phragmites? - World Atlatl Association General Discussion Forum - World Atlatl Association Forums - PaleoPlanet - Message Board - Yuku

RSS
Email

0 Kudo

<< Previous Topic Next Topic >>

phragmites?

Author	Comment
paleoarcher	phragmites?	Lead	[-]
Posts: 55 (06/24/09 7:32 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Tags : None i was just wondering if phragmites could be used for the atlatl. thanks
rhymeswithwhat	Yup	#1	[-]
Posts: 527 (06/24/09 10:01 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	They will work and artifacts show that this is not a new idea either. Cut them with the fat ends 9/16 to 5/8 inch in diameter and 6 feet long. Thinner is just too wimpy and the darts will collapse on impact with a hard throw. Don't spend a lot of time on artsy appearance and super perfect fletching on Phrag darts, they don't last too long. Painting them with polyurethane varnish or polyester resin will strengthen that kind of dart a noticeable amount and about double their life, which is still pretty short. Rhymes Last Edited By: rhymeswithwhat 06/24/09 10:09 PM. Edited 2 times.
David Morningstar		#2	[-]
Posts: 257 (06/24/09 11:09 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	You could go for a three piece approach, with a separate hardwood foreshaft carrying the point and a tailshaft carrying the fletching and nock. These both taper and fit into a phragmites shaft section. Several paleo darts have been found that were made this way.
Huey Tlatoani		#3	[-]
Posts: 87 (06/25/09 5:06 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	In my experience phragmites is excellent for light darts. It's also well represented in the archaeologic record. Also, I've tried the foreshaft/mainshaft/fletch shaft approach, and at least for me it was cumbersome, and tended to snap as frequently at the rear as at the front. For phragmites I settled on a 3 inch or so piece of hardwood which bore the nock. Any way, the fletch shaft/mainhaft junction breakage is not a problem if you don't mind straightening mainshafts. Phragmites straightens very easily. I love the stuff-just planted a patch of it last weekend.
the warrior yeti		#4	[-]
Posts: 1911 (06/25/09 9:24 AM) Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	This thread has some good info on a phragmites dart that was found at Leonard Rockshelter: http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/18669 -Devin
TallCotton		#5	[-]
Posts: 757 (06/25/09 6:17 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Paleoarcher appears to be asking if Phragmites could be fashioned into an atlatl. Backwards! Into the future! Standard Disclaimer Applies.
wolfsire		#6	[-]
Posts: 1124 (06/26/09 11:50 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	TallCotton wrote: Paleoarcher appears to be asking if Phragmites could be fashioned into an atlatl. I bet its possible. Bundle a bunch together for strength, or smash 'em flat and glue 'em together. Horseweed is not particularly sturdy, but I made a chucker on the fly out of a thick one. Steve
paleoarcher		#7	[-]
Posts: 56 (06/27/09 4:44 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	oh sorry, my mistake. i actually was asking about the dart

<< Previous Topic Next Topic >>

Quick Reply