Aluminum Dart Shafts
By
User:LPNalini @timeAndDate(1272148976)
Aluminum shafts are excellent for their durability and the weight they'll add to your dart. Players who prefer a heavier dart, might prefer an aluminum shaft and a midarm of the flight's action, and make for a much slower and more stable dart. Overall, though, the weight of the shaft is almost negligible compared to the barrel's weight, so it should not be the strongest consideration when choosing a shaft. Most players prefer aluminum for its durability, although many report that aluminum shafts have a tendency to eventually twist away and out of the barrel.
Dart Shaft Types
The main types of shafts used with darts are:
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Plastic Shafts
** Cheap but easily broken.
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Composite Shafts
** Aluminum-Plastic composites are most popular, combining the best of both worlds.
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Aluminum Shafts
** As discussed above.
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Spinning Shafts
** Spinning shafts are able to spin away from a force, so they protect your dart from other incoming darts.
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Spinning Aluminum Shafts
How to Pick a Dart
For the serious player, picking the right dart is a matter of art. The entire dart has to be considered section by section to determine the configuration that best suits your play style and experience. Heavier darts with larger flights are more stable but less accurate; the weight and drag will tend to minimize nuances of the throwing action so there's more room for error. Lighter darts with smaller flights will be more accurate, attentive to the experienced hand, but are also less stable and tend to pick up and multiply every little flick of the wrist. Here's a brief intro to the different sections of a dart and things to think about when choosing them:
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Barrels
** The barrel is the metal part which provides the ballast for the dart. Sometimes known as the knurl, because this section is commonly machine knurled to improve grip.
** The barrel makes the largest contribution to the dart's overall weight. It's important to choose a weight that fits your style and experience.
** Again, less experienced players will want heavier barrels while learning; more experienced players choose lighter barrels to improve control.
** The type of metal used for the barrel is important. Three metals are in general use:
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Brass Darts
**** Brass is the cheapest type of dart, but tends to wear fastest. Manufacturing inconsistencies are common.
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Nickel/Silver Darts
**** More durable than brass, but also more expensive.
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Tungsten Darts
**** Most durable and most expensive.
**** High-density tungsten allows for very heavy darts.
**** Tungsten darts are manufactured with from 50% to 98% tungsten. 98% tungsten darts can be quite expensive.
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Shafts
** The shaft connects the barrel to the flight, and essentially acts as a cantilever to provide mechanical advantage for the stabilizing action of the flight.
** Three different materials are common for dart shafts:
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Plastic Shafts
**** Like everything else plastic, these are cheap and useful but easily broken.
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Composite Shafts
**** Sometimes the best choice: more durable than plastic, less likely to come loose than aluminum.
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Aluminum Shafts
**** Most expensive but also most durable. Heavier shafts make for, naturally, heavier darts.
**** Tendency to twist loose of the barrel on some occasions.
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Spinning Shafts are also available, which help keep darts from being damaged by other, incoming darts.
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Flights
** The flight stabilizes the trajectory of the dart by providing drag against the barrel's tendency to roll.
** Four styles of flights are in common use, choosing between them is a matter of taste and preference. Most experts recommend trial and error:
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Standard Flights
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Coal Cracker Flights
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Pear Flights
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Kite Flights
Top Sellers
Here are some of the top selling aluminum dart shafts on the market today.
Related Guides
Here are some other wikis related to aluminum dart shafts:
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Darts
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Darts Flights
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Steel Tip Tungsten Darts
