20 Steps to Building Your MOST ACCURATE ARROWS

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Here are the 20 steps in order for your convenience. I hope this helps! - Josh 00:00 Intro 1- 00:15 Check for straightness 2- 01:48 Remove nocks 3- 03:00 Make first cut on wobbly end 4- 04:10 Replace nocks 5- 05:23 Cut other end of the shaft 6- 06:39 Square ends of arrow 7- 07:25 Remove labels 8- 08:35 Clean arrow shafts 9- 09:13 Double check straightness and move nocks 10 -09:55 Number each shaft 11- 10:50 Least amount of standard deviation by sorting inserts 12- 12:36 Least amount of standard deviation by sorting points 13- 12:52 Installing inserts with Easton epoxy 14- 15:17 Installing inserts with hotmelt 15- 18:21 Determining which way your arrows are clocking 16- 21:46 Check bareshaft tune 17- 23:27 Install arrow wraps 18- 23:50 Weigh and sort fletchings 19- 29:58 Fletching process 20- 33:24 Arrow nock tuning process

[@TomsonTheOne]

If you put the timestamps into your description KZbin will generate chapter marks in the timeline of the video.

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

@@TomsonTheOne done! Thank you

[@sasquatchrosefarts]

​​​​@@BowOnlyOutdoors you should put the arrows back on the spinner before the second cut. Also, you should really weigh the arrows before starting to use copper wool or steel wool. You can tighten the weight variance, to the tenth of a grain.

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

@@sasquatchrosefarts good tips! Thanks

[@douglash.8862]

At the end of, Vid,.. The FLETCHED Arrow,.. "Nock Tuning" IS,.. so Important, IF you want, really Accurate Arrows ( Matched to Spine WELL ) and GOOD, Broadhead Flight ! I'd Stick with 3 Fletch, and 3 Degrees of Helical with, 2.5 inch Minimum to 3 inch Long, X .400 to .500 Tall, Vanes for good, FIXED, B - H Flight for, the 45 to 60 Lb., Bows. I've Tested,. 2.88 VaneTec Swift's, 3" V-Maxes, 2.5" Heats and 2.7 inch AAE Stealth Maxes and ALL, Fly "well' with 3 Deg of, Helical and MOST Fixed B- H's using, 40 to 50 grains of FACT weight, up front for GOOD,.. FOC ( Great, Penetration on Deer / Elk ). Medium Weight arrows, descent FOC, Fly Well, minimize Drops and Penetrate, Meat / Bone ! My son uses Heavier Arrows ( 485 gr's total wt., with 75 grain FACT and Stiffer Shafts ) with his 73 Pound Bow and 5 to 6 Degrees of, Helical, to control a Fixed B-H.

[@zerbinialessandro22]

This is a bachelor's degree in building arrows! Congratulations you have an incredible precision, if you want to come and shoot in Italy you are welcome !!

[@joelgraber7862]

That’s one of the most thorough arrow build I’ve seen, thanks for the info!

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Thank you so much! I’m glad you found it helpful!

[@Alan_Edwards]

No doubt !!

[@RachelPflasterer]

Whoever is operating the camera did an incredible job with this one, WOW!

[@brandonpatterson5705]

My guess is that it was Micah

[@LynnJynh9315]

The longsuffering GF behind the camera is the real hero here.

[@RachelPflasterer]

⁠​⁠@@LynnJynh9315THANK YOU hahaha!

[@theeverydaybowhunter]

Great video! The only disappointing element is the trolls in the comments who obviously didn’t need to watch the video but did only to sharpshoot you and your process. Keep up the great work!

[@daveymcswaggins]

One of the first videos in a while that I watched all the way through without skipping ahead. Excellent video! Very informative, thank you for the guide

[@apolitelife]

I love the copper scouring pad tip. love the no name arrow. Also love the masking tape labeling for weights of everything. awesome video. Thanks!

[@aaronhawk4200]

Being able to take the label off is huge. I have never been a fan of the labels on arrows. Best tip I have seen in an arrow making video

[@Alan_Edwards]

I have mixed feelings on this one. I kind of like the arrow name/type being on the shaft....maybe it's just an ego thing? Honestly tough this will be the first time I cut my own arrows so I might feel differently when I see how they look when they do not line up.

[@goodtimekillers3262]

The only problem i see with this is that i have a couple of bows and several different types of arrows, this would make it very confusing when switching setups.

[@sealteem5]

This is the most thorough arrow build ever ever. Wow let me tell you what buddy you have a great teaching ability the way you talk your voice everything is smooth and cool, and I would take this to the bank, no joke, and to the target with confidence of your arrow, building Waze and techniques, you’re just so thorough with it and there’s no BS in this video at all. My pro shop doesn’t even do this and I thought they were great.!! More than a thumbs up on this one and subscribed lol

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@javieroliva5583]

Great freaking video. Hell yeah. Liked and subscribed.

