How to Build Footed Arrows

The official record for longest achery shot made with a conventional bow stands at 495.30 m (1,625 ft.), according to the International Archery Federation. Modern technology makes such amazing feats possible, but those looking to honor arrow history may be more interested in the footed arrow. Footed arrows have been used in combat and ceremony since the 1800s. These arrows consist of a softwood shaft topped by a hardwood tip, combining light weight with durability. Constructing a footed arrow can take an hour or more, but for many the beautiful and reliable results are worth the time and effort.

Things You'll Need

  • Protective goggles
  • Bandsaw
  • Straight-grained hardwood block
  • Ruler or tape measure
  • 8-inch straight-grained softwood shaft
  • Pencil
  • Thumb plane or block plane cutting tool
  • Fine-grit sandpaper
  • C-Clamps
  • Wood glue
  • Rag
  • Masking tape
  • Machinist’s lathe or wood rasps
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Instructions

    • 1

      Wear protective goggles when working with cutting tools. Use a band saw to cut your hardwood into a straight, ½-inch-wide-by-½-inch-tall-by-7-inch-long piece, called a billet. Use the same saw to cut a thin slot up the center for your billet, moving from one end of the billet and up the shaft for 5½ inches.

    • 2

      Lay the softwood shaft in front of you so that the shaft is pointed toward you, with the wood grain running horizontally in front of you. Measure vertically to the halfway point of the shaft; draw a line horizontally (parallel to the grain) across the shaft with a pencil to mark this halfway point.

    • 3

      Measure up the shaft, starting from the end you just marked. Make a mark at the 5-inch point. Moving from the 5-inch mark, use your thumb plane or block plane to gently taper the end of your arrow shaft. Alternate cutting sides after every pass to make the taper straight. Continue until all sides of the shaft have an even taper, and the taper is thin enough to fit into the cut you made in the billet. Sand the taper with fine-grit sandpaper to smooth the surface.

    • 4

      Place the billet in a C-clamp, so that the clamp secures the wood just below the cut you made earlier. Apply wood glue to the cut in the billet, as well as all sides of the taper. Gently push the taper into the billet; tap the end of the shaft with a hammer gently if you need a little extra push to get the taper into the billet.

    • 5

      Wipe off any excess glue that spilled from the joint with a damp rag. Clamp the joint together with another C-clamp or two, and allow the glue to dry completely overnight before continuing.

    • 6

      Wrap a piece of masking tape around the shaft, about 1 inch from where the shaft meets the billet. Clamp the shaft on the masking tape to rasp the end of the billet so that it is the same diameter as the shaft. Use a lathe to make small cuts, or use coarse wood rasps to make similar cuts. Continuing cutting until the billet is the same width as the shaft.

    • 7

      Sand the billet and shaft lightly to remove any sharp edges from cutting.