Arrows and Arrow Making
Welcome to the definitive guide to archery arrow reviews, where every shot counts and precision reigns supreme! At Bowmonkey.co.uk, we're dedicated to unraveling the intricacies of archery arrows to help you make the most informed choices for your next shot. Whether you're a seasoned archer honing your skills or a newcomer eager to enter the world of archery, you've arrived at the ultimate destination for arrow aficionados. Arrows are the unsung heroes of archery, the silent messengers that carry your intentions through the air with unparalleled grace and accuracy. Understanding their construction, materials, and performance characteristics is essential to mastering the art of archery. That's why we've assembled a team of passionate archers, engineers, and enthusiasts to meticulously test and review a wide array of arrows, ensuring that every aspect is scrutinized and every detail is illuminated. From traditional wooden arrows steeped in history to cutting-edge carbon fiber shafts engineered for maximum performance, we leave no arrow unturned in our quest to provide you with the most comprehensive and insightful reviews. Our mission is simple: to empower you with the knowledge and confidence to select the perfect arrow for your unique needs, preferences, and shooting style. So, whether you're seeking unparalleled accuracy, optimal penetration, or supreme durability, join us as we dive deep into the world of archery arrow reviews. Together, let's unravel the mysteries of flight, explore the nuances of construction, and discover the perfect arrow to elevate your archery experience to new heights. Let's aim true and unleash the potential of every shot. Welcome to Bowmonkey.co.uk – where precision meets perfection.
Taper Tools
Arrow Fix Drill mountable Taper tool
Reviewed by Steve
A practical review of the Arrow Fix drill-mountable taper tool, aimed at arrow makers who want a faster and more accurate way to prepare shafts for points and nocks. The summary focuses on workshop usefulness, consistency and whether it improves on simple hand taper tools.
Arrow Taper Guide Block
Reviewed by Steve
A review of the Arrow Taper Guide Block, looking at it as a simple aid for keeping shaft tapering consistent and controlled. It is aimed at archers making their own wooden arrows who want a straightforward guide rather than a more complex powered tool.
Bearpaw Deluxe Alloy Taper Tool
Reviewed by Steve
A very positive review of the Bearpaw Deluxe Alloy Taper Tool, praising its quality feel, storage case and ability to cut both point and nock tapers across common shaft sizes. The review considers it excellent value and a strong alternative to more expensive metal taper tools.
JVD Metal Body Taper Tool
Reviewed by Steve
A detailed review of the JVD Metal Body Taper Tool, highlighting its interchangeable collars, replaceable blades and useful adjustment screw for controlling taper length. The reviewer rates it as a long-lasting workshop favourite, with only minor reservations about later design changes.
Tru Center Taper Tool
Reviewed by Andy
A review of the Tru Center Taper Tool, praised for handling multiple shaft diameters with interchangeable guides and replaceable adjustable blades. It is presented as a solid, reliable hand taper tool that performs especially well for archers making a lot of wooden arrows.
Woodchuck Powered Taper Tool
Reviewed by Steve
A review of the Woodchuck Powered Taper Tool, aimed at arrow makers who want to speed up repetitive tapering work. The article looks at how a powered approach can save time in the workshop while still producing neat, repeatable tapers for points and nocks.
Shaft Taper Tools
Lee Philips Arrow Taper Jig
Reviewed by Andy
A review of the Lee Philips Arrow Taper Jig, covering its usefulness for producing long, controlled tapers on wooden shafts. The summary focuses on accuracy, repeatability and whether the jig suits archers who take a more hands-on approach to arrow making.
Nidderdale Arrow Tapering Jig
Reviewed by Steve
A review of the Nidderdale Arrow Tapering Jig, looking at it as a more specialist tool for producing clean and consistent arrow shaft tapers. It is aimed at traditional arrow makers who want better control than basic pencil-sharpener style taper tools.
Fletching Jigs
Arten Tollgate Fletching Jig
Reviewed by Steve
A review of the Arten Tollgate Fletching Jig, considering its design, setup and everyday practicality for fitting feathers or vanes. The article looks at whether it offers a reliable and affordable route into home fletching for archers making or repairing arrows.
Bearpaw Deluxe Fletching Jig
Reviewed by Andy
A review of the Bearpaw Deluxe Fletching Jig, assessing its build quality, adjustment and ease of use when producing consistent fletches. It is aimed at archers who want a solid fletching jig for regular arrow making without moving into very expensive workshop equipment.