[@patrickgagne8795]

Best bow content on YT by far. I’ve been shooting bows for only a year. Since following this channel and using his techniques, I shoot far better than many long time shooters. Not yt bs either. His back tension shooting lesson changed everything for me. Thanks for the amazing content

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Thank you so much! We love to hear feedback like this and we are so happy to be able to help you. Keep up the great work 👊🏻

[@jordanpearson9860]

How long did it take you to learn the back tension release method? Looking to change into that next year. Super excited

[@sinepari9160]

Learned a few things here for sure. Like removing the labels and using the lightest insert/heaviest arrow and vice versa to get the lowest variance. Mine typically come out with

[@TomsonTheOne]

0:17 Straightness check on spinner and cutting wobbly side 6:38 Squaring the ends 7:25 Removing labels 8:35 Wiping the shafts 9:13 Double check straightness and put nock in straightest end of shaft 10:03 Number arrows with sharpie 10:54 Start insert installation 11:16 Weigh arrows & inserts, then combine heaviest arrow & lightest inserts 12:38 Weigh fieldpoints 14:00 Gluing-in inserts 14:57 Matching fp and inserts by weight 15:18 Alternative for epoxy if in a hurry 18:20 Arrow clocking (spin orientation) 21:45 Compare bare shaft tune to fletched arrows 23:30 Arrow wraps 26:04 Weight match vanes 29:58 Fletching 33:24 Arrow tuning

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Great idea! Thank you

[@TomsonTheOne]

@@BowOnlyOutdoors You are welcome. Great content and I knew I would come back to this video. Feel free to put it in the description if you desire.

[@firemedic10353]

OMG hw much I don't know- lol this dude is single handeldy changing the way I bow hunt. Awesome info and I love how there's no fluff, he presents well and to the point

[@brianmccarty9982]

Great Video!. Very detailed and precise. Well done. Keep up the great work. Looking forward to the next one.

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Thank you so much!

[@sethpierrepont9738]

Step 11 can be improved by filing inserts, to remove weight, so that they exactly offset differences in arrow weight; then all finished arrows will weigh the EXACTLY the same.

[@jonathancheesman8385]

Great idea. The biggest difference at that point is weight distribution.

[@Alan_Edwards]

Good point and one I will consider as I build my new set of arrows following this process.

[@sethpierrepont9738]

@@Alan_Edwards thank you, Alan, I appreciate the acknowledgement. I have also found that 1/8” threaded rod from my local hardware store is the same thread as very expensive arrow weights from Easton and others. Cut a bit of rod and screw it into the back end of inserts with a bit of epoxy, then file down to exact weight required for a perfect FOC weight matched arrow. Shoot true!

[@CD-lw6fl]

Great video! A couple of things to note: Make sure that no glue covers the venting hole at the end of the insert to prevent air resistance when pushing the insert in. Also, although you did it, it’s important to mention that the shaft needs to remain flat for the duration of the drying period and not standing upwards. Another good thing to do but not crucial would be to chamfered the ends with the nippled end of a stone wheel then clean.This insures easy entrance with the insert. - Most arrows will spin counter clockwise due to strings being twisted that way. ALL IN ALL, GREAT VIDEO

[@sktruesdale]

Meticulous and thorough. Thanks for the instruction.

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

You are very welcome!

[@DegoshReed]

Thank you for the in depth video!

[@pens87668]

Excellent video as I learned a lot. I’ll definitely keep many of the tips you mentioned going forward.

[@mikewalter6183]

Josh You‘re the Best! Great Video,looking forward to the next one already!

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Thank you so much Mike! We appreciate your support!

[@Alan_Edwards]

I have learned a lot since taking up archery in the late 90s. I do all my own setup and repairs and have learned from others, but mainly through trial and error. I have built so many arrows I can't count them all...each time learning from the last and making better flying arrows. I have never taken these detailed of steps though but I like the concept of checking, verifying and especially weight matching components. Makes total sense. Just got a dozen Golden Tip Kinetic Pierce 400 arrows and are going to follow each step. I am by no means a pro archer, but I AM good enough to want the best arrows I can build and I look forward to the task. Thanks for detailing all these steps...should be fun and interesting !!

[@PBS-nm1uu]

this is the best presentation i have seen, different but great, thanks also a material list would be nice.

[@mcroman-superfeat]

Well done arrow build and great tuning too... - Learn a lot here ... ;)

[@gordonneverdies]

This is a great channel man. Solid vids every time.

[@desertclimber78]

Great editing made for a clear delivery of the information you intended to convey. Props!

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Thank you very much! I tried to get all of the necessary information across in as short amount of time possible to not waste anyone’s time. I hope you found it helpful!

[@aaronsmith21]

Great video. Thanks for posting the full process

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Thank you! I hope it helps

[@paulconroy2690]

Great video, very well explained.

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Thank you!

[@jeffreypereira9697]

Love these dudes! So informative and knowledgeable

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Thank you!

[@thomasfleury9274]

Clean tip cutting wraps to vane. Nice build, like the no label look

[@thomasfleury9274]

Also a great arrow build over all

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Thank you!

[@jackbuendgen389]

Hand loading arrows like this makes a BIG difference. Great video Josh!

