CHEAP ARROW SAW - 3 Tips For Making Square Arrows

The Harbor Freight Drill Master 2" Cut Off Saw (also found on Amazon) can be a great arrow cutting saw, but you have to know its limitations. Making clean, square cuts is critical for an arrow saw, and in this video I'm going to walk through 3 tips to help this cheap arrow saw meet (or exceed) your expectations.
PRODUCTS USED:
Saw (Harbor Freight) - www.harborfrei...
Saw (Amazon) - amzn.to/3qVHElO
Saw Blades - amzn.to/3jURjHN
Painters Tape - amzn.to/36kKrLN
Arrow Square - www.ebay.com/i...
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[@urbanarcher3535]

I have the same saw and haven’t changed the blade. I had the same issues with splintering and leaving a lip. Then I tried spinning / twisting the arrow once the blade cut into the shaft and the cut is perfect 👍🏼. I will try the blade you recommended however

[@lCarrera7374]

I’m using the same cutting saw works great

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Excellent!

[@vincecrandall8400]

Thank you very much, I was just looking at this saw for my arrows and this video helped with the final decision. Tips were very helpful.

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Glad it helped! Good luck with it, Vince!

[@torreyintahoe]

Good video and good tips. I'm thinking about just throwing an abrasive blade on my miter saw.

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Thank you!

[@consume_vegetables]

I see in my archery proshop, they always roll the arrows during cutting. that could be the key to a cleaner cut. But the drill master saw + squaring tool does cost way less than an arrow cutter jig.

[@l.i.archer5379]

The right arrow saw has a vacuum attachment that will keep the air you breathe free of the carbon dust.

[@40beretta1]

Thank you for your post... I have found in my short time of building my own arrows.. I'll measure.. mark my length...when I cut, Ill leave the length mark on the arrow, just enough, that is what Ill square to ...

[@justin81011776]

Awesome video. I went to harbor freight today and picked up the saw and ordered a 3d printed arrow square from eBay today. Super cost effective way of doing this

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Awesome!! Hope they work well for ya! Mine sure have.

[@KGB270]

Another reason why I want to become an engineer. Thanks for the video! You're a legend

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Thanks, Kaanen!

[@jharchery4117]

Very nice. Thanks.

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

You’re welcome!

[@TomOnTheRun]

Fantastic. Will apply this DIY arrow cutting system for my future Xbow arrow builds. Thanks, DDO!!!!

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

You're welcome! Have fun!

[@jameyf9464]

Tape the section you plan on cutting with painters tape. Wrap it tight and cut slow. Comes out perfect. No burrs or chips. Lightly sand the end with 320 grit sandpaper then remove the tape

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Thanks, Jamey! Great tip!

[@kaylamarie8309]

Guess I'll be driving that 5 minute ride over to HF tools tomorrow. Thanks for the video.

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

You’re welcome! Glad you liked it!

[@kaylamarie8309]

@@draggindeeroutdoors Sure did 🙂

[@kurtmeister8308]

Great video

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Thank you!

[@buckfever9049]

Thank you!!!!! Super helpful!

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Glad you found it useful!

[@timbow50]

Heck yes! Gotta buy the little carbide cut off wheels they have at Harbor Freight for his saw. Made one 15-20 years ago. Built my own jig to copy a factory made $150-200 saw.

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Awesome!!

[@bostontricker211]

I use a small pipe cutter I bought at homedepot, works very well too

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Very nice!! Thanks for the tip!

[@GertTown]

This is a bad idea for carbons

[@acarus3]

If you rotate the shaft when you cut it, it gets rid of the burred edge.

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

100% agree…but that is difficult to do with this particular chip saw.

[@Kycirion]

​@@draggindeeroutdoorsif you or a friend has a 3d printer have them print a nock support to clamp to the table for your length, then a jig that clamps in the saw with a hole a few thou larger than the arrow, this will allow the arrow to spin while maintaining correct length.

[@thomascoffman2262]

If you use a piece of wood to insert the arrow before you cut you will prevent that uneven cut.

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Good tip! Thanks!

[@l.i.archer5379]

The Amazon version comes with cut-off wheels that won't tear like the regular sawblade would. I bought mine to cut my own cam shims from a bar of 1/2" diam. Delrin, so I wouldn't have to buy premade shims anymore.

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Nice!!

