In any hobby, there are so-called consumables. In origami, paper is needed, in modeling you can not do without glue, but for those who are fond of various weapons, everything is much more complicated: their consumables - bullets, arrows, darts - are not as cheap as we would like. What to do in order not to go broke on the "shells" for your favorite weapon? Right, do it yourself. Therefore, today we will try to independently make a crossbow bolt.
What it is?
Let's start with the theory. A crossbow bolt is a special projectile that is used when shooting from specific and rare weapons. Both the firing range and its accuracy depend on the balance of the bolt, its length, the material used in the manufacture.
It is worth noting that the choice of arrow depends not only on the crossbow model, but also on the shooter himself, so you should not spare time on choosing the right projectile. It is also worth considering the fact that even with the most accurate use of bolts, their plumage wears out over time, the tip, and the shaft may break - this is why it is recommended to stop on those arrows in which one or several components can easily be replaced.
In addition, in no case should you try to replace the crossbow bolts with lighter arrows used when shooting from a bow. Firstly, the accuracy of the shots will suffer significantly, because the crossbow is adapted for more powerful shells, and secondly, such underloading will negatively affect the crossbow itself, so you should not risk weapons in an attempt to save.
Material selection
Each crossbow usually comes with a factory set of bolts. But when shooting arrows are lost and deformed, and completely broken. That is why, sooner or later, for many shooting fans, the question arises of the independent manufacture of shells - factory bolts are not always affordable for those who consume a large number of arrows.
One of the first questions is the choice of material. Before you think about how to make a crossbow bolt from an aluminum tube, it is worth remembering that even this seemingly universal metal is not so durable: due to its softness, the boom quickly deforms.
As for carbon fiber, which is much more expensive and durable, the bolt is unlikely to withstand a blow not against a special soft target, but against a solid target. Wood is the material of aesthetes who seek maximum closeness of modern bolts to their historical counterparts. With constant use, the tree breaks quickly, which at a rather high cost is far from the best option, in addition, it needs special storage and transportation conditions, and special care is also necessary.
Another option is plastic, probably it is considered optimal: yes, the bolts from it wear out quickly, but the material is quite inexpensive, so replacing the shaft will not be difficult.
Some more theory
What do you mean "sporting crossbow bolts" and "hunting bolts"? The difference between them lies in the material of the pole: in the case of a hunting arrow it is heavier, while in a sports bolt it is hollow. As for the tip, then in hunting arrows it has much more faces and notches than in sports.
The plumage of sports bolts is shorter than the hunting ones: in the latter case, the boom must be stabilized quickly, and this quality is ensured by a long plumage, which can be made from plastic as well as from ordinary feathers.
Perfect Bolt Options
Now that we already have a certain information base, we will learn how to make crossbow bolts with our own hands. Let's start with the product parameters: its length should be 30-40 centimeters with a diameter of 6-9 millimeters. As for the plumage, its length should not exceed 7 centimeters. The finished bolt should weigh between 15 and 40 grams. Usually the bolts are made in small, but still in batches, for example, five shells at a time. In this case, it is important that they are as identical as possible - this is what guarantees the same results when shooting. It is worth remembering that the finer the shaft and the shorter the plumage, the better the aerodynamic properties of the bolt.
DIY plastic bolt. What do you need?
So, how to make a crossbow bolt with your own hands? Let's try to design the simplest pistol-type dart. To do this, you need a plastic tube from the balloon, a holder to it (round, put on a stick and helps maintain the position of the balloon), rivet, nail (length - 12 cm, width - 4 mm), plumage on plastic (thickness - 0.3 mm and the length and width are 70 and 18 mm, respectively).
Of the tools you will need a clerical and thermal knife (the latter is a modification of the soldering iron, on the tip of which a blade is attached, and heated by a soldering iron, it will serve perfectly for cutting holes for plumage), a hacksaw for metal, a drill with a drill (5.5 mm in diameter), a file and silicone glue. Mandatory and the pattern by which feathers will be cut.
Manufacturing instruction
It all starts with sharpening a rivet. To do this, clamp it in a drill and gradually sharpen it with a file. After that, the stick from the ball is cut in half across, and then cuts are made in the resulting tubes to insert the plumage - these operations are best done with a thermal knife.
In the holder for the ball, its upper part is cut off, which is mounted on a stick, cut in half and drilled with a drill - this is the future end of the bolt shank. Naturally, the bolt needs to be heavier, for this, the hat is cut off the nail, then it is cut in half, and after these manipulations one of the halves is inserted into the plastic tube (the nail should occupy 2/3 of the future bolt). After this comes the turn of plumage: a kind of trapezoid is cut out of plastic.
Now that all the parts are ready, you can assemble the bolt. First, a tip lubricated with silicone glue is inserted into the plastic tube by about a third of the length. Then a nail greased with glue is also introduced from the back side, it should rest on the back of the rivet. After that, plastic trapezoid-blades are glued into the slots for the feathers, and the manufacture of the bolt is completed by the tip cut from the ball holder, glued to the rear end of the stick.
Replacing plastic with aluminum
By making crossbow bolts with your own hands, you can use aluminum as a material for the shaft. The properties of the darts made of this material have already been mentioned above - it is relatively soft, therefore, it inevitably deforms over time.
However, the use of a metal tube in the manufacture of a bolt according to the same scheme as presented above will help to significantly strengthen the design, adding weight and strength to it.
Wooden crossbow bolt
In conclusion, I would like to return to the classic wooden darts. The crossbow bolt, the photo of which is presented below, is made of wood. The ideal material in this case would be a birch, which, although it is not easy to process, but the bolts from it will turn out to be very durable. The shtapik, which goes to the shaft, is most often square, but sometimes there are also the so-called dowels - already rounded sticks.
In the case of initially square shafts, using a plane, you will have to give them an octagonal shape, and then with sandpaper, less and less rough, gradually polish the shafts to perfect smoothness.
In this case, the plumage is better to make from aluminum tape - it is strong enough, in addition, it will give the bolt the necessary weight for a long-distance flight.
Rectangles are cut out of aluminum tape , which are then glued with another, bright tape, which will help to find an arrow in the grass. Moreover, on the one hand, identical feathers are cut out on the resulting structure using a template. Using the same silicone glue, they are fixed in the openings cut in the shaft.
To create a safe tip, a coin is attached to the upper end of the shaft with electrical tape. A little polyurethane foam is squeezed onto it from above, and then the whole structure is covered with fabric. Such a tip will not stick into the target, but at the same time it will not do any harm when used carelessly. So, the crossbow bolt from wood is ready.
Conclusion
Shooting from any weapon is an unusual and dangerous hobby. When training with a crossbow or bow, you should always remember that the shells in your hands are a real danger, so follow safety precautions.