Slimline pens with aluminum arrows

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Woodchipper

Woodchipper

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Joined
Mar 15, 2017
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Cleveland, TN
I got the wild idea of using aluminum arrows for blanks or part of blanks. Don Ward covers this in his book, Turning Modified Slimline Pens, Beyond the Basics, on pages 75-79. Having been in archery for decades, I thought of using a couple of arrows I have in the basement. A fellow on a bowhunting forum confirmed my question on dimensions for aluminum arrows. I found a 2018 arrow; it is 20/64ths OD (0.3125) and 18/64ths ID (0.28125). The ID measuring 0.28125 will take the Slimline tube of about 0.268-0.269 and leave room for adhesive; tried it. Carbon arrows are different as they are measured by the flex of the shaft. My homework is to find the ID of those arrows.
There are several sources for aluminum arrows but my choice is Lancaster Archery Supply, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The ones I refer to is the Easton XX75 Camo Hunter. One could use the logo area plus the plain camo shaft will supply a bunch of arrows. I have access to an arrow cutter. Maybe one could mark the arrows and have a shop cut them for you. Just remember to keep the ends square. Hope this might help others.
Remember, one good turn deserves another.
 
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I've thought about trying this in the past. I always used aluminum arrows so I'm not familiar with carbon at all. If there's an archery shop that builds arrows close by you might see it they'd give you some cut offs to play with and maybe get an idea of what size you'd want. Just a tip. If you find an OD that suits your needs you can use tape and epoxy to glue the pen tubes inside so the ID might not have to be so precise. Good luck and please let us know how things turn out.
 
I have made slimline pens from article shafts. I got mine from a sporting goods store that make them, they gave me their cutoffs. I used the gun metal kits, they match up with the camouflaged shafts.
 
Kenny, I built custom fishing rods for seven years. Masking tape was used by the mile as spacers for reel seats. Epoxy by the quart, too. Good idea. I sent an email to Lancaster Archery to see if they had a chart with the ID and OD of the carbon shafts.
Keith, there is an archery shop in a neighboring town along with Bass Pro Shop, Sportsman's Warehouse in Chattanooga. I would need to know the brand and the flex number for reference. A cut piece wouldn't have that unless the tech knew it. It's a start.
 
I have done several and most with antler on one of the tubes. With both aluminum and CF, I turn spacers for mounting tubes in the shafts.
 
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