From: syssfk@tesla.njit.edu
Newsgroups: alt.archery
Subject: Re: Arrows! Build or Buy?
Date: 6 Nov 92 23:06:54 GMT
Organization: New Jersey Institute of Technology

Brent,

> 	I have just put in an order for a Hoyt JOAD Medallist and
> 	was wondering if I should buy my own arrows or attempt
> 	(for the first time) to build them?

   I was having my arrows built for me at the local range/store but found that
I could never get them made quite the same way twice.  Usually the length would
vary by a half inch or so and the vanes would have a different offset angle.
It would also take anywhere from 1-4 weeks if they didn't have shafts with
my spine in stock with the vanes pre-installed (they had an outside guy do the
fletching once a week).  I finally got irritated enough to go out and buy my
own equipment.  I had been thinking of doing this for awhile but made a sudden
decision to just do it so the prices I quote are the result of impulse buying
at local stores:

 1.) Cuttoff saw (motorized) - $125 (diff. brand seen for $69.95)
     You'll need one of these if you don't get your shafts pre-cut.  Mine was
     made by (I think) House of Archery in Colorado.

 2.) Fletching jig - $35.00
     Mine is made by Martin and is a molded plastic copy of the cast metal
     Bitzenberger (sp) which is generally considered to be the best and goes
     for around $50-70 I think.  I wanted one of these but they were out of
     stock.  You'll need to decide on a straight, left helical, or right
     helical clip.  (Extra clips were $12.95) I'm told that you don't use
     helical for plastic vanes (you just offset the straight one - which I did)
     but I'm not sure if the guy who told me that was real reliable.  Left
     helical is for right handed shooters and right for left handed.  I read
     that in two books so don't trust that either :-).  I hope someone out
     there really knows and can straighten us out.

 3.) Bare shafts - $54.50/dozen
     Remember these are local prices for Easton Aluminum X7 shafts.  You will
     be able to do better mail order especially if you want the more commonly
     used XX75 shafts.  The X7s are tougher aluminum.  If you fire both types
     into a concrete wall the XX75s will break in half while the X7s will just
     bend.  I've done this - please don't ask.

 4.) NIBB (tm) points - $12.00/dozen
     These are the points that look like a bullet head, not the screw in field
     points and they're different for X7 and XX75.  I think inserts and field
     tips would be cheaper but NIBBs are made specifically for target archery
     and I think you would prefer them with your Hoyt.

 5.) Everything else - $not much
     Vanes and knocks are pretty cheap - about $1/dozen.  Fletching cement
     (Fletchtite (tm) about $3-4 a tube - lasts a long time), hot melt glue for
     the NIBBs (about $4.50 I don't remember the brand but it's made
     specifically for aluminum arrows).  You'll also need a small torch to heat
     the NIBB and shaft but a gas kitchen stove would work just fine.

> 	What is a good price that I should pay for pre-mades
> 	and parts?

   I was paying $45.00 or $47.50 for one *half* dozen of the X7s.  Again,
cheaper mail order.  As I recall the XX75s were about $8-10 less.

   The result was that my first 1/2 dozen arrows flew perfectly and didn't
even fall apart.  I'm using 1916 X7s with a 55 lb. compound bow (I'm also
shopping for a Hoyt Gold Medalist).  I'll bet alot of you out there think that
would be underspined.  Most of my arrow tuning was done just by adjusting
the ratio of string pressure on my three fingers and working on a smooth,
consistent release - go figure.  Anyway, if you build your own you can get
consistency, save some money if you shop wisely (assuming you go through a
fair number of arrows), and have a lot of fun.  The only hard part was adjusting
the jig to get the vane angle I wanted.  I took a few old dead arrows and after
6-8 vanes got it right.

   I hope this helps and you decide to go for it - I think it would be worth
it just for the enjoyment.  You'll also be amazed at how many of your friends
suddenly remember they have a bunch of old arrows that just need a few vanes
replaced.  That's how I ended up with all three jig clips.

- Steve -
-----------------------------------------------
Stephen F. Keeton         syssfk@tesla.njit.edu
Senior System Programmer
Computing Services Department
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Newark, NJ   07102     (201) 596-2907