ATARNarchive

Bamboo arrows

12 posts2010live thread
Byron
I managed to obtain some bamboo arrow shafts for my first attempts at making arrows.

I'm in the throws of buying 100 hand spined bamboo shafts from China as a test purchase.

There certainly seem to be favourable reviews for the vendor online, was wondering if anyone else has had dealings with http://myworld.ebay.ca/stmmrr1968/ ?

Byron[/url]
ginni
Excelent videos.

We dont have such bamboo. Bamboo is the first problem, the work is the same with a good or with a bad stick, the quality of the raw bamboo wil determine the quality of the arrow.

As mr.Yu, the korean master fletcher said, making arrows is a very long and difficult proces and the most diffcult part is the selection of the proper bamboo stick.

This shouldn't be discouraging, I am pretty sure that we can made very good arrows. Taking time for selecting the shafts, same nodes placement, same mass, same spine (I check the spine by hand an d generaly I accept big differences between shafts).
I have seen some incredible quality bamboo arrows in Korea, I will mention those made by Jack and Jim, who radically changed my standards.

Well, nothing is like bamboo. I love them and I cannot shoot something else.
Peto
Ginni, very nice work. You are craftman with big patience. Congratulation.
jchocz

Peto wrote:

Ginni, very nice work. You are craftman with big patience. Congratulation.

Beautiful arrows. Here are mine.

[external image]

Peto = Cornus ???
Jos?Dom
Ginni, very nice shafts! I really like the exquisite decoration you used with grapes and everything. You're an artist. What do you use for points?
About nock protection with a nail, don't you risk cracking the wood with pressure over the nail with every shot?

Jchocz, good job too.

Jack, many thanks for these videos. Yes, it's the Sugiyama shop. It's clear that's a job of dedication, love and passion. There are so many steps involved, no wonder Japanese charge an expensive price for their bamboo arrows. I also got several important tips watching the videos. I'll put them on practice next time I make arrows.
ginni
Jose, here is the nail (this in the picture is a korean nock, I used the same method):

http://atarn.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1376&highlight=

I am not an artist nor a carpenter and I have not very much patience. I learned from here and if I can make bamboo, everybody can.
For example, working with leather is very much difficult than bamboo and paint (at least for me).

@Jchocz

Beautiful arrows!
What paint and lacquer did you used? At the point it must to be very resistant to abrasion.
Jos?Dom
Ginni, now I see what do you mean with the nail. I was thinking of something different. Looks like a good idea to make them stronger. Did you broke a nock like that with or without the nail?

Yes, painting the area near the point is complicated. I do it, but I have to use a special soft target (a box or bag stuffed with rags and old clothes) if I want to use these arrows.
Byron
These videos are simply fascinating. I've been watching them over and over... thankfully my Japanese is sufficient to understand the better part of it.

Thank you for posting these!

b/.

jack farrell wrote:

Ginni made me aware of these vidios.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyejbipa ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdB59FWQ ... r_embedded#!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0Nbb7g9 ... re=related

A related text, possibly from the same shop?

http://www.edocraft.com/products/sugiyama/creator.htm

jchocz

ginni wrote:

@Jchocz

Beautiful arrows!
What paint and lacquer did you used? At the point it must to be very resistant to abrasion.

Hi Ginny,

Arrows painted epoxy enamel (at decorating). Throughout the arrows painted with polyurethane varnish (several layers - 5-7).

Maybe we'll see (Naadam Czech Republic).. There is I have (bamboo arrows)
mongolianarcher
Wow, Ive been hoping for a video showing japanese arrow making for a long time, I have been so curious about their methods and reasons for their prices! :D
There seems to be alot of polishing involved...