Easy Tips and Techniques For Beginners

Gather the Materials and Tools Needed

It is now easier to make your first arrow because you can buy most of the component parts you’ll need. Then, you just assemble them into your arrow. However, some people prefer to make their arrows from scratch because they think it’s more rewarding.

Following are the basic tools and materials you’ll need whether you’ll be making a modern, traditional or primitive arrow. 

• Saw – to cut arrow shafts to the desired length
• Arrow Inspector/Spinner – to test the arrow shaft for straightness
• Inserts for attachment of nocks and arrowhead
• Insert Adhesive (Epoxy) or Super Glue – to attach inserts and fletching.
• Arrow Wraps (optional)
• Vanes or duct tape (at least 2 inches wide) for arrow fletching
• Feathers – you can collect from birds and shape yourself or buy shaped or full length
• Fletching Jig – to mount vanes or feathers on the shaft perfectly every time
• Isopropyl Alcohol or Acetone – Clean shafts and vanes before gluing.
• Q-Tips – to clean the inner side of shafts and wipe excess glue with a paper towel or clean cloth
• Material for arrowhead – any material that can be shaped and durable like glass, coins, or even rocks.
• Wood, bamboo, aluminum stick, and other materials for arrow shafts 
• String or twine – to help keep feathers on arrow shafts in place.
• Markers
• Knife
• Glue gun
• Hammer and other hand tools to shape arrowheads

Make the Arrowhead

Making the arrowhead is optional for some arrow makers. You can buy arrowheads and the socket to be used to attach it to the shaft.

1. Sharpen the arrow shaft end.

You can make the arrowhead from scratch by carving the front end of the shaft into a sharp point using your knife. Then, harden the pointed shaft end by heating it in a low fire to avoid burning or scorching the pointed shaft end.

2. Make an arrowhead from scratch.

You can make arrowheads from scratch using any durable material like wood, flint, metal, flat glass, coins, hard plastic or even wide bones and rocks. Then, slowly chip or carve the material to the desired shape.

The base of the arrowhead should have the narrow part to be inserted into the arrow shaft. The tip and the sides of the arrowhead should be very sharp to penetrate flesh effectively. 

Prepare the Arrow Shaft

Today, there are a wide variety of materials for arrow shafts that are 45 to 150 cm long. Prepare the materials into an arrow shaft following the steps below:

1. Search and choose the sticks for your arrow shafts^.

Shop around for available shaft materials. Some hunting and sporting goods supply stores carry a wide variety of straight sticks

You can also consider making your own – look for the straightest stick you can find that is light, sturdy, about 6.5mm or thicker, and at least as long as the distance between your shoulder and wrist. It’s better to start with a longer than a shorter stick.

2. Spin test the shaft material.

Before cutting the material for the arrow shaft, spin test it to see if they are straight and balanced.

You can buy an arrow spin tester and spin your arrow. Watch the ends of the shafts as they spin. The end that is more wobbly is the one you want to cut on. Mark that end of the shaft to avoid cutting the wrong end.

You can make an arrow spinner with a cardboard box, about 12-14″ wide. Cut a V on two opposite sides. Place the arrow shafts in the V cut and spin them one at a time. 

Straighten arrow shafts by gently heating them over a low fire. Keep the shaft straight while it cools.

3. Cut the shafts to the desired length.

In deciding the length of the arrow shafts, don’t forget to consider the added length of the nock insert and the arrowhead. If you’re using the same bow size, you can use the length of your old arrows as your reference with the necessary allowances added. 

If you’re preparing a shaft for a new bow, determine the bow length by drawing it with the uncut stick or shaft material on it.

Then, while holding the bow and arrow shaft, ask someone else to mark on the shaft where you’d like to cut it plus about 1 1/2″ to 2 1/2″ allowance. 

Use eye protection before you cut the arrow shaft material with a saw. Roll the shaft as you feed it to the cutting saw. 

4. Smoothen the ends of your wooden shaft.

Make the circumference of the shaft end smooth using abrasive material like sandpaper. The shaft end should be smooth to achieve a good fit when you attach the arrow’s point.

This can be an optional step if you’re using ready-to-use arrow shafts as long as the ends are smooth.

5. Clean arrow shaft ends.

You need to remove the dust/debris left over from cutting the shafts on the surfaces where your super glue will be applied before inserting the nock or the arrowhead.

Clean with a Q-Tip, dipped in acetone or isopropyl alcohol. Continue cleaning until the Q-tip comes out clean to ensure better adhesion of the components inserted on the shaft ends.

Attach the Arrowhead to the Shaft

Arrowheads may be attached to the shaft with a slip-on socket or inserted into a split in the shaft end. 

Points attached with a socket are simply pushed snugly over the end of the shaft where glue has been applied.

In the other method, split the arrow shaft end lengthwise, attach the arrowhead base and secure it with a string. Coat the string with glue to improve its adherence to the shaft.

Wipe off any excess glue that is still showing after the arrowhead is attached. Then, dry the arrow before you proceed with the next step of the process.

Cover the Shaft with Wrap (Optional)

Wraps are thin pre-cut sheets of material, often vinyl or plastic, used to cover the area on the shaft where you will attach the fletching. Clean the shaft so that the wrap will adhere properly.

Some arrow makers use arrow wraps to increase the visibility of the arrow. Wraps can also make the removal of the fletching easier since it is not attached directly to the shaft.

Fletch the Shaft

Fletching is the process of adding feathers, duct tape, small fins, and plastic vanes to the back end of the arrow to ensure it flies straighter. There are other materials you can use as long as they are lightweight. 

1. Clean the shaft area where the fletching will be attached.

Clean the shaft with mild detergents or isopropyl alcohol. This is important to ensure proper adherence of the fletching material to be attached.

2. Attach the fletching material

Using fletching jigs – Fletching is much easier with a fletching jig. The jig will allow you to attach the fletching materials securely, accurately and with even spacing. Apply glue on each fletching material, close up the jig and let it sit to let the glue dry.

No fletching Jig – If you don’t have a jig, you can just align and place the fletching material by sight.

You could also split the back of the arrow, slide the feather in, and tightly wrap a thin string around the fletching. This method is suitable for attaching various fletching materials.

Take note that you can still use an arrow without fletching. However, fletchings improve your arrow’s accuracy by stabilizing it as it flies. Fletchings guide the arrow through the air to its target for better accuracy.

Add or Insert the Nock On the Arrow Shaft

The nock is the small notch at the back of the arrow. The nock keeps the bowstring in place.