© Mike Stringer and Caroline Hayes 1996
| Arrow shafts |
(5/16" or 11/32" diameter) usually Port Orford Cedar (POC) Ordinary wooden dowels are not really suitable, but may be used if tested first! Flex them a little with both hands, holding the shaft at either end, and examine them to ensure that they are sound and are not likely to crack or break. |
| Shaft cutter |
To taper the arrow shafts for fitting the nocks. |
| Nocks |
To attach the arrow to the bow string. |
| Fletchings |
Three needed per arrow, two per bolt. |
| Fletching jig |
To attach fletchings to shafts accurately. (All available from Quicks Archery) OPTIONALLY, dress making pins may be used instead. |
| Car spray paint, lacquer or similar wood sealant |
To protect arrows from climatic conditions, damp, dirt etc. (Available from car supplies, and DIY stores) |
| Car tyre inner tube rubber | Thick strong rubber (Available free from vehicle garages) |
| Plastic caps | IF AVAILABLE - The cap should have the internal diameter of the arrow shaft
being used...ensure they are a tight fit! Used for covering the flat
point(less) end of the arrow shaft. (Shop around, try small DIY stores and
suppliers; also available from Second Skin) |
| 25mm thick Plastazote polyethylene foam - 45kg/m3 density | (Available from Plasmar, S J Gaskets Ltd or Arco) |
| Camping mat foam ("Karimat") | Soft, polyethylene foam approximately 10mm thick (Available from camping
shops)
OPTIONAL. Use if 25mm Plastazote foam is not available. |
| Upholstery/sponge (Polyurethane) foam | 10 to 20mm (approx') thick, available in sheets.
(Furniture makers/stores, Plasmar, craft stores or markets) |
| A ball point pen |
|
| A straight edged steel ruler. |
|
| A Junior hacksaw | (Available from DIY stores) |
| Some fine sand paper or a fine wood file | (DIY stores) |
| Wire wool | For rubbing down paint and sealant on arrow shafts. (Available from DIY
stores) |
| UHU/BOSTIK clear adhesive or similar | (Newsagents, Art/DIY stores) |
| Contact adhesive and a spreader |
"Evo-Stik" Impact, "Time Bond", "TX528" or "Thixofix" are fairly well known brands available from large DIY stores. (Take note of the instructions on the can. Treat polyethylene foam as a NON POROUS surface!) Most DIY stores stock one of the above. Otherwise try your local ARCO stockist. DO NOT USE LATEX, COPYDEX, OR ANY WATER BASED, OR NON SOLVENT BASED FORMS OF ADHESIVE; THEY ARE SIMPLY NOT STRONG ENOUGH, AND FALL APART UNDER MOIST CONDITIONS! |
| Hot melt glue gun | OPTIONAL but PREFERABLE - for strong joints on small surface areas.
(Trylon, Arco or DIY stores) |
| Snap off locking type craft knife | two sizes available, the choice is yours
|
| Self healing A3 Cutting mat | for cutting out on, and protecting working surfaces (Trylon, Art shops or DIY stores etc) |
| Kitchen knife sharpener | For sharpening your craft knife. A small unit consisting of a plastic
housing and two interlocking steel wheels, or as with the "Kitchen Devil"
design a single ceramic off centre wheel. Simply draw the knife blade two or
three times carefully
and lightly across the intersection between the wheels, or in the groove
of the ceramic wheel to re-sharpen. Do not use too much force. This device
reduces the cost of replacing knife blades every two minutes when carving foam!
You can only re-sharpen so many times but you will find that you get far more
use from one blade, saving you a great deal of time and money. (Kitchen
supply/DIY stores)
|
| Scissors | (6" blade+/-) OPTIONAL
|
| Latex liquid rubber & thickener | (Available from Trylon) |
| OR | |
| "Gaffa"/carpet tape | (DIY stores) |
| Black poster paint | (Art shops) |
Quicks Archery
18-22 Stakes Hill Road
Waterlooville
Portsmouth
PO7 7JF
Tel: (01705) 254114
Trylon Ltd
Thrift Street
Wollaston
Northants
NN9 7QJ
Tel: (01933) 664275
For both of these send for a free catalogue; it makes ordering so much easier!
Polyethylene, in the form of camping mat, may be purchased from camping/outdoor stores, approximately £7.00 per roll, shop around for the best thickness/density/price...they do vary quite a lot! Plastazote may be bought from Trylon also, in limited sizes and thicknesses, or from your local Arco stockist, who can also supply Glue guns and contact adhesive. Contact their head office for information regarding your local branch:
Arco Ltd
PO Box 21
Waverley Street
HULL
HU1 2SJ
Tel: (01482) 27678
Upholstery sponge foam can be found in craft shops, carpet and furniture stores etc.
You can also obtain Plastazote Polyethylene foam (Code No. PL650), and Upholstery sponge (Polyurethane) foam (PL661) in large quantities (Min order approx' £250.00) from the following address:
Plasmar Ltd
Neachells Lane
Wednesfield
WOLVERHAMPTON
West Midlands
WV11 3QG
Tel: (01902) 307711
There is a full range of sizes of PL650, from 1mm to 35mm +, depending upon your needs. DO NOT USE THE SELF ADHESIVE BACKED MATERIAL AS IT IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH FOR LRP WEAPON MAKING AND FALLS APART IN CONTACT WITH MOISTURE! 25mm foam is priced at approximately £20.00 per sheet.
Sheet sizes are 1 x 2 metres.
S J Gaskets Ltd
Tything Road
Arden Forest Industrial Estate
Kinwarton
ALCESTER
Warwickshire
B49
5EP
LD45 Polyethylene foam
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