Galoots

So, here I am in the midst of several (like more than 3) projects, and
as usual, I've got distracted a bit...

Back story: we were at a camping event in late May, where a huge storm
destroyed a lot of our camping gear. It was fast, wet, and windy. Like
100 km/h with rain and hail and gear strewn across the field. Yikes.
But I digress. One of the activities was atlatl at the archery range.
It's basically a throwing stick that you use to launch giant 5 foot
long arrows. Fun!!

More recently, SWMBO was passing by the local lumber merchant, Exotic
Woods, and she stopped into see if they had any wood suitable for
making big arrows/small spears. The guy she spoke to had no clue what
she was talking about, but understood enough to direct her to 'Andy'.
Andy knows, he's made them, enjoys all sorts of crazy games with
pointy stuff. Naw, he says when SWMBO asks about cedar or spruce, you
want cherry he says. He shows her the Cherry Shorts pile, and proceeds
to dig through the lift looking for the perfect board for her. It cost
something like $16.

When she got home and showed me her prized plank, I was immediately
drawn to figure out how to go about making the darts. I engaged the
use of some unmentionable appliances to turn said plank into 8 six
foot long strips of cherry that were 5/8 inch square in cross section.
I did use my nice old Stanley #7 jointer plane to straighten and
square up the edge, so there was some OT content there.

I have a set of those LV dowel formers, the cheap ones that you drive
the stock through with a spinny machine thingy. It took some head
scratching and digging in junk bins to add some stock support to keep
the skinny whippy sticks from flopping all over and self destructing.
It worked! And I had 8 long dowels. Now to turn them into giant
arrows.

I used a neat little Stanley eggbeater drill with a countersink bit in
it to make the divot in the end. Basically this is the nock. A brass
plumbing fitting and a bit of mild steel were used for the point.
Seems OK, not sure if it will stick in a target or not.

The fletching is some big feathers bound with linen thread and fish
glue. I've never done this before, so it's pretty manky but it should
fly. The throwing stick is a hunk of 2X2 that I roughed out with a
drawknife and spokeshave. Fingers crossed it won't all self destruct
when we try using it next time we get to the archery range.

Here's some pix to fuel your own penchant for distraction...
https://groups.io/g/oldtools/album?id=276197

Darrell

PS
anyone up for the Galoot Zoom tonight at 21:30 EDT?
https://staffweb.zoom.us/j/709049955

-- 
Oakville ON
Wood Hoarder, Blade Sharpener, and Occasional Tool User

Darrel showed us both the mondo arrows (almost spears) on the oldtools zoom last
night.  He was doing some of the fletching, putting large feathers on - only
two, not the more common three.

Also the atlatl he fashioned. 

This is way cool stuff and I am awaiting more reports on how well it works.  

Way to go Darrell

Snip, Snip

> One of the activities was atlatl at the archery range.
> It's basically a throwing stick that you use to launch giant 5 foot
> long arrows. Fun!!
> 

snip, snip, snip

Here's some pix to fuel your own penchant for distraction...
https://groups.io/g/oldtools/album?id=276197

God I love dangerous toys!
Well ok I love toys of all kinds. haahhahah

   They aren't really 8' arrows? Are they 4'?
  yours scott

-- 
*******************************
    Scott Grandstaff
    Box 409 Happy Camp, Ca  96039
    scottg@s...
    http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/sgrandstaff/
    http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/hpages/index.html

On Sun, 26 Jun 2022 at 13:27, scottg  wrote:
>
> God I love dangerous toys!
> Well ok I love toys of all kinds. haahhahah
>
>  They aren't really 8' arrows? Are they 4'?

They're in between... 5 1/2 feet long.
I am resisting the urge to try them out on the soccer pitch around the corner.
The Town frowns upon people who play with Dangerous Toys in public
parks, dontcha know.

-- 
Oakville ON
Wood Hoarder, Blade Sharpener, and Occasional Tool User

google "Atlatl Basics with Matt Graham"

He uses one on a frequent basis....