Aussie Arrow Timbers

[clinglish]

I was cutting some fire wood recently and I got to thinking about the properties that make a great arrow. I spent the last week trawling the net to come up with some answers but to I am more confused than I was.
So
I appeal to the collective knowledge of Ozbow to find an answer
What Native aussie timbers have great arrow making properties and why????

[bigbob]

Quandong, silver Ash, chundoo are three I know of.

[woodie]

What about hoop pine? That is an ozzy timber is it not?
Ron

[little arrows]

yes - aracaria cunninhamii is

[hunterguy1991]

Something light but stiff makes a good arrow. Straight grain doesn't hurt either.

[clinglish]

Has anyone tried any of the banksia family

[perry]

A decent arrow wood needs straight grain, to be strong, elastic and flexible. Some Woods feel dull out of a Bow and seem sluggish recovering from Paradox. I like a medium weight timber as too much mass makes for a sluggish Arrow ie Ramin is heavy and slow, it feels dull out of the Bow where my favourite Aussie Arrow Wood Hoop Pine, feels lively when it leaves the Bow.

No doubt there will be someone out there that will say there is nothing concrete and scientific about what I say, it's a bit Vague but it best describes what I look for in an Arrow Wood. I have used Beef Wood, Silky Oak and Timber from unidentified Grevilia's for Arrow Footings. I made some Arrows from Western Red Cedar years ago. They were surprisingly strong. They where for a 30#Bow and about 3/8" Dia.

I have also made arrows from Pink Ash, nice reasonably heavy Arrow. Made a Bow from that same Log and had a Bow that Shot itself :] Grey Ironbark made a massively heavy Arrow similar in mass to Ipe. It made for a sluggish Arrow. Silver Ash / Quandong makes excellent Arrows. Not Native but Kwila makes a heavy nice shooting Arrow


I think it was Mark Harvey that was running around with some Bunya Pine Arrows, at the time he did not have any issue's with them if memory serves correct

regards Perry

[Scrub Bull]

Yes Perry still shoot the Bunya pine much the same as Hoop pine, in fact working them and shooting them most people would be hard pressed to tell the difference.
Here is my list of timber that I have made arrows from, they are not all Aussie.

Hoop Pine, Great to work with, Good arrow
Bunya Pine, Great to work with, Good arrow
Norfolk Pine, Great to work with, Does not make a good arrow to many pin knots.
Radiata Pine, Great to work with, very inconsistent arrows would not stay straight.
Slash Pine, lets just not go there.
Silver Quandong, Great to work with, Good arrow, Only use timber that has not been in a kiln.
Vic Ash, Ok to work, I like them for hunting arrows, a lot of waste as this timber can have a lot of checking.
Qld Maple, Great to work with, Can be a bit weak on the spine side of things.
Merbau, Great to work with, Good very heavy hunting arrows, If it is bent it will not straighten.
Tassie Oak, Ok to work, Much the same as Vic Ash can be very brittle with one of the species they use in the mix.
Douglas Fir, I find it a pain to work, Good arrows
Western Red Cedar, Good to work, did not find it had much spine.

Biggest problem is getting a consistent supply of timber.

[fujimo]

is it that good wooden shafts are hard to find- or just want to use some local wood.
i saw chundoo was mentioned.
do you have lodgepole pine in aus?

[bigbob]

Jeez you get around don't you fujimo? LOL Heh heh.

[fujimo]

how yer doing fella- still love your bows!!!
good job mate!

[bigbob]

Hey thanks!. Few issues with health lately but still trucking on! Got to get a bit of our wood to you one day before long, owe you for that.

[clinglish]

I haven't really made the foray into timber shafts as I am time poor. I was just pondering.
It would be fantastic if we had something local that would be good even if it was just to use as footings.

[fujimo]

are you looking for wooden shafts- think i could set you up

[GrahameA]

Morning.

I haven't really made the foray into timber shafts as I am time poor. I was just pondering.
It would be fantastic if we had something local that would be good even if it was just to use as footings.

It is dependent on what you want to achieve with the footings. I seek mass and strength. I have succesfully used Jarrah, Spotted Gum, numerous other eucalypts. They all work.

[Grizz]

Milkwood for arrows ? ? ?

[greybeard]

Although there is several varieties listed on the net they are discussed more in a botanical nature i.e. medicinal properties rather than timber properties; [Alstonia actinophylla] [ Sideroxylon inerme]

The following variety [if it is the one you are referring to] may be suitable.

Milkwood : [Wrightia saligna]

http://www.ttit.id.au/treepages/Milkwood.htm

Daryl.

[Grizz]

Greybeard thankyou for the information

Cheers grizz