E. Arrow (Palasô) Assembly Steps
(1) Choose several pieces of STRAIGHT and DRY reed type grass stalks that are more than 4' (120cm) in length and have a minimum of 5/16'' (8mm) in diameter
(2) The straighter the arrow, the truer it will fly.
(3) The total length of each arrow should not exceed the length of one bow arm. Cut the arrow tip just above the last section as shown below.
Cut the arrow nock about 1/2" (13mm) beyond the section of the fatter side of the arrow.
(4) Check that all arrows are slightly shorter than a Bow Arm. Note that the length of each arrow may vary a little from each other. Straighten the arrows by heating the reed grass over a hot source or flame and gently bending all the bends straight.
The first photo below is an example of a bent arrow. The second photo shows the same arrow after it was straightened.
(5) If the Nock area is fairly solid, simply reinforce the nock with super glue and cut the notch directly.
If there is a large hole in the Nock area push a small amount of well-mixed epoxy into the hole of each arrow.
Here's an illustration of an arrow with a large hole in the Nock area. FIll the hole with Epoxy Clay before cutting the notch.
If you do not have any epoxy you can carve a bamboo dowel to size, add super glue or any appropriate wood glue and fit the dowel plug into the hole. Cut the plug flush with the arrow end.
In the following illustration, the notch is cut with a wood saw and the nock is reinforced by dropping some super glue on it, to plasticize the nock.
(6) For fletching; use a rice sack or any light and thin cloth.
- Cut the cloth into a rectangle of about 3” x 6” (8cm x 15cm).
- Cut and fray the rice sack several times to make ribbons.
- The fletching material is simply glued and lashed with a thread (“Sinulid”) into the arrow rear, giving space for the archer's fingers to grip the arrow nock.
(7) Do not put a sharp arrow head on your arrows. This Bow and Arrow set is intended for safe, simple, economical and fun use by scouts during their various activities and helping the scout earn an Achievement or Merit Badge in Archery.
The arrowhead is made from several cut rubber slipper plugs. Make 2 or 3 round or square plugs with an X-slit or a round hole about 3-4mm in size, push into the arrow tip and secure the arrowhead with a little super glue.
Then glue a couple of rubber slipper plugs without holes to finish the arrowhead tip.
Here's a photo showing the detail of how the slipper rubber plugs can look like.
Have at least ¾” (2cm) of rubber plugs without a hole, at the very tip of the arrowhead. Glue them together with Super Glue.
Make light, soft and bulbous arrowheads that will not injure a person. (Be careful with the eyes, they will get injured if hit by an arrow!)
And this is what a finished Slipper Rubber Arrow Head that is easy to make and use looks like.
You can use sandpaper to smoothly shape the Arrow Head.