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Yes it does, thank you Jack!

[@jackbuendgen389]

@@BowOnlyOutdoors hey how much helical do you put on your vanes?

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

I don’t know how much helical I use in measured degrees. I just use enough to get the arrow spinning to help steer. Too much helical causes a parachute type effect for me and produces less desirable results shooting at longer ranges.

[@kjell.roelen_armbrust]

Great tip for showing how to remove the label! I shoot field crossbow and the arrows are about 18" long so they come factory made 2 arrows from 1 shaft. Meaning 1 arrow with and 1 arrow without label. the straw tends to stick to the label making them unreliable most of the time.

[@edwardhovitz1753]

Thank you for quality content and video editing.

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Our pleasure! We hope you found it helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@mrpumba2147]

I'm new to archery and this video was done very well and provided me a well foundation if I decide to make my own arrows.

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

I’m glad you found it helpful! Being that you are new to archery, I would encourage you to focus more on the foundations of form and shooting over perfect arrow building as that will have a much greater impact on your overall accuracy than this. Check out our Learn Archery videos for more information on the advanced basics.

[@mrpumba2147]

@@BowOnlyOutdoors Will do for sure and thanks for the tip.... new subscriber!

[@wrobo6122]

Nice arrow build! Thanks!

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Thank you!

[@davidshillito5174]

Very well explained.....many thanks. David from England UK

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Thank you David! I’m glad you enjoyed it

[@robertopasquini9776]

Well, man, ...you know about arrows for sure!! Thank you very much.

[@Sapper_Rage]

Great video! I love how precise you are with everything. If I could, I would encourage you to take the nocks out while you're installing the inserts.

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Thank you! I have never had issues personally in the past from doing it to thousands of arrows but knowing that others have, that is a good recommendation. 👍🏻

[@orrenwhite4664]

Started building my own arrows recently. Awesome vid man thanks 👍

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Awesome! I hope you find this helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@jons7e]

Great job on this video. Very thorough tutorial

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Thank you! I hope it helps.

[@MasterofNone365]

Great info brother! Building new hunting arrows right now and I like the trick of taking off the label on the shaft. I used a green scratch pad and it worked like a charm.

[@handmadebybainsy]

Hey, is it possible to correctly index the nock before the fletching is done? That way if you do a 2 colour system you always have that odd colour pointing up.. would you just test and adjust before fletching and mark accordingly? Or would there be more to it?

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

I've done this by shooting bareshafts grouped at 30 yards and turning the nocks until they impact with the rest of the group of bareshafts, but find its easier to do it after fletching.

[@tomekbudzioch1063]

Great video - best fletchig guide I've seen 👍 Some questions: how the seam of the wrap looks like? Are the edges perfectly aligned or there is some overlap? If so, how may milimiters the edges are overlap?

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Thank you! They do overlap, but not my much. I would guess 2-3mm.

[@tomekbudzioch1063]

Thank you!@@BowOnlyOutdoors

[@RMC2021]

Good process!

[@Djiskyview]

One of the best video I’ve ever seen. Would you please just explain why do you put an extra weight on your arrows? Tnx.

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Thank you! Are you referring to the inserts at 12:52? These are used to put in different screwable points such as field points for practice, or broadheads for bow hunting.

[@patrickbink4617]

Great video for me. I have yet to fletch my own arrows and am a bit intimidated to do so. So many things to consider. Keeping this video for reference and going back to watch more of yours. I am not convinced that my bow is in tune yet.

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

In all reality, you can make them as simple or as complex as you want to. When I first started I didn’t have a jig or a saw so I would literally cut them with a hack saw and use a dremel type tool to square the ends. As I’ve advanced as an archer and bowhunter I’ve slowly began to be more and more precise which has lead to more confidence and more accuracy out of my set up. Just jump in and start! You won’t regret it.

[@brydensears6318]

Great video

[@douglasvaughn9530]

Not sure if this was mentioned but you should always remove the nock when installing HIT inserts. Air pressure can build up and push the HIT out of place. Then your points or broadheads won't screw in all the way to the carbon. Loved the video though. Pretty much the exact process I use when building arrows. Great job!

[@pens87668]

After commenting on this video a few days ago, I decide to redo my hunting and 3D arrows. I finished my hunting arrows, and I got them to be within 1.7 grains of each other. I have one arrow that reads 456.6 whereas the rest read between 454.9 and 455.6. If that one arrow didn’t add on the extra weight somehow, I’d be under one grain. I’m curious as to how close I’ll be able to get my 3D arrows. I plan on doing them tomorrow once I pick up some bright green Max Stealths after work.

[@SR-gt350]

To make the cut perpendicular to the shaft. What I do is put the arrow end I'm cutting in a drill chuck. Then lightly tighten chuck while rotating the chuck to ensure no wobble. Once tighted enough so arrow is not spinning then I use a fine locksmiths file to score, eventually cutting the shaft while the drill is going at a low speed. Very fast and accurate with a nice clean edge finnish. To lock the trigger on the drill at the speed I liked, I wrapped a fine copper wire around the handle and it depresses the trigger. Works great.

