Rough draft of Technical Note 
WOOD FOR ARROWS 
Properties Required in Arrow Shafts 
The properties required in arrow shafts are: 
(1) "spine", (2) resistance to shock, (3) low warpape, (4) 
resistance to splitting, (5) hardness, (6) gluability, (7) 
ability to make a smooth finish. 
The first three are essential; the last four are 
desirable but of lesser importance. No one wood combines them 
all in high degree. The problem is to cobine the essential 
properties and as many of the others as possible. 
An arrow Is propelled by the bowstring toward the 
axis of the bow, whereas it actually moves past the edge of 
the bow. Accordingly, the arrow, to fly true, must whip 
around the bow. "Spine" is the property which enables the 
arrow to whip around the bow with a small horizontal deflec- 
tion against it and a quick return to straightness after 
leaving it. Without spine an arrow "wobbles" in flight. 
Spine is a composite of stiffness per unit weight and resili- 
ency. A strong bow requires more spine than a weak one, but 
in selecting arrow wood maximum spine should be sought regard- 
less of the weight of the bow. The arrows can then be ad- 
gusted to the particular bow in which they are to be used by 
varying their diameter. 
Shock resistance prevents shattering behind the head 
upon impact, 
 
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