Help needed with wood arrows

[shreffler]

#4286

I posted a while back asking how to straighten wood arrows…

After looking in depth more at my 18 raw shafts I just bought from Bill at Allegheny Mountain Arrowwoods while at ETAR, all but 2 or 3 were bent/warped in some way. Some were major bends, others were minor, but all were very prominent when looking down the shaft.

This is much more straightening than I want to tackle.

I bought Ash shafts, which I know has a tendency to be tricky with keeping straight.

My question is, is 16/18 ash shafts being bent something that is normal, or am I justified in my want to send them back and get different shafts?

Bill is on vacation all week so I have yet to be able to contact him on the subject – but I want to be more informed before I contact him.

Any input is appreciated.

Alex

[Doc Nock]

#29206

I surely wouldn’t want to denigrate any vendor, but you punched a huge memory button with your post!

It had to be 20+++ yrs ago that I bought some of Allegheny Mountain arrow woods…ASH like you…

It’s where I came up with my handle, Doc Nock. There was so much run out in the grain, I fussed for weeks to straighten them miserable buggars. Oven, gas grill… but only could do one end at a time as they were longer than either of my heat sources.

I also tried to BBL taper some… OMG…what a fiasco…that was when the run-out grain really showed.

Since I’ve learned, that ash grows like Osage in many ways… but… if you want straight grain, you cut to follow the grain. More waste, but better shafts!

There was a chap there from NEW ENGLAND with his own shafts. He got forced by Mike Sr. to LEAVE cause Mike was big investor/owner in AMWoods and didn’t want the competition. He sold his stuff out of his trunk and they were wonderful, straight grained ash…they can be found!

Those ash lasted a while… but so did RRA standing fire killed Cedar that were very heavy… mine were almost 600 gr. on some raw shaft! 😯 Alas, RRA is gone.

Good luck! They are contrary wood shafts. But can be forced into submission with lots of work… I’ll never do that again!

[shreffler]

#29301

And this is not meant to say anything bad about what AMAW does or demean them in any way – just simply wanting to know if I got a bad batch or if it’s normal.

Thanks

Alex

[shreffler]

#29314

Doc Nock wrote: Good luck! They are contrary wood shafts. But can be forced into submission with lots of work… I’ll never do that again!

And it’s safe to say that I do not have the time, patience, or expertise to put in that work! 😆

I now understand your struggles though. Thanks for the input.

Alex

[wahoo]

#30828

when I shot ash they were always a work in progress meaning every time I shot I had to tweak them. Tuff arrows and no I would not send them back.You could make flu flus and use them for small game or hunt with them.

[handirifle]

#30984

If it were me, I’d send them back. Especially since it seems to be the standard procedure to send out crap for shafts. As pointed out GOOD ash shafts can be made, would probably cost twice as much, but to sell junk and expect someone to keep it is bogus.

I do not care who the business is, or their past, if I buy some arrow woods, I expect them straight, or at least reasonably so, but 16 of 18 with big bends is too much.

Would you accept bent broadheads cause “that’s just how they end up when I get them”? Quality is quality. If it is lacking, send them packing!

If dealers realize customers will not accept garbage for arrows, they will not sell garbage. If all they can get in ash is crooked wood, then a disclaimer out to be clearly stated or don’t sell them, period.

Would you accept a self bow with twisted limbs? “Oh sorry, but that’s how that wood grows”, nope I don’t buy that for a minute.

I bet you paid extra for ash as well huh?

[Forresterwoods]

#31567

I always give the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise. It happened to some shafts I sent to a new customer. I check each shaft for straightness before sending out but for some reason many had warped during shipping. Not sure if a heat wave did it or humidity but now I seal the woods that are prone to that. My point is had the customer NOT informed me, I would not have known about his plight or the warp issue. I appreciate feedback whether good or bad. In this case I appologized and sent a bakers’ dozen premium semi finished shafts no charge. I would say let him know what you found with the shafts and ask what does he suggest. That’s my two sence.

Kevin Forrester

[shreffler]

#31661

I like the idea of asking what he suggests. I don’t want to be rude and demanding, just would like to know what he thinks is best.

Thanks.

Alex

[grumpy]

#32028

As a business owner, I would like to be informed. I have often let my suppliers know when something is amiss, and they have thanked me. One said “Thank God you told me. I would never have known.” Turned out other customers had the same problem and never said anything.

Worst thing for me was customers that complained to others, but not to me.

Say what you mean, mean what you say, but don’t say it mean.

[Forresterwoods]

#32581

I have had little problem in warping from certain woods that have an interlocking grain. They also spine closely when you turn it on a spine tester. In fact I still have some leopardwoods from two years ago sitting in my basement in soggy Seattle…and are straight as the day I made them. They also have some sort of resin that leaches out slightly with heat. When cool, that resin drys hard and also helps keep the shape I put in it. If a shaft is turned ftom a crooked blank, you will have a crooked shaft that will ALWAYS give you trouble. Good time to go for distance shooting at a nearby lake.

Kevin

[shreffler]

#32868

Thanks for all the input. I called Bill at AMAW and he was more than happy to refund me or resend some arrows that met my needs.

Glad he made everything right, can’t say anything bad about it.

[wahoo]

#45256

I would like to know about the new shafts???Ash always seemed like they are bearcats to straighten and keep straight . I like them and as said they are tough and heavy but also always need some correction for me any way. I always find myself working to keep them straight

[shreffler]

#54210

wahoo wrote: I would like to know about the new shafts???Ash always seemed like they are bearcats to straighten and keep straight . I like them and as said they are tough and heavy but also always need some correction for me any way. I always find myself working to keep them straight

I’ll let you know when they arrive. I told Bill that I’d like something else other than shaft in a similar spine for that exact reason – but I will keep you updated.

[Author]

Posts