footed arrows

[Garz]

**I needs a little help... I like to shoot long bows and recurves. I
Have always lined shooting wooden arrows and have recently looked at
making my own wooden arrows. - No big deal or so I though.. fletching
rig, arrows shafts,wood sealent, glue in field tips and glue on
nocks... Now I see footed arrows... please help me understand what
they are, why they are better than a standard shaft and why would I
need to make them... Thanks in advance ..

Tony

[mikea]

Footed arrows are simply two (or more)-piece arrows. There are two basic
sorts that I'm familiar with: the "V" and the 4-way (or X or + ) style.

Footed arrows generally have a chunk of hardwood glued to a chunk of
softwood. Think ash or mahogany or some such mated to cedar.

In the "V" style, you cut a "V" in the end of the hardwood, cut
the softwood to fit exactly in that "V", and glue the two together
in perfect alignment. You then sand or otherwise smooth the joint,
straighten as required, paint, nock, fletch, and point the critter.

In the "X" or "+" style, you cut the two "V"s at right angles into one
end of the hardwood, then cut the softwood to fit that exactly. Assembly
proceeds in the usual fashion: glue, smooth, straighten, paint, nock,
fletch, and point.

There are a number of websites with images of footed shafts and how-to
instructions on making them. Well-done, they can be _very_ handsome.

--
Mike Andrews, W5EGO
mi...@mikea.ath.cx
Tired old sysadmin

[mikea]

(second try, answering more of the questions)

Garz <gar...@gmail.com> wrote in <a97f5137-2f5c-4fa1...@31g2000vbf.googlegroups.com>:

Footed arrows are simply two (or more)-piece arrows. The hardwood foreshaft
is supposedly more resistant to shattering when it hits something hard,
such as a rock or stump. They're also visually appealing, and give you the
chance to display expertise in an uncommon skill. There's no real _need_
to make them, but they can be very nice -- as, say, presents or prizes,
for your own use, or for sale.

There are two basic sorts that I'm familiar with: the "V" and the 4-way (or
X or + ) style.

In the "V" style, you cut a "V" in the end of the hardwood, cut the