Bitzenburger Fletching Jig
Reviewed by Steve
A balanced review of the Bitzenburger Fletching Jig, acknowledging its reputation, robust alloy construction and excellent fletching options while questioning whether the high price is fully justified. The reviewer sees it as quality kit, but not necessarily far ahead of cheaper alternatives.
Cartel Fletching Jig
Reviewed by
A very positive review of the Cartel Fletching Jig, praising its steel construction, clear clamp markings, easy adjustment and strong value. The lack of a helical option is the main drawback, but for straight or offset fletching it is seen as excellent for the price.
JoJan Multi Fletcher
Reviewed by Steve
A review of the JoJan Multi Fletcher, focused on its ability to fletch six arrows at once and deliver excellent value per clamp. It is especially attractive for anyone making arrows in batches, combining speed, consistency and a practical workshop layout.
Martin J8 Fletching Jig
Reviewed by Steve
A review of the Martin J8 Fletching Jig, covering its usefulness for producing repeatable fletches and its place among more familiar fletching jig options. The article considers setup, build quality and whether it offers good value for home arrow making.
Triple Fletching Jig
Reviewed by Steve
A review of the Triple Fletching Jig, looking at the appeal of attaching multiple fletches in one setup rather than working one feather at a time. It is aimed at archers who want to speed up arrow production while keeping alignment consistent.
Arrows
Boyton Scots Pine Shafts
Reviewed by Steve
A review of Boyton Scots Pine shafts, considering them as traditional wooden arrow shafts for archers who care about grain, straightness and matching. The article looks at how they work in the arrow-making process and whether they offer a good base for quality wooden arrows.
Boyton Tapered shafts
Reviewed by Steve
A review of Boyton tapered shafts, looking at the advantages of a tapered wooden arrow over a parallel shaft. The summary focuses on flight, forgiveness, matching and the extra care needed when building arrows from specialist tapered shafting.
Fibreglass Arrows
Reviewed by Steve
A review of fibreglass arrows, considering them as a durable and practical alternative to wooden shafts. The article looks at where they make sense, how they perform, and whether their toughness outweighs the loss of traditional wooden-arrow character.
Joe Lorenzen Custom Arrows
Reviewed by Andy
A review of Joe Lorenzen Custom Arrows, focusing on craftsmanship, matching and the appeal of having arrows built to a specific bow and shooting style. The article treats custom arrows as both practical equipment and carefully finished pieces of archery work.
Little John Custom Arrows
Reviewed by Steve
A review of Little John Custom Arrows, praising the finish, matching and attention to detail that goes into a bespoke set. The reviewer is especially interested in how well the arrows are tuned to the bow, not just how good they look.
Nidderdale Maple Shafts
Reviewed by Steve
A positive review of Nidderdale Maple shafts, highlighting their density, smooth finish and ability to produce strong, weighty arrows. The reviewer likes them for robust traditional arrows, especially where durability and a satisfying heavy arrow feel are important.
Little John Matched Arrows
Reviewed by Steve
A highly enthusiastic review of Little John Matched Arrows, focusing on extreme consistency in weight, spine, taper, balance and finish. The reviewer stresses that a truly matched set can transform how a bow shoots and praises the craftsmanship involved.
Nidderdale Premium Arrow Shafts
Reviewed by Steve
A review of Nidderdale Premium Arrow Shafts, looking at straightness, consistency and suitability for careful arrow building. The article considers them as a quality starting point for archers who want to build arrows that are well matched rather than merely decorative.
Old South Custom Hunting Arrows
Reviewed by Steve
A review of Old South Custom Hunting Arrows, assessing them as heavy-duty custom arrows with a traditional hunting style. The summary focuses on build quality, finish, practical strength and whether they deliver the confidence expected from serious custom arrow work.
Rogue River Poc Shafts
Reviewed by Steve
A review of Rogue River Port Orford Cedar shafts, looking at them as a classic wooden shaft choice for traditional arrows. The article considers grain, straightness, workability and the qualities that make POC so popular with wooden-arrow makers.
Rose City POC
Reviewed by Steve
A review of Rose City Port Orford Cedar shafts, focused on their reputation as a dependable wooden arrow material. The article looks at quality, consistency and how well they suit archers wanting traditional shafts that are easy to work and tune.
Tonkin Cane Shafts
Reviewed by Steve
A review of Tonkin Cane shafts, considering their natural taper, toughness and appeal for traditional arrow making. The article looks at the extra preparation needed for cane arrows and whether their distinctive construction rewards the additional work.
Arrow Points
Forged Arrowheads by Tom Mareschall
Reviewed by Steve
A review of forged arrowheads by Tom Mareschall, focused on traditional style, handmade character and practical use on wooden arrows. The article considers them as attractive and functional points for archers who want something more authentic than standard mass-produced heads.
