crossbow bolts made cheaply!

[fish]

last summer i popped up the road to see a chap i know,he runs a big music festival near Glastonbury,each year he is left wit several thousand tents to get rid of,and amongst them are dome tent poles,boy are they useful! good for bivvies netting supports over the raspberry plants and cabbages and for making into crossbow bolts!!
Decent bolts that are long enough for fitting broadheads are hard to come by here in England by way of the fact that USING them to hunt is illegal,(shooting targets is not.)
here's a few pics:
here's a few bits needed
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m92/fishfish_01/crafts/DSC02558.jpg
for these bolts i chose to use the rubber flights as they're very durable and aint adversely affected by the wet,firstly the poles need cutting to size these are 17 inches, and removing the connectors ,vestiges of their former life:
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m92/fishfish_01/crafts/DSC02560.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m92/fishfish_01/crafts/DSC02561.jpg
when cutting be sure to use a mask and goggles as the dust is foul!
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m92/fishfish_01/crafts/DSC02563.jpg
next one end needs tapering to accommodate the broadhead or field tip,here i use a belt sander , again watch the dust!:
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m92/fishfish_01/crafts/DSC02564.jpg
After this comes the fletching,3 per bolt.they can be attached manually by eye but for increased accuracy and good spin i use a fletching jig.to facilitate this i insert an adapter/knock in the end of the shaft:
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m92/fishfish_01/crafts/DSC02566.jpg
here the shaft is fitted to the jig :
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m92/fishfish_01/crafts/DSC02567.jpg
and the fletching placed and fixed in place with superglue:
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m92/fishfish_01/crafts/DSC02570.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m92/fishfish_01/crafts/DSC02571.jpg
3 fletchings later and you have nearly finished:
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m92/fishfish_01/crafts/DSC02572.jpg
now the tip of choice can be added,to fix in place use hot glue gun this helps with positioning the head so it is centered properly:
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m92/fishfish_01/crafts/DSC02573.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m92/fishfish_01/crafts/DSC02574.jpg
and here's the finished product ready for action,just another 11 to make...........
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m92/fishfish_01/crafts/DSC02575.jpg
hope this is of some use!

[JP]

lol, your a one arnt ya ;) lol

[fish]

thanks ray!

[mortalmerlin]

Good use for old tent poles.

[Bernie Garland]

Nice work Fish,i cant be arsed to mess about though,and have 12 of these coming over from the States,should improve my grouping at the archery club :)

Bernie

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=370138199962

[spiritofold]

I bet they'ed love you shooting at a boss with that hoyt :biggrin:

[fish]

nice arrows bernie,those vanes wont stabilis a broadhead though!

[Bernie Garland]

nice arrows bernie,those vanes wont stabilis a broadhead though!

I dont use Broadheads Fish,But if i ever did, the arrows would be better than ones with a 4/5 inch fletch :) heres the info

These are the new carbon arrows that use slim-line technology with the new Nano technology or N-Fused. The new slim-line technology ensures more penetration, plus, the inserts and nocks are internal! The Easton ST Axis N-Fused Carbon arrows are the first ever to utilize carbon nanotubes for increased strength compared to ordinary carbon arrows. Hidden Insert Technology aligns broadheads for tighter groups. The arrows are full length at 32", but I will cut to any length and install inserts for the highest bidder (just be sure to let me know the length with the actual payment and an emial to prevent miscommunication). These arrows are fletched with the new Bohning Blazer Vanes. These are short, low profile vanes, that give all the stability for broadheads as a four inch or five inch vanes does! Internal adjustable nocks included!

Bernie

[Reddy]

Great idea Fish, have you tried them yet?

[fish]

Great idea Fish, have you tried them yet?

yep! just to try penetration i shot a roadkill roe deer ,at 30 yards a pass through ,40 yards it wnt through the torso and lodged in the far side shoulderblade.some damage to the broadhead.when u tried the 3 bladed wenzel woodsman heads i had pass throughs at 50 yards,by which time the carcass was in too poor a state to continue.

bernie those arrows sond like the mutts nuts mate! technology has come on a bit eh!:You_Rock_Emoticon:

[mccaw69]

Very nice handywork!Are the ole tent poles pretty true after all that work?:confused:

[ZDP-189]

I dont use Broadheads Fish,But if i ever did, the arrows would be better than ones with a 4/5 inch fletch :) heres the info

These are the new carbon arrows that use slim-line technology with the new Nano technology or N-Fused. The new slim-line technology ensures more penetration, plus, the inserts and nocks are internal! The Easton ST Axis N-Fused Carbon arrows are the first ever to utilize carbon nanotubes for increased strength compared to ordinary carbon arrows. Hidden Insert Technology aligns broadheads for tighter groups. The arrows are full length at 32", but I will cut to any length and install inserts for the highest bidder (just be sure to let me know the length with the actual payment and an emial to prevent miscommunication). These arrows are fletched with the new Bohning Blazer Vanes. These are short, low profile vanes, that give all the stability for broadheads as a four inch or five inch vanes does! Internal adjustable nocks included!

Bernie

I never thought I'd hear the words "carbon nanotubes" on a bushcraft forum.