Shaft materials
Plastic : Nylon
Inexpensive, but break fairly easily. Good shafts until you start throwing tight groups and breaking lots of shafts. Materials are usually polycarbonate or nylon, some have replaceable tops for greater longevity. Priced from $1 to $2.
WATCH OUT for bubble shaft lengths. The flight slots are short so the shaft is longer than it first seems. (see below)
Composite
Composite type shafts have plastic bases that thread into the dart, combined with aluminum or other metal alloy tops that hold the flight. These are excellent shafts, quite durable, and will not vibrate loose as easily as solid aluminum shafts. Generally available with replaceable tops for economy and convenience. Most styles priced at $2 to $3.
Solid Aluminum
More rigid and durable than Plastic or Composite Shafts, in many colorful styles, some with decorative engraved stripes, flutes, or spirals. May tend to vibrate loose, especially on heavy darts. When used with thick flights, such as Dimplex or Nylon, the slots may need to be pried open slightly, with a dart tool or knife blade. Will normally bend instead of breaking when hit; just straighten for more use. Priced from $3 to $6.
Note: Aluminum shafts often vibrate loose when playing, so rubber O-ring lock washers are highly recommended. This only occurs when there is a metal-to-metal contact, so plastic shafts do not normally need the lock washers.
Spinning
A variety of shaft styles are now available, that allow the flight to turn out of the way when struck by another dart. Spinning shafts do nothing to improve the flight of the dart through the air, but they do allow tighter groups by letting the flights align with each other. Also, these shaft will greatly reduce torn flights and "Robin-Hooded" shafts. Priced from $2 to $12.
|
SHAFTS : Which are best?
In the old days, flights were feathers stuck onto a shaft. You didn't need to buy shafts seperately. Darts is an old game and seperate shafts are a relatively new invention.
Shafts are made of several materials. For example, plastic, nylon, titanium, aluminum. Nylon and plastic shafts are light, but will break more easily than aluminum. Titanium shafts are often wire thin and very light. Aluminum shafts are most popular but can tear up flights and sometimes need to be pried open to take thicker flights.
If you group your darts tight and tear a lot of flights, you may want to consider spin shafts. If your dart is 'fish-tailing' you may want to select a shorter shaft. Finding the correct shaft length for you may be a matter of trial and error.
Shape of the shaft should also be considered, especially if you grip your darts at the back.
|
Shaft Lengths
|
| Plain Aluminum
Shafts |
|
without
thread |
with
thread |
| Micro |
9/16" |
6/8" |
| Extra Short |
1-1/8" |
1-1/4" |
| Short |
1-3/8" |
1-9/16" |
| Inbetween |
1-1/2" |
1-6/8" |
| Medium |
1-3/4" |
2" |
| Long |
2-1/8" |
2-5/16" |
| |
| Nylon Shafts |
|
without
thread |
with
thread |
| Extra Short |
1-1/8" |
1-1/4" |
| Short |
1-3/8" |
1-1/2" |
| Inbetween |
1-7/16" |
1-5/8" |
| Medium |
1-7/8" |
2-1/8" |
| Long |
2-5/8" |
2-3/4" |
|
Shaft measurements are approximations and may vary with style. Watch out for bubble shafts, they are longer than they first appear. |
Shaft protection
Nylon shafts sometimes come with little springs on them to hold the flights in better. These can also help protect your shaft from breaking when a following dart tries to split it.
I always lose the little springs so I now make my own protectors with quarter inch plumbing tubing and sliding that down the shaft. They do not look great but they work better than the springs do.(see right) You can also change the shaft length slightly. |
 |
You can buy shafts here.
|
