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Dumb question - cutting arrows - using disc in miter saw?

Punk_Nock

New Member
Aug 2, 2020
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I’m going to cut my own carbon arrow for a compound bow. Would it be dumb to put an abrasive cut off disc in my miter saw? I’d be easy to make the cuts square and consistent length. I already have a saw and can get the disc for $5…

The real arrow saws are the same thing, only smaller, right?
 

Bigfoot522

Well-Known Member
Oct 9, 2019
711
746
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It should work fine.
If you were cutting steel it would melt your saw table but this is not the case.
I would just check the rpm of the saw and the rpm of the disc.
If you spin a disc too fast it can% will blow.
Wear eye protection and a face shield if uou have one.
Never stand directly inline with the blade when cutting.
Harbor freight sells a little bugger for under $40?..
I have one and it work great. I have cut countless arrows and never changed a wheel yet.
I mounted it to a board and made a little arrow trough too.
Good luck.
 
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FrankNess14

Well-Known Member
May 17, 2020
680
623
93
GA
It should work fine.
If you were cutting steel it would melt your saw table but this is not the case.
I would just check the rpm of the saw and the rpm of the disc.
If you spin a disc too fast it can% will blow.
Wear eye protection and a face shield if uou have one.
Never stand directly inline with the blade when cutting.
Harbor freight sells a little bugger for under $40?..
I have one and it work great. I have cut countless arrows and never changed a wheel yet.
I mounted it to a board and made a little arrow trough too.
Good luck.

This one?



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

raisins

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Jan 17, 2019
6,284
8,115
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I’m going to cut my own carbon arrow for a compound bow. Would it be dumb to put an abrasive cut off disc in my miter saw? I’d be easy to make the cuts square and consistent length. I already have a saw and can get the disc for $5…

The real arrow saws are the same thing, only smaller, right?


probably a similar disc, but you rotate the arrow and that makes the cut more likely to be square

if i was going to do this, or really for any saw, i would get an arrow squaring device to make sure it is even and at a 90 degree to the shaft
 

tim.donovan

New Member
Mar 14, 2019
6
4
3
Massachusetts
I've done this on my miter. I put together a jig to get the the arrow up off the surface of the saw deck, as the abrasive blade was small for the saw. Works great and is easily repeatable with the jig. As outlined above, I do still need to square up afterwards.
 

Scott F

Well-Known Member
Feb 15, 2015
766
655
93
Tampa, Florida
LOCATION
Tampa, Florida
I have used a dremel with a cut off wheel to cut carbon arrow shafts with good results but I was NOT in a hurry. If you wrap the area with a couple wraps of masking tape, then mark the tape for the length and wrap a different colored masking tape to denote your cut line it is doable. Key is making sure you don't create stress cracks in the length of the shaft as well as squaring the shaft when you are done cutting. I just roll the shaft on a table top with non aggressive sandpaper on a block of wood at 90* and call it good. Never had a problem - but this is SLOW.

As a bonus, I think I saw a video of an Olympic archer doing the same thing, wait a minute, on second thought that was a cartoon of Elmer Fudd...
 
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bfriendly

Well-Known Member
Jul 15, 2021
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I have used a dremel with a cut off wheel to cut carbon arrow shafts with good results but I was NOT in a hurry. If you wrap the area with a couple wraps of masking tape, then mark the tape for the length and wrap a different colored masking tape to denote your cut line it is doable. Key is making sure you don't create stress cracks in the length of the shaft as well as squaring the shaft when you are done cutting. I just roll the shaft on a table top with non aggressive sandpaper on a block of wood at 90* and call it good. Never had a problem - but this is SLOW.

As a bonus, I think I saw a video of an Olympic archer doing the same thing, wait a minute, on second thought that was a cartoon of Elmer Fudd...
I use some Diamond disks on a dremel and cut mine. Square on a wood block with sharpening block for sanding. I have had a few splinters but very few and I have cut a bunch of arrows this way. BTW- I go fast! Even the splintered ones get shot…I’ll smooth some glue over the end when I put the 100gr insert in. Never had any problems with any of mine
 
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Coleman011

New Member
Jul 14, 2019
39
70
18
31
I’ve cut a lot of arrows just using an angle grinder and then squaring it off by putting one end of the arrow in a drill and putting the other end against sand paper. It is not the most accurate set up but it works. I have since made a jig using the small cutoff saw everyone has above and that works great
 

MS182610

Member
Dec 10, 2021
63
19
8
36
Ohio
I use the angle grinder method also, p clamped to a piece of 2x6 and oak 1x4. Added holes for finish nails every 1/2". Still square them up with a drill held vertical over some 220 grit on my bench. Works fine for me and way cheaper than buying a dedicated saw. Have done maybe 6 or 8 dozen this way with no problems. Plus any I break while shooting get cut down for my kids.
 
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Irishman

Member
Nov 22, 2021
59
82
18
48
Portage Mi
I just pay the $6-$10 to have a local shop cut a dozen for me. I figure with how little I need this done it wouldn't be worth the hassle and they glue in the inserts. Fletching is definitely worth the investment for me.