two or three inches of the shaft so will try that first.

[BowSurfer]

Originally Posted by steve58

I use Araldite (the quick setting "Rapide" version). I do try to be fussy about not leaving any on the shaft or the pile when I glue the piles on.

If the problem is (at least in part) due to residual glue left on the shafts, which I imagine wuld be difficult to get rid of if it is araldite, then you could try putting a short length of arrow wrap (or cheaper signwriters vinyl) around the shaft before gluing on the pile. This should keep the shaft itself nice and clean.

[sarahjrd]

I have a similar problem when shooting our new staw bosses. I then bought shoe shine stuff which is basically silicone. It comes on a sponge so i just wipe the arrows with it every couple of ends and it does the job