Comments on: Fact or Fiction: Cutting Arrows From Both Ends

By: Michael Larsen

Michael Larsen — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 04:25:47 +0000

Paul, Thanks for sharing your experience! It’s interesting to hear how your experience turned out. I’ll be doing some more testing on this in the future and will report back as well.

By: Paul Fender

Paul Fender — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 04:09:31 +0000

I myself was able to “force” some Easton Carbon One shafts to be straighter by cutting from both ends. I was very disappointed with the Carbon Ones. No, they’re not “high end” shafts, but the old Redlines were a better shaft. The first I got had 6 WAAAYY out of spec and I sent them back. The second were technically within spec, but just barely. Anyway, by careful measurement and marking I was able to find several shafts that I was able to improve by cutting from both ends. However it wasn’t always the same amount from the same ends. Like I said, careful measurement and marking. Also I was lucky in that I was making 26″ arrows for my wife. Had I needed a longer arrow I wouldn’t have gotten as good a result.
So sure, my case was a “one off” with some marginal quality shafts. But I would say that cutting from both ends shouldn’t be dismissed out of hand. Measurements may sometime indicate that there is a benfit to be had. But perhaps even more important than that, ALWAYS check your shafts no matter the manufacturer or what you paid for them.

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:50:59 +0000

I work in a small bow shop and had concerns about cutting weight forward shafts from one end thus “cutting away” the weight forward portion when cutting short shafts. I called the Carbon Express company and if you can believe the people who answer the phone there I was told the shafts were the smae thickness throughout the entire arrow length and that weight forwardness came from the camo exterior wrap put on the bottom 2/3s of their Mayhem and Maxima shafts. Both people I spoke to had to go ask someone else when I pressured them to be sure. The later said not to worry unless I am cutting them shorter that 24 1/4″.

By: Michael Larsen

Michael Larsen — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 02:12:32 +0000

Russ,
I would think that with wood there would be many variables to consider and each shaft may be different. Like you say, often the ends are the hardest to straighten and and would probably benefit from cutting both sides. It would be interesting to do a study on it.

By: Russ

Russ — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:26:03 +0000

So for man made shafts it seems cuting at both ends is not needed. What about wood shafts? like port orford cedar etc. It seems logical to me that if you hand straighten a shaft, it is hard to get a bend out of the ends. Cutting bot the ends (or end with more bend) would be best. Any thoughts?

By: Michael Larsen

Michael Larsen — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 18:30:12 +0000

D.J., With the weight forward shafts I would tend to go with however the manufacturer recommends cutting the shafts. Depending on the exact design of the shaft, there are more considerations with the taper. Cutting off the head, tail or some of both would certainly have a different impact on tapered shafts over straight ones!

By: D. J. McBride

D. J. McBride — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 13:13:34 +0000

I wonder how this works out with the weight forward shafts? Are they not made stiffer at the head end? Would cutting the head end take away some of that extra weight??

By: Michael Larsen

Michael Larsen — Sun, 30 May 2010 17:34:17 +0000

The tolerances on the shafts measured are called out as +/- .005″

By: k

Sun, 30 May 2010 15:26:18 +0000

Can u provide the straightness tolerance of the test shafts?