Making Tonkin Bamboo Arrows
Would love to have a go at making a set of bamboo arrows to match my
bamboo longbow.
Are they much more difficult to make than woodies? Can you use other points than insert? How do you nock them?
Marzi
I'm not an expert, but .....
Take a look at the
Archers Review article here.
....I've found it more-or-less as easy as woodies, although the main issue i've had is
tapering for the pile and/or nock.
My first batch were already self-nocked (just a smooth slot) which I just bound under
after 1 arrows split. The smooth slot nock I got used to, but if I tried to let someone have a go with them, most people would let the arrow drop off the string - so, yeah, against all the recommendations/norms I must have lightly gripped between my fingers.
I did put nocks on some to see if it made any real difference to my shooting - I didn't notice any.
Second set, primarily tapered for piles & nocks, primarily using a
Woodchuck Powered Taper Tool , also reviewed by Archers Review ( i already had it & had't noticed this review at the time).
I have not glued inserts in any of my sets & just used ordinary taper piles glued with araldite blue.
I have tried 3 different bladed taper tools, but in general they tend to split the cane, although occasionally I've got a clean taper.
I only have 12 of set 2 left (24 originally), broke another 4 yesterday, 1 the pile sheared off, 2 snapped at nodes, 1 split from behind pile to first node.
These are spined at #65-70 & are 8-8.5mm.
I think these are too fragile for me and/or my bow & will look to try a higher spine & thicker shaft.
Set 1 were unspined, but I checked a sample & they averaged #90+.
They were 9-10mm diameter. I've still got a dozen of these & shot them also yesterday.
Didn' break any.
The next set (to be acquired very soon), will most probably try inserts (at least on the piles).
N.B. I primarily use them for field, as I kept breaking lots of woodies (my aim is getting better). I think breakages did reduce as they appeared to more robust.