T Tips Points By Arrow Fix Tool
Reviewed by
A review of T Tips points by Arrow Fix Tool, looking at their design, fit and role in strengthening or repairing arrow shafts. The article focuses on practical arrow-making use and whether the system provides a neat, durable result.
Top Hat Points
Reviewed by Steve
A review of Top Hat points, examining their fit, finish and performance on wooden arrows. The article looks at how well they install, how secure they feel and whether they offer a good-quality alternative to more basic field points.
Nidderdale Archery Medieval style points
Reviewed by Steve
A very positive review of Nidderdale Archery medieval-style points, praising their heavy-duty construction, compression-fit system and authentic look for large roving or longbow arrows. The reviewer sees them as strong, attractive and excellent value for traditional archers.
Arrow Making
Arrow Fix Accessory For Bamboo Arrows
Reviewed by Steve
A review of the Arrow Fix bamboo arrow accessory, explaining how it helps prepare hollow cane shafts for inserts, points and nocks. The article is useful for archers working with Tonkin or bamboo shafts who want a cleaner and more reliable build method.
Arrow Fix Tool Repair Broken Arrow Shafts
Reviewed by Steve
A review of the Arrow Fix tool for repairing broken arrow shafts, focused on rescuing damaged wooden arrows rather than throwing them away. The article looks at how the system joins sections accurately and whether the repaired shaft remains practical for use.
Footing Jig
Reviewed by Steve
A review of a footing jig for strengthening wooden arrows with hardwood footing. The article considers the accuracy, patience and workshop skill involved, and whether the jig makes the traditional process of footing arrows more accessible and repeatable.
Nock Jig For Self Nocked Arrows
Reviewed by Steve
A review of a nock jig for making self-nocked arrows, covering its value for traditional arrow makers who prefer cut nocks over plastic ones. The article focuses on neatness, repeatability and the importance of alignment when cutting self nocks.
Parallel Shaft Preparation Tool
Reviewed by Steve
A review of a parallel shaft preparation tool, aimed at making shaft ends cleaner and more consistent before fitting components. The article looks at how it improves preparation work and helps produce neater, stronger finished arrows.
Richard Head Spine Tester
Reviewed by Steve
A review of the Richard Head Spine Tester, explaining its role in matching wooden arrow shafts by stiffness. The article focuses on why spine consistency matters and how a reliable tester helps produce arrows that tune and group better.
Shaft Tamer
Reviewed by Steve
A review of the Shaft Tamer, looking at it as a workshop aid for straightening or improving wooden arrow shafts. The article is aimed at arrow makers who want better control over shaft preparation before finishing, fletching and tuning.
Spinexl Spine Tester
Reviewed by Andy
A review of the Spinexl Spine Tester, assessing its usefulness for measuring shaft spine accurately. The article focuses on arrow matching, repeatability and why a proper spine tester is valuable for anyone making consistent wooden arrows.
Woodchuck Taper Plane
Reviewed by Steve
A review of the Woodchuck Taper Plane, covering its use for shaping tapered wooden shafts by hand. The article looks at the skill and control involved, and whether the tool suits archers who enjoy traditional, workshop-based arrow making.
Youngs Feather Burner
Reviewed by Steve
A review of Youngs Feather Burner, praised as a workshop tool for creating custom feather shapes after fletching. The reviewer notes the learning curve, smell and need for spare ribbons, but sees it as excellent for arrow makers who want unique fletches.
Arrow Finishing
Bohning Junior Cresting Lathe
Reviewed by Steve
A detailed review of the Bohning Junior Cresting Lathe, looking at how it helps produce neater cresting and decorative arrow finishes. The reviewer praises the motor and usefulness, but notes the basic arrow rest and the need for UK users to use a converter.
Chinese Tung Oil
Reviewed by Steve
A practical review of Chinese Tung Oil as a traditional arrow finish, explaining how it penetrates and protects wooden shafts without leaving a heavy film. The reviewer prefers it for natural-looking arrows and gives detailed advice on applying multiple coats.
Pyrography Pen
Reviewed by Steve
A review of using a pyrography pen for arrow decoration, offering an alternative to painted cresting and coloured rings. The article focuses on the appeal of burned-in patterns for traditional arrows and the satisfaction of producing something distinctive by hand.
Speed Coat Dipping System
Reviewed by Steve
A review of the Speed Coat Dipping System, aimed at archers who want a faster and cleaner way to finish arrow shafts. The article looks at ease of use, finish quality and whether dipping is a practical improvement over brushing or wiping finishes on.