Making Cane and Bamboo Arrow and Atlatl Dart Mainhafts

Описание: In this video I use modern hand tools to make river cane and bamboo atlatl dart and arrow shafts with hardwood foreshafts that are tough, organic (with the exception of the tips), and relatively simple. Scroll down for the chapter listing. Also, see my other videos on how to fletch darts and arrows.

Native river cane (arundinaria gigantea) is extremely important both culturally and biologically in the southeastern US, but it has been cut back to ~2% of its original range. It has an unpredictable reproduction cycle. Patches die off naturally ever ~40 years to preserve genetic diversity. But this makes bottle necking events such as the one its currently experiencing potentially dangerous, since the plant may not regenerate from seed. In other words this important plant is considered endangered. Before you harvest river cane watch    • Rivercane, Arundinaria gigantea  . Please harvest carefully and in moderation, and spread the word about the importance of protecting and propagating native river cane.

Chapters:
0:00 Straightening cane
4:25 Trimming nodes
5:55 Sizing shafts
6:35 Creating arrow nocks
8:58 Sanding for bindings and trimming to length
11:04 Applying bindings to sockets (linen and hide glue)
13:07 Reaming socket interiors
15:14 Applying bindings to sockets (sinew and hide glue)
17:57 Creating dart nocks
21:20 Making foreshafts for arrows
25:36 Making foreshafts for darts
28:45 Fitting foreshafts to sockets, extra tricks
29:41 Gluing on field points
32:39 Final steps, shellac and oil

Tools:
-Knife with narrow blade (e.g. Morakniv 106 knife)
-Heat gun (kitchen stoves, coals from a campfire etc are alternative heat sources)
-4 in 1 wood rasp (optional)
-Sandpaper (60 & 180 grits)
-Arrow taper tool (or alternatively knife, rasp and sandpaper)

Materials:
-Cane or bamboo mainshafting
-Foreshafting (saplings, split hardwood, or oak dowels [3/8" for arrows and 1/2" for darts])
-Backstrap sinew and/or unwaxed linen thread
-Hide glue (Titebond, Old Brown Glue, granular or homemade)
-Hot melt glue
-Archery field points (largest diameter for darts)
-Shellac (premixed or flakes)
-Alcohol and q-tips
-Oil (linseed oil, pure tung oil, etc)

Example measurements:
(Note that I'm providing these to give beginners a sense of where to start. Different bows will require arrows with different spines and atlatl darts can come in a wide range of sizes, so find what works for you. If you're making arrows for the first time make three of four of different diameters and subsequently different spines. Shoot them and reproduce the one that works.)
-Light cane arrows: 29.5" long by 1/4" to 3/8" diameter cane mainshaft, with 1.75" long foreshaft and 100 grain fieldpoint
-Heavy cane and bamboo arrows (these can weigh over 800 grains!): 25" long by 11/32" to 3/8" diameter mainshaft, with 6.5" long foreshaft and 190 grain fieldpoint
-Atlatl dart: 150" long (including 1" long nock insert) by 5/16" to 1/2" cane mainshaft, with 7" long foreshaft and 190 grain fieldpoint

Notes:
-For atlatl darts that you do not wish to glue in the foreshaft (you'd like to use removable foreshafts) I recommend using real sinew for the socket binding. Socket bindings of linen and hemp thread soaked in glue often fail when hard objects are encountered and the foreshaft junction is not also supported by the glue bond.
-Bamboo arrows are often created without foreshafts. Glue in a toothpick or sliver of wood into the hollow cavity. Once it dries work down the bamboo shaft itself with the arrow taper tool and glue on the field point. You may have to sand the bamboo shaft to fit it into the taper tool. This is an easy method for making bamboo arrows.
-The bamboo I am using is heavier than river cane which is why some people don't prefer it for arrows. I find these heavy shafts shoot fine from a 50lb Cherokee bow. But a general approach is to make arrows with 100 grains per 10 lbs of bow draw (e.g. a 500 grain arrow for a 50lb bow). Something to keep in mind. You might enjoy shooting lighter shafts more, or find them more efficient with your bow.
-In contrast river cane is light yet rigid, making it a good candidate for arrows with a balance forward of center (FOC) when combined with a tough hardwood foreshaft.