How to Make an Arrow for Under $10

This Instructable gives you good instructables to make a goodworking arrow for under $10. The pictures should hopefully explain what the finished prouct should look like once you've completed it.

Step 1: Tools and Objects Needed to Make the Arrow

To buy these objects you can find them in your local hardware shop:

1.Metre long wooden dowel.
2.Tape
3.Super glue
4.Thin string
5.Stanley knife

You can find the feathers needed in a carpark or you can buy official feathers from archery stores.(You need three feathers for one arrow.)

Instead of buying thin string something that is even better is the string found underneath the grip on the handle of a cricket bat, which I used in my instructable.

Step 2: Make the Actual Arrow

1.Make a mark a centimetre in from the end as a position where you should stick the feather.

2.Tear the fluff off one side of the feather and do the same for the other two.

3.Gently squeeze a thin layer of glue all along the bottom of the feather and again do the same for the others and arrange them like this:

Step 3: Making the Actual Arrow

4. Then using your string wind about a centimetre of it infront of your arrow and then start going up onto the arrow giving it more support and giving it the authentic look, then wind another bit at the end of the arrow to keep it secure.

5. Using your tape just cover the bits of string at the beginning and end of the arrow to make sure the string doesn't come loose.

The feathers once finished should look like this:

Step 4: Finishing the Arrow Off

To finish the arrow off, fist of all cut a notch on the end of the arrow that is going vertically with one feather going at three o'clock to it.

To make a point at the end you could just sharpen it off with your stanleyd knife or buy an arrow head from an archery store.

The finished product should look like this(The arrow head is not included in this instructable) :

Comments

[SkidinDINGO]

i have a question and a recommendation my question is can i shorten these up and use them in my crossbow and also maybe use braided fishing line because 20 pound test braid will only be about as thick as a thread, wont stretch, wont rot, will make great knots, and is only like 15 bucks for 200ish yards

[eruger]

I'd use a strong button or upholstery thread myself, at a few bucks a spool. It doesn't stretch like nylon. And nylon braid stretches even more. So it'll loosen up with use. I would make sure I had an strong hardwood if your crossbow has any strength to it, or buy bundled arrow shafts. (readily available for DIY fletchers on the web). Also, I believe that since bolts are shorter, they are usually made of heavier material to improve accuracy and power.

[billbobaggens]

ok well i do archery i have 2 compound bows.. i buy my arrows for $4 AU.... so whats the point of this.. my arrows are pre set up and are fiberglass.. so im not trying to be mean i appreciate what you have done but it would be quicker and easier to just buy them.. but good instructable.

[Assassin Tube]

You get a good feeling when you make something then use it, its much better than anything you can buy, although these arrows are no good for you and me as we both use compound bows and wood arrows shatter on impact

[eruger]

The usually unidentified 'hardwood' in dowels is usually pretty easily broken, yeah. Not claiming expertise above the boy scout level, but if ash arrows were strong enough for a longbow that could run over 100lbs draw, couldn't they handle a compound? Though I seem to recall they'd be fire-hardened. Would that make them stronger as well as stiffer? I don't know. Deflection of course is another issue, so you wouldn't want flexible arrows with a compound bow, they'd just wreck your accuracy, right?

[eruger]

Well, then there's the zombie-pocalypse appeal. Let's be honest

[fmoser]

let me see..

good wooden shaft 1.50$

screw on arrowhead 0.60$

feathers: 3x 20c

nock: 25c

thats 2.95$ for an arrow thats actualy good, if you know how to build..

[NinjaMaster235]

Wouldn't that be too heavy? I have no knowledge of guns or ammunition so it's just a guess.

[Subdood]

noway.

[ethiran]

cool!!!!!!!!

[aweis]

how sturdy are the shafts?

[skimmo]

i was thinking this morning could you make arrow tip by cutting a bullet sell in half and leave to projectile in the end then gluing the whole thing onto the end to make a field tip

[Notbob]

who cares how it looks? So long as it works, it fine by me. Also, im pretty sure what ever your shooting these at doesn't care very much..

[thebluemartyr]

i suppose, but the feathers all wrecked like that cant be good for the aerodynamics...

[crazykiddo]

ur right the way these arrows fletching looks really detestable it a whooole lot i made one even though i knew it wouldn't work properly and guess what did it work not even if i shoot from a foot away (i did i missed and i can shoot a bow btw haven't ever missed a bulls eye as soon as i got my long bow a year ago and ive been shooting for 2 years)any ways if u wont that way to work make sure u put the string right in between the feather-lets and refluf them

[thebluemartyr]

*** not to say i wouldn't make one or two** il take a cheap arrow any day, but i would def get laughed at for having funky homemade arrows

[dagyboy]

i am looking 2 buy a heap of arrows, do u sell them? regards steve

[Illamadi]

Hi steve ! Sorry no - don't this was just a small projectn did you finf this instructable useful ? Did you make some of your own ?
Regards

[dagyboy]

thanks 4 ya reply mate, no i havnt made any as yet. so where abouts ru from? regards steve

[Illamadi]

No problem! Yeah I'm from cheshire in the north of England, what about you ?