h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've tried to make arrows that fly true, and it's quite difficult, even with modern equipment.

Is any member required to know how to make arrows, or only be connected enough that he can lay his hands somehow on those three barbed ones at short notice?

I havn't a clue

Tips for arrow making:

Make sure that all of the feathers from the same wing of the goose. The feathers on the left wing twist the opposite way to those on the right wing, so can unballance the arrow in flight as they retard it's spin.

Mke sure that your shat is good and straight. It sould be seasoned wod, so that it doesn't warp as it dries and needs to be shaved as straight along it's length and as round on it's girth as is possible.

The nock should, if you want your arrows to be durable, have a piece of horn or antler inserted perpedicular to it as a reenforcement.

Finally if you invest in a jig for alligning the fletchings, it's a lot easier and more reliable than if you place them on by eye.

Also tired and scruffy fletchings can be spruced up (to improve accuracy as well as looks) by holding over steam and fluffing them up to more how they originally looked. Do not put in the water though.

Bez

Any hints on how to get a proper barbing, or should we leave that to the smithy?