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OSRS Fletching Money Making Guide for 2023 Top Methods to Stack GP While Leveling

Ever feel like your bank is drier than the Kalphite Desert after a boss wipe? Yeah, me too. I’ve been grinding Old School RuneScape since the early days, back when max cash was a myth for most of us. As someone who’s hit 99 Fletching on three accounts now, let me tell you, this skill isn’t just for noobs prepping arrows for their first Lumbridge goblin hunt. It’s a gold mine if you play it right. In 2023, with GE prices swinging like a wild pendulum, fletching stayed one of my go-to ways to flip logs into legit stacks. We’re talking methods that net you solid GP per hour without chaining you to a single spot. Stick with me, and I’ll break it down like we’re chatting over a stack of maple longbows.
Why bother with fletching for cash? Simple. It’s semi-AFK, pairs great with other grinds, and you level up ranged gear in the process. Last year, I was sitting on 50 mil from bossing, but taxes and repairs ate it up fast. Turned to stringing yews, and boom, 300k an hour easy. No exaggeration. But hey, what’s your current fletching level? If it’s under 50, don’t sweat it, we’ll get there.
Picture this: You’re chilling in the GE, inventory full of logs, and your mouse is flying. Fletching hit a sweet spot last year because demand for bows and bolts spiked with all the new PvM updates. Players needed ammo for raids, and I capitalized on that. Personally, I remember one marathon session in November 2023, stringing magic longs while watching a stream. Walked away with 2 mil profit and 200k XP. Felt like cheating the system.
The beauty? It’s low risk. Buy low, fletch, sell high. Markets dipped mid-year on ruby tips, but by December, they rebounded hard. If you’re ironman, it’s trickier, but even then, chopping your own logs turns it profitable. Question is, are you flipping for quick cash or building toward that cape? Either way, fletching delivers.
One thing I love is how flexible it is. Do it at a bank booth, no running around like herb runs. And in 2023, with mobile updates making taps smoother, I could fletch on the bus. Insane. But let’s not get ahead. First, gear up.
Essential Tools and Setup for Fletching Grinds
Before you dive in, grab the basics. A knife for cutting logs, bowstrings from the GE, and maybe a chisel if you’re tipping bolts. I always pack a few stamina pots for those longer sessions, keeps the energy up. Pro tip: Use the portable fletcher if you have one, boosts XP by 10 percent. Costs a bit, but pays off.
For setup, hit the GE bank in Varrock. It’s central, low traffic. Inventory: 28 logs or tips, knife in hand, and a rune pouch for alchs if you’re stringing. That’s it. No fancy armor needed. I once forