Warning: file_get_contents(http://api.bit.ly/shorten?version=2.0.1&longUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theurbanabo.com%2Fhowto_2.php%3Fhid%3D36&login=studioryu&apiKey=R_8cc15499c28bbcb9125613429a5d9a0c&format=json): failed to open stream: HTTP request failed! HTTP/1.0 410 Gone in /var/www/vhosts/theurbanabo.com/includes/theurbanabo/functions.php on line 17 Warning: file_get_contents(http://api.bit.ly/shorten?version=2.0.1&longUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theurbanabo.com%2Fhowto_2.php%3Fhid%3D36&login=studioryu&apiKey=R_8cc15499c28bbcb9125613429a5d9a0c&format=json): failed to open stream: HTTP request failed! HTTP/1.0 410 Gone in /var/www/vhosts/theurbanabo.com/includes/theurbanabo/functions.php on line 17
In this tutorial I will walk through how to make arrows from a rough sapling or twig, to a nice straight dart ready for hunting.
Recommended raw materials:
Properties in raw materials:
lightweight, tough yet resilient, and most importantly, straight.
1). Harvest & Cure
Generally the best time to harvest is late Fall or during the Winter when the sap is down. Harvesting at this time reduces splitting and warping of your shafts. There are many differnet types of plants that would be suitable for making arrows. The idea is to look for groves or colonies of a plant that you can harvest stock about a pinky-width in diameter, little to know knots, and grows in a slow taper.
After harvesting if you are not going to create your arrows right away, bundle 12-15 shafts together, thicker ends to thinner ends, hang and let the moisture evaporate out for a minimum of about a week...some species of raw stock must have the bark removed in order to cure properly.
The curing step is useful but not necessary in an emergency survival situation...you can make perfectly servicable arrows from "green" stock.
2). Scrape Off Bark
Strip off bark using a sharp object, here is a piece of chert; a flake from flint knapping...abrade or rub off the bark by shaving your sharp edge perpendicular to the shaft surface...
3). Keep Recycling in Mind
shavings make good tinder bundles for fire making or stuffing in other types of projects...