[@TK-rj3lc]

What wraps are you using? And where do you buy them at? Thanks for the awesome video, and it's extremely informative.

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Thank you! I order my wraps from Onestringer and purchase their solid reflective arrow wraps

[@58BowNut]

Great video!

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Thank you!

[@KrakowArcher]

So cool build info ! That really matters for 80+ yards distances. But for any shorter distance it’s not a big deal I think (like natural spinning or labels on the shaft)

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Agreed! It makes the biggest difference at distance.

[@Jamie-cf8tn]

I use hotmelt for my hunting inserts. This allows me to heat up the broadhead base and spin it to align the blades with my fletching. I do this so when I have a pass through the rib cage it is much less likely to get a fletching torn or cut as it goes through the animal.

[@technicalbowhunting]

I noticed you didn’t do any prep work to your shaft when applying the arrow wraps. I have found that the wraps do not adhere well when I do not prep and clean the shafts very thoroughly. I find when pressure is applied to the vanes, like being shot through a target, although the vanes adhere very well to the wrap, they will tear the wrap where they are glued. I found with a thorough prep with a scotch bright pad and being cleaned until absolutely no carbon residue remains, that only then do I have solid vane and wrap adhesion that are super solid and can handle a ton of abuse. What are your thoughts?

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

That is a great tip for those that may struggle with that as well! Personally, I find that simply wiping the carbon dust off with a damp rag after cutting makes the shaft clean enough for my wraps to stick extremely well. So well that the only way to get them off is with a knife and scraping as they will not tear from the shaft even when they are going through targets like you describe. I do thoroughly clean the shaft if I’m going to fletch directly to it, but for wraps, I’ve found that it’s not needed for me. I will say as I type this out, I have had wraps tear off in the past exactly where the fletching connects after going through an animal and sometimes even when it’s shot off from another arrow. Although it doesn’t happen very often, perhaps going the extra mile to clean more intensively would make the difference to allow them to not tear. Thank you again for the tip!

[@peem3154]

Great job man, like it, learned a lot. Two questions, what kind of arrow wrap do you use, and are they so accurate, that they dont overlap after wrapping one turn, or do you cut them so presicley? Second question, what about measuring the stiffest side of the arrow? Is is not important to know for you, to fletch your arrows all equal? regards from Austria

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Thank you! I was just in Austria a few weeks ago visiting the Swarovski Optik factory and taking guests on a Chamois hunt in the alps. It sure is a beautiful place! For the wraps, I use onestringer arrow wraps that I just order online. They overlap probably 1/8” which seems to be about perfect. As for measuring the stiffest side of the arrow, I find it unnecessary if I do my nock tuning process that I show at the end. It is not important for me to fletch the arrows according to the stiffest side of the shaft. As long as my arrows come out of the bow flying straight, I see no added benefit for myself of going through that additional step. If I were measuring the stiffest side of the shaft, I would do it in an arrow tester rather than the other methods out there but I haven’t known it to matter with these arrows. Hope this helps and regards from Nebraska!

[@mrwoodwooker2810]

Bending the shaft in a bow press or a pipe clamp with field points at each end will show you exactly how each arrow will bend when shot from a bow. Spin each arrow until they all bend either straight up or straight down. On the nock side just make a sharpie mark on the top. This way you can glue the inserts with your broadhead screwed in and make sure they are all oriented the exact same. Same goes for the fletchings. So every arrow will be identical when nocked in your bow and they will all leave your bow the same.

[@mrwoodwooker2810]

If your bow is tuned properly, this will give you the most forgiving setup.

[@Calebott01]

Amazing!!!

[@josephtreadlightly5686]

When there r all carbon arrows that are sorted with different levels of straightness this arrow building process helps. I've spent the same amount of time making .006 arrows very straight shooters. But getting the length & point weight right is great. But u have to get both ends squared off. I have a Lumenok tool I have mounted on the opposite end of the board that I have my fletching tool mounted to. That Lumenok tool is called a F.A.S.T. Fletched Arrow Squaring Tool. But I shoot bare shafts until I get the nock in the right position. A stiff target like a SEVR 21" which has one large side with just a grid pattern is a great tool to get the nock & the spine of the arrow just right. If u do it & pay attention to the results it can spare u the time of paper testing. The aluminum/carbon composite arrows r very straight & forgiving. But I made many Easton ACC arrows out of shafts for a long time & I might have just a couple that don't have a wobble @ the end. This is the only time of the year I make arrows. It's good weather for it in the upper Midwest. Take care & keep your high quality videos going. 🎉

[@stefanhansen5882]

Very interesting! I am new to the bow, and have a question. You said that your arrows are 27½ inch. Is it correctly understood that the weight/density of the arrows, as well as their stiffness, much be tuned to the bow and draw length also?

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Yes, the stiffness of the arrow must be matched to your bow. Arrow length, point weight, and rear weight will all play a roll in the dynamic spine of how the arrow reacts coming out of the bow.