[@BrothaAustin]

whats the link to the amazon version?

[@aarongavel1290]

It would probably help if you were able to support the end of the arrow so that it doesn't drop during the last part of the cut.

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

You are spot on, Aaron.

[@scottydavis1813]

@@draggindeeroutdoors I took 2 short pieces of carbon arrows and glued them to to saw so the end of the arrow is not hanging. It supports the tag in perfect

[@kevinshelton3919]

Where did you get the extra disks for cutting your arrows.? Liked you video great information. Thanks

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Amazon, there should be a link in the video description! Glad you liked the video!

[@intothemarsh335]

We cut and face our arrows on a wood lathe, works like a charm.

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

You’re the first I’ve heard say that. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it! 👍

[@longdrawarcher4857]

Might be getting splinters due to the rpm drop. Maybe try going slower and keeping the rpm’s high. Just a thought

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Makes sense! Thanks!

[@moyeroutdooradventures3291]

I have the same saw, great buy. Nice video

[@jasonhoge5333]

I built a arrow saw over 10 years aga with this saw and mine is set up to rotate shaft while cutting.and still on same saw bought 10 years ago

[@koreydavidson5264]

Set ur saw so it just cuts through the inner shaft. Roll the shaft.

[@wolfshollowsurvival4080]

Does this guy remind anyone of demolition ranch?

[@jeffrichardson8466]

New to all of this, but wondering if a pipe cutter like plumbers use would cut carbon shafts?

[@greatwhitenorth762]

Interesting idea. I should give that a try. They are mainly designed for copper pipe and tubing but if you were careful not to put too much pressure on the shaft so as to avoid crushing/cracking it, it may work.

[@TheFrenchy47]

That worked for aluminum arrows. With carbon it will damage the arrow. All the carbon arrow manufacturers will tell you to only cut with a high speed saw

[@javiermorando4616]

The cause for the tail and chips are also due to your arrow not being level.

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Very possible on a cheap saw. Having used it more, I think its actually due to the blade deflecting while cutting. However, I've been able to easily remove cut-end imperfections with an arrow square.

[@samsien9105]

Look like grinding cutting wheel 3"- 4" size .

[@itechhen]

Spin the arrow while cutting... Simply

[@AlexPettit7]

Any chance I can get that STL to print the arrow square myself?

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Sure, Alex! Email me, [e-mail]

[@exodous02]

Are these carbon fiber arrows or fiberglass?

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Carbon fiber

[@graphguy]

Use abrasive disks

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Thanks, Graph Guy!

[@remlapproductions396]

How well does this saw cut moulding?

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Not sure, for me its a dedicated arrow saw.

[@tedbryer2512]

You say its cheap? I had to pay $130.00 for mine - Us Canadians are getting totally ripped off!!!

[@tygappleberry5571]

so if you rotate the shafts while you cut them,,,,,,,,, hmmmmmmm

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Hard to rotate them with the chop saw. I have another diy setup that I can rotate while cutting.

[@tygappleberry5571]

@@draggindeeroutdoors I was thinking if you didn't clamp it in tight

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

@@tygappleberry5571 I tried that a few times but it was hard to rotate the shaft evenly while cutting (at least with the saw out of the box). You could probably make a fixture/jig to allow for easy/clean rotation though.

[@tygappleberry5571]

@@draggindeeroutdoors hmmmmmmm, You already know don't get my mind to thinking about stuff

[@TheJeepinDad]

So, you’re saying my Stihl chainsaw isn’t a good idea for cutting arrows?

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Wear some safety glasses and make a video! That’d be something!

[@jamescaldwell2616]

You are trying to cut the shafts too fast. Go slower with less pressure and the original blade cuts clean.

[@daniel1697855]

One as noted you need to be able to rotate the shaft as you cut which also as noted you cant do with this set up. Two this blade isnt rotating at a high enough rpm to properly cut the carbon with out leaving those little bits behind. It says "10,600 rpm max" but its not a fixed rpm and has a ramp up speed and will very under load having some big drop off. Professional arrow cutting saws have fixed settings and while yes they too will speed loss it wont be anywhere near as bad as what you get with this thing because they arent using a cheap thow away motor. Id rather spend the $220.00 on the pro arrow saw that has a shop vac vent to collect dust then burn out one of these every 6 months to a year. But thats just me.

[@ez7977]

A Dremel does a way better job