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Hi guys, like most of you I have made darts from just about anything that was available from Qtips to nails and depending on the type of dart I have come to really favour certain materials especially with wire darts. I have had lots of guys say they really like flag wire for dart shafts so last winter on the recommendation from GKU I ordered and received a bundle of what he suggested but did not get the chance to try them yet. So let's maybe break this down into a few categories like - heavywieght metal - wire darts - lightwieght like wooden or plastic and last but not least - you favourite type of stunner. Let's keep this down to home made darts only. State your favorite materials and the reasons why they are your favourites in each category. Maybe we can all learn something here. If nothing else it should be interesting. I'll start off with mine.
Heavy wieghts - I like nails. They perform adequately for general duty and they are cheap as nails......get it? LOL (groan I know)
Wire darts - this one's easy. Although I have not had the chance to try the flag wire yet my all time favourite wire is piano wire which is a high carbon steel wire. It is almost indestructable. It never bends from hitting something or glancing off of something and when pulling them out of backstops like wood etc. they have enough spring in them to just bounce back straight again once you take the pressure off them. I guess spring steel has a lot of carbon in it too. It is probably some of the most expensive dart wire around but because they stand up so well they last forever and end up costing less over time than using cheaper wire.
Lightwieght - I enjoy bamboo if I can find a straight piece. That the only drawback that I can think of. It is resilient material, flies very fast and flat. Cost's next to nothing and widely available in the form of bbq skewers. I'm also playing with plastic drinking straws but finding suitable tips has proven difficult so far and the straws do get damaged easily but man do they ever fly fast!!!
Stunners - my all time faves are the marble/milkjug cone type. Fast, hit very hard, you can find marbles and milk/juice jugs materials everywhere. Make the cone with about a 3 or 4 to 1 length to diameter ratio and cut the tip of the cone off and crazy glue the cone onto the glass marble. Trim cone to fit your BG's bore.
And for pure cheap enjoyment I'm still enjoying rolling my own all-paper darts just for shits n giggles.
What are your favourite shaft materials?
I apologize for the annoying reverse video. I copied and pasted this from a post I made on another board. I didnt want to type it all over again.
Heavy wieghts - I like nails. They perform adequately for general duty and they are cheap as nails......get it? LOL (groan I know)
Wire darts - this one's easy. Although I have not had the chance to try the flag wire yet my all time favourite wire is piano wire which is a high carbon steel wire. It is almost indestructable. It never bends from hitting something or glancing off of something and when pulling them out of backstops like wood etc. they have enough spring in them to just bounce back straight again once you take the pressure off them. I guess spring steel has a lot of carbon in it too. It is probably some of the most expensive dart wire around but because they stand up so well they last forever and end up costing less over time than using cheaper wire.
Lightwieght - I enjoy bamboo if I can find a straight piece. That the only drawback that I can think of. It is resilient material, flies very fast and flat. Cost's next to nothing and widely available in the form of bbq skewers. I'm also playing with plastic drinking straws but finding suitable tips has proven difficult so far and the straws do get damaged easily but man do they ever fly fast!!!
Stunners - my all time faves are the marble/milkjug cone type. Fast, hit very hard, you can find marbles and milk/juice jugs materials everywhere. Make the cone with about a 3 or 4 to 1 length to diameter ratio and cut the tip of the cone off and crazy glue the cone onto the glass marble. Trim cone to fit your BG's bore.
And for pure cheap enjoyment I'm still enjoying rolling my own all-paper darts just for shits n giggles.
What are your favourite shaft materials?
I apologize for the annoying reverse video. I copied and pasted this from a post I made on another board. I didnt want to type it all over again.