[@stefanhansen5882]

Thanks@@BowOnlyOutdoors. And another question if you don't mind: At how long a distance can a skilled archer hit the target with a decent grouping with a barebow or traditional bow with arrows WITHOUT fletches?

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

@@stefanhansen5882 that’s a great question! I do not know as I haven’t spent near enough time shooting a barebow or recurve to know. What I do know from the compound side with a release is that most bow/arrow/archer combinations struggle to group bareshafts together past 40 yards.

[@stefanhansen5882]

Thanks a lot@@BowOnlyOutdoors. So a good guess would be 20-30 yards, or will it be even less?

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

I do not know, I’ve never tried it with a barebow or traditional bow with fingers.

[@TYB439]

Is a left helical fletch performed with a straight Bitz clamp angled left, or is the left clamp actually curved left? Thanks.

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Left helical will be with a left helical clamp which curves left, but you can do a slight offset left with a straight clamp which actually works well also!

[@kennethhannum2189]

if you dont mind the labels facing different ways do you have to take the ink off?

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

No, but it will smear against the target.

[@elcidcampeador9629]

Loctite Super Gel holds amazing. Not the easiest to work with but nothing is coming off when youre done

[@nickhand9907]

How are you making your targets, or how are those targets made?

[@erikestabilio6366]

Great video man! I’m looking to start making my own arrows soon and have a question. What if when you bareshaft tune, the arrows aren’t grouping with your fletched arrows(higher, lower, left, right)?

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Great question! Lots of factors that go into this. Factors such as cam sync, rest position, nocking point position, draw length, cam lean, shooting form etc all will change the point of impact. The bare shaft tuning process is pretty in-depth itself which is why I did not include it in this arrow build video. I have included more detail in other bow build videos from in the past and that will be more helpful.

[@mr.skeptical3071]

Do you re-weigh each arrow after the insert but before the fld. points? Also, is it ok to put a right fletch vane on the arrow if the bow is shooting left/counter clockwise?

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Yes, I re-weigh each arrow after the insert because the glue seems to have some weight variance to it and it only takes a minute to do. Yes, it is ok to put a right helical on an arrow that is spinning counter clockwise. The vast majority of archers will not be able to notice a difference in accuracy and most people shoot a helical that is against the natural arrow rotation anyway by accident. With that said, why not have every advantage on your side if you’re able to? If you know it’s coming out counter clockwise, no reason not to match it.

[@mr.skeptical3071]

@@BowOnlyOutdoors because I can only find a right helical fletch on my blazer shrink wrap dip n boil! I don't have a jig so I buy the dip into boiling water kind.

[@artemdudin4208]

Does having the nock or a broadhead on the more wobbly end make for a better arrow flight (if I'm using a fixed blade broadhead)? Thanks!

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Good question. That’s one I haven’t tested with broadheads on the front, but with field points, you want the wobble on the front (point side). I would recommend that you use only your straightest arrows for broadheads and hunting, and keep any shafts with wobbles for target practice only.

[@RickSeymour54]

Awesome awesome video ..as usual, for Bow Only Outdoors. Just a week ago I did 2 dozen arrows. Rats…I would have done this

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Thank you Rick! Sorry we weren’t able to finish this earlier but hope this helps for the next time!

[@kenturmon3660]

Would the weight of the nock tend to always make that end wobble more?

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

No, not that I’ve ever noticed.

[@steelandsanderoutdoors2617]

Yes when you do the Deep six hidden inserts you need to take the nock out, otherwise you may create a suction when you pull your green tool out and make the inserts slide out a bit.

[@sportbikeguy9875]

Great video. I like the weight matching section, but is a grain or two of total arrow weight more important than matching FOC? If your adding all the heavy fletching to the lightest arrow, and vice versa, you've created an ideal situation for dynamic spine differences between arrow... I'm not saying your method is incorrect, I've actually never built my own arrows, so I'm here to learn, but I just wonder if anyone has studied the benefits of perfectly matched arrow weights vs perfectly matched dynamic spine, FOC, etc.....

[@sportbikeguy9875]

I imagine you could also use a very small drill bit to balance broadheads and field point, much like the way a crankshaft is balanced, removing material

[@chrisbowman2030]

Do you prep the inside of the Shaft before gluing in the inserts? I use the Easton arrow prep tool and pure alcohol, think it helps with the longevity of the arrows.

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

I just clean out the carbon dust from cutting with a damp Q tip and I have never had an issue.

[@chrisbowman2030]

​@@BowOnlyOutdoorsok, thanks!

[@gouchmcdougal7831]

Honestly the best video on how to build arrows. Luke 9:62

[@Calebott01]

Does it work to strip labels from any arrows?? Also does it affect the look of the carbon? Thanks!!

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

@@Calebott01 that question I do not know for certain. Most all labels are inked on which doesn’t mess with the shafts appearance at all when removed, but some shafts may have a coating that comes off with the label. No issues on the Easton axis and gold tip arrows that I’ve used.

[@Calebott01]

@@BowOnlyOutdoors thank you!!!

[@andywhitby8986]

Only just watched this video (even though it’s been on here for 5 months at time of viewing 🙈) 1st off, thanks for taking the time to put this video together, lots of really good info. Just one question. I have seen other videos that make reference to nock indexing. I noticed at the end of your video you rotate the arrows on the bow when paper tuning, I am assuming this is a similar thing, and would you recommend this method as applied to nock indexing during the build?

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

You are very welcome! This is just another method of nock indexing, and this is my most preferred way to do it as it gives actual results rather than just indexing the nock to the spine. Both methods definitely work, I just prefer this.

[@andywhitby8986]

Ok, that makes sense. Thanks very much, and thanks for taking the time to reply. Much appreciated.

[@pickin4you]

I have a question maybe someone can answer. Which are more consistent in weight, true flight feathers or good quality vanes? I used to always shoot feathers for indoor 300’s but now that I am older, I am wondering if vanes are closer in weight to each other than feathers. I am about to set up a new light poundage bow and before I fletch some arrows this winter, I am hoping someone has an answer for me. Thanks.

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

I don’t have an answer on what will be more consistent weight wise. With that said, indoor archery (20 yards and/or meters) the name of the game is stabilizing the bigger diameter arrows as quickly as possible. Weight variance becomes less of a factor as the closer distance does not allow it to vary the impact as much as it would at longer distance. Feathers will always grab more resistance and steer the arrow quicker at short range, but there is nothing wrong with plastic fletchings either. It’s all your own personal preference. At the end of the day, it’s best to test each for yourself to determine which you like best.

[@dougfriendt8906]

Hey Josh, Hope all is well with you and yours. I've decided to try cool melt hot melt glue and had a couple of questions. I was surprised that you just use your fingers when heating the glue on the insert, doesn't that get hot? Also, I've heard people say you should dip the arrow/insert in cool water as soon as you get the insert installed, but you didn't recommend this? Please let me know your thoughts and thanks in advance.

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Hey Doug, thanks for the message. When the glue is already on the insert, it’s still fairly warm/hot, so it doesn’t take much to heat it up to the point where it’s easy to put in the arrow. My fingers don’t get hot as the heat doesn’t transfer to the point since I’m not holding the heat over it for a long period of time. I’ve never had to put it into cool water once installed. I let it cool on it’s own and after 2-3 minutes I can roll off the excess no problem. If your hot melt glue stays more liquid longer, you may have to dip it into cool water to prevent it from dripping, but other than that, it’s not needed. -Josh

[@dougfriendt8906]

Thanks Josh for the quick reply and good info.

[@dougfriendt8906]

Hey Josh, I had previously tried heating the insert first when using hot melt glue, but your method of heating the glue instead of the insert worked so much better. Thanks for the great tip.

[@dougfriendt8906]

Hey Josh, I'm in the process of installing inserts and nock bushings in some aluminum arrows. I have cool melt on hand but wondered why you use hot melt instead of cool melt and what brand of hot melt you use?

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

@@dougfriendt8906 hey Doug, I’ve always used the hot melt from Lancaster archery and have never had any issues. Never have tried “cool melt” lancasterarchery.com/products/cdm-flitemate-hot-melt-glue-5-stick

[@StrateOutdoors]

Would I be able to observe string twist just by looking at it? Curious to match it with my fletching

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Yes, most strings are twisted clockwise. Very few are made counter clockwise. You can check by looking at the top or bottom of your main bowstring right where it comes off of the cam below the serving to protect it from the cam. If you have two different string colors it’s easy to see, but if it’s solid it will be a little more difficult. Another way to tell may be to look at where your peep sight splits the string and see which way it’s twisted where the string splits. When I say clockwise or counterclockwise, I’m referencing the direction from the very end of the string, so keep that in mind when referencing the direction it’s twisted.

[@jdmec81]

Hard to imagine ever being good enough that this would matter for me, but I might as well build a new set of arrows with these methods and see what it does for me.

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

If nothing else, its a confidence booster!

[@OrbitingOpposite]

Shooting the Elite carbon ERA this year and looking to build some arrows - do you have any suggestion on what spine shaft I should build on this platform? Draw weight 70# at 27” draw. Anyone that could point me in the right direction, thanks 🙏🏻

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

340 spine with 50 grains or less insert with 100 grain point and 26.5” length arrows would work well.

[@OrbitingOpposite]

@@BowOnlyOutdoors Thank you so much for the feedback! Love your channel and will be signing up for the masterclass.

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

@drochell7970 thank you so much for your support! Don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly with any questions. We’d be happy to help!

[@MrChiumiento]

Hey man I really like your videos and I think you know what you are doing. I am wondering if you have ever looked into Firenock stuff. I have heard their building tools are the best in the industry. Their arrow fletcher apparently is the only thing that has actually updated how arrows are fletched since the bitzen using science. I also heard their arrows And components like their arrow concept makes your arrows fly unbelievably flat at super long distances. Have you ever checked their stuff out?

[@dougfriendt8906]

Hey Josh, How much helical do you put on your fletching? I have a Bitz jig and have been having trouble getting the fletching to easily set flush on the arrow. It seems the front of the fletching is not seating well. Maybe I'm trying to add too much helical. Please let me know your thoughts and thanks for all you do for the archery community.

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Hey Doug, great question! I just adjust the clamp so that I get perfect contact with the entire fletching from front to back. You may have to adjust the clamp to have less helical to get the fletching centered on the arrow. Sometimes it’s harder to get as much helical on a smaller diameter shaft, but even just a little bit of helical gets the arrow spinning extremely fast. Hope this helps! Keep shooting straight 👊🏻

[@dougfriendt8906]

@@BowOnlyOutdoors Josh Thanks so much for your quick reply and helpful info. On my Bitz, I have the bottom dial index mark and jig index mark lined up. On the top, I have the dial index mark about 1/4" left of the top jig index mark. That is on a .246 arrow shaft. Are your settings anywhere near those? Thanks again for all you help, and I will play around with the jig settings.

[@Leo9ine]

How much weight do the sharpie numbers add though?? Haha. Thanks man, would have taken a lifetime to learn this without your help

[@ZimFarm24]

Question, I noticed you were rolling on the printed portion of the arrows, does that not influence the spin?

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

On these shafts, I have personally not noticed that to be an issue. You bring up a great point though as I’m sure some shafts it could!

[@SirVivalDotKom]

Quick question… How does removing the label make the arrow straighter?

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

@@SirVivalDotKom it doesn’t, it’s just removing the label so it isn’t on the point side if you determine the nock needs to go on that end because it’s straighter.

[@SirVivalDotKom]

@@BowOnlyOutdoors got it. Keep the good stuff coming bro.

[@brandonmiler801]

This dude is on my level of OCD haha. Great video. Very informative.

[@dougfriendt8906]

Hey Josh - Great job as usual. What arrows are you using?

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Hey Doug, thank you very much and hope you are doing well! I am using the 5mm Easton Axis.

[@dougfriendt8906]

@@BowOnlyOutdoors I hope you and yours are doing well and blessed. I miss seeing you at the Scheels archery department and the fine work you did on my bows.

[@shenz7]

Great video. You can determine spine if you stick a nock in both ends of a bare shaft rub a little dish soap on the shaft and put them in a couple inches of water in the bath tub. They always roll to the spot where the spine is stiffest. I do it with all arrow builds.

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Great tip, thank you! I’ve tried that once in the past but ended up still having to rotate nocks anyway to get them perfect. I’ll have to do more testing to see if I can find a correlation with which side seems to shoot the best based off of that. Have you seemed to notice a correlation on which side the stiff side of the shaft shoots best for you?

[@shenz7]

@@BowOnlyOutdoors You bet. I always put a mark on the shaft where it floats to the top. Just got done building a dozen arrows and only one did not shoot bullets thru paper. 180 degrees nock rotation fixed it. I'm also working on building a spine tester with extruded t slot aluminum and 3d printed parts... Hopefully I can get it done for less than 50 bucks.

[@adamstutzman5838]

No hate here just a question wouldnt it be easier to nock tune before fletching so you could micro adjust the nock instead of being limited to three fletching positions? Also i like to spin test each insert with a field point screwed in as i install it to get the least wobble possible

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Great question! I’ve done it both ways, nock tuning with bareshafts and with fletched arrows. I have found that both ways work well. Although doing it with bareshafts gives you more adjustability, nock tuning bareshafts for most people is extremely difficult. Doing it after fletching makes it more attainable for most to do. That, and it’s hard to argue with perfect arrow flight from the fully built finished arrow. I’ve never had issues with the HIT inserts and wobble from the insert themselves. Any wobble I get at the tip almost always comes down to the actual point itself from my experience. In that case, I just replace the point.

[@adamstutzman5838]

@@BowOnlyOutdoors cool cool if it ain't broke don't fix it

[@sethpierrepont9738]

before step 14, step 13a, determine the direction of the spine, which direction the arrow naturally wants to bend. Mark this weak point, (with the number), and use it for the cock feather so that when the arrow bends upon release, the arrow moves away from any potential contact with bow or rest.

[@hoganfan2006]

Curious if any inserts pushed out a smidge since he didn’t pull the nocks(?).

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Not at all. I’ve never ever had that happen. There’s no need to pull out the nocks from my personal experience.

[@keithmather2842]

Amazing! Thank you.

[@davidpritchard2349]

hi what fletching jig are you using please? Dave UK

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Hi Dave, it is a Bitzenburger fletching jig.

[@woodypaul_]

This just made me want you to built my next set of arrows lol

[@kodiakfisher]

Have you ever considered squaring up the knock end just in case that is causing the wobble or since they have to be cut doesn't really matter.

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

I usually just square the nock end after they’ve been cut and I don’t think just squaring the end would fix any visible wobble as it seems to be more from the arrow itself than just the very end.

[@ElMachoBorracho]

Good info. Thanks After all that work it must be sad losing an arrow in the bushes!!😮

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Extremely!! Definitely puts the pressure on you when shooting some of the shots at TAC!😅

[@jeffspencer7489]

Very consistent build process. All great common sense theories. Perhaps a future show build the arrows as is and show actual shooting results with 2 to 3 grain different arrows at 60 yards. Not sure this will be a huge impact as you’re suggesting. Have also seen evidence that helical has minimal impact. Look forward to seeing the actual results.

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Hey Jeff, thank you so much for the comment! I’m not suggesting this will be a huge difference at 60 yards with a 3 grain difference. This is simply the steps to follow to build some of the most consistent and accurate arrows possible. The weight variance does come into play at further distances and absolutely will have an effect on how your arrows land. If you were to do these steps opposite, you could have arrows with over 6 grains of variance which absolutely will have an effect. To know if it’s noticeable or not is dependent upon the shooter, and the vast majority will not be able to tell the difference because of this. Yes, slightly different weight arrows along with different direction of fletching helical will group together, but more consistent arrows will absolutely fly with less standard deviation than those that do have variation. If you are able, why not give yourself every advantage possible? Most archers need to spend their time on shooting form and reps to make themselves better rather than by following this arrow building process, but for those that want the absolute best out of their setup, this is a great way to take the extra step and gain even more confidence. With that said, I do have a video planned in the works to demonstrate actual arrow drop with various arrow weights to show just how much arrow weight can throw an arrow off.

[@11DAVIDELEVEN]

spine testers are still cheaper than an arrow saw, which if im not mistaken we didnt get an alternative for.

[@goodtimekillers3262]

When checking the arrow spin out of the bow, you stepped back further and the numbers were directly on the bottom. Couldn’t the arrow have spun either direction to get to the bottom?

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

The first shot showed it clocking counterclockwise. I could have went back not as far on the second shot to see it clearer. You can test this by shooting closer to the target and backing up in smaller increments.

[@kevovernon]

That’s why he shot it at a very short distance for the first shot. It’s in the video..… I did this the other day and was too far back and it made a complete 360 .. moved up and it was then 180 degrees lol. So move closer and finally it was at the 9 o’clock position. See the pattern here ? So that tells me what ? It spins left ! And I’ve been shooting right helicals all this time lol. Time to build some new arrows

[@goodtimekillers3262]

@@kevovernon but his comment was he was confirming. If it is straight down that doesnt confirm anything.

[@MasterofNone365]

I hear a lot of people prefer arrows slightly on the stiffer side, especially for hunting but never explain why. Are you in the same school of thought? If so, what are the benefits of having a slightly stiffer spine and what would be the cons of having a slightly weaker spine, given that they both tune fine out of the bow?

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

This is a great question! Thank you for asking. For the last 5 years or so, I’ve always actually hunted with very slightly weak shafts because that is what shot the best out of my bow when testing with field points. When it came to fixed blade broadheads, I found that the accuracy was still good with a well tuned bow, but just wasn’t as good as a slightly stiffer arrow. Shooting a stiffer arrow for hunting out of a compound is a benefit for several reasons. First off, a stiff arrow shaft steers broadheads the best. When an arrow is too weak, they just don’t group as good because the broadhead has more influence on steering the arrow since it is flexing slightly more. Secondly, a stiffer spine will always have a higher GPI (grains per inch) which ultimately makes the arrow shaft stronger when it is penetrating through bone and the animal. Paired with that, a stiffer arrow will penetrate better because it doesn’t flex as much when it hits a hard surface, so it keeps the momentum moving straight forward in the arrow rather than losing it out the side as the arrow flexes when it hits a hard object. The cons I’m finding out are not near as bad as I thought they would be. The stiffer shafts with field points still shoot amazing, but are maybe just slightly less forgiving than my slightly weaker set up. Another con that needs to be taken into consideration is how much heavier your total arrow weight will be, as you will lose trajectory if you gain too much weight. I built these arrows to actually weigh slightly less than my previous ones by using standard inserts instead of the heavier brass. At the end of the day, I’m a bowhunter, and I want all of the advantages that I can to ensure I make a completely ethical shot on the animals I am hunting. There may not be a huge advantage to shooting a slightly stiffer shaft, but there are some, so I am using that to my advantage until I find a reason not to. Thanks again, and hope this helps give you more information around it!

[@MasterofNone365]

@@BowOnlyOutdoors That was a really well thought out and thorough answer. Thank you! I'm testing different arrow builds now for the upcoming season and will definitely need this in mind! Thank you!

[@jkgkjgkijk]

You should run a festool hepa vac directly over your cutting station, at the point of cut. You can also buy a foot pedal switch--the vac will turn the cutter and itself on when you press down on the foot pedal. A p-100 respirator is also a smart precautionary investment. Look up what carbon fiber does to your lungs. It is all over the room you are working in now. You can make soft jaws for the pliers by applying a strip of masking tape to each jaw.

[@BowOnlyOutdoors]

Thank you!