longbows are great fun

[Mad Archer]

Originally Posted by alanesq

I am assuming its a Victorian bow (i.e. arrows around 28" long) ?

Making some basic arrows to get started is very easy - the easiest way is to get points which are taper fit as you then use what looks like a pencil sharpener to make a point and glue it on with Araldite
The taper fit plastic nocks are the same at the other end
so basically you just cut the shafts to length, cut the points, glue the ends on and fletch it - job done :-)
the water based varnish is the easiest/quickest way to seal the wood

As for matching the weight / spine of the shafts I have found that until you start getting a good shot (which I have yet to do) it doesn't seem to make a lot of difference and so not really worth worrying about too much at first, as long as they are somewhere around the right spine for the bow (i.e. you buy them to be in around the right range) they will be ok.

So you just need to buy some shafts, taper fit piles, taper fit nocks, fletchings, taper tool (pencil sharpener thingy) and some glue (you can use super glue I believe? but I like HMG) and you are in business :-)

BTW - The shafts can have quiet a bend in them when you get them but I find they can be easily straightened just by bending them by hand without heat/water (probably take a while to get the hang of this but not a major problem)
Get the worst shaft and practise how much effort it takes to snap it and you then try not to use that much when straightening them ;-)

I use the superglue gel. It doesn't run everywhere and sticks very well. However, you have to get it right first time - I loaded one into the jig back to front once! I finish with a spot of fletching glue at the front and back ends of the fletchings to prevent the grass or someone else's fletching getting under them. I can't remember the last time one came off,