Cutting arrow shafts????

[IATRKYHNTR]

Ok, I’m just getting started building arrows, have the jig and everything needed. BUT I need to know how to cut the blanks down.  I will only be building enough arrows for me and my family, maybe a few friends. Do I need a cut-of saw, or can I use small pipe cutter, or will that deform the shaft? Is there other ways? Any info would be nice.

Thanks,
Nathan

[Thomas Krupinski]

For carbon shaft arrows a high speed arrow saw is pretty much necessary to make your cuts straight and even.  However I have cut a few with a cutoff disc on my Dremel mototool.  That works OK, but you have to be really careful to get your cut square with the shaft.

For the group you are talking about a saw will be pretty much necessary and whole lot easier.

[willis5]

a pro shop can do it in about a minute and you can still build them by gluing the inserts in...

[Thomas Krupinski]

Actually when I order my blank shafts from Mountain Archery they cut them to the size ordered before shipping.

[IATRKYHNTR]

OK I kinda drop the ball this morning, should have given a few more specs.... For now I will be doing all alum. shafts, and I think the most I will be doing will be 3 dozen a year, unless I start cresting them like a few people have asked me to. This is the first time I have built them from scratch. I have take my old arrows and re-fletched them to suit me better, and crested a few of them for show. I'm going to the pro shop Monday to get my younger brothers bow restrung, and will check into the cost of getting them cut for me, might be a lil high since they where $20/dozen higher then what I paid for this set of shafts. :shock:  I had one guy swear up and down that I can just cut them with a pipe cutter, and they will be just fine. Even though I won't be shooting any tournaments with these arrows, I still want them to fly true.

Thanks for the info,
Nathan

[springer222]

Yes you can use a pipe cutter. Before getting my high speed saw, I cut many aluminium shafts with a pipe cutter. If that is the route you choose, my advice is make sure you get the mini cutters and also ensure they have rollers. Some of the less expensive ones do not have rollers and have more of a tendency to "walk". I like the Rigid brand.

[IATRKYHNTR]

I just happen to have the very cutter you are talking about. I'm gonna try it out this weekend, thanks again for the info.

IATRKYHNTR
(Nathan)

[Redhawk1]

I just happen to have the very cutter you are talking about. I'm gonna try it out this weekend, thanks again for the info.

IATRKYHNTR
(Nathan)

I also have a mini tube cutter with the rollers and have use it for years and have not had any problems at all. I have only used aluminium shafts

[jhm]

I use a mini table saw made by Dremel I bought a couple yrs. ago at a yard sail for $5, got the blades for the carbon arrows at lowes and it has worked fine, the small pipe cutter is fine for alum. arrows have seen several hundred cut that way and no problems, like all cutting projects, ( measure twice and cut once ) :-D      JIM

[longwinters]

I also have used the mini tubing cutters (with wheels) on aluminum arrow shafts for years.  Just take your time when cutting or you will pinch the shaft.  Also use the champfer to smooth out the inside of the shaft or you may have trouble getting the insert in.  To make sure your cut is square, put a good target tip into the insert before you glue it into the shaft.  Then spin it and check for wobbles.  You can tweek it a little, before the glue sets to get any wobbling out if you did not cut straight.

Long

[AllenRead]

The hardest part of cutting shafts to lenght is getting the ends absolutely square.

While a pipe cutter will cut to length, they are not always cut as square as you need.  G5 makes and Arrow Squaring Device that works great.  A little expensive, but I think that it's worth it.  Makes it very easy to get near perfectly square ends on shafts.

Good luck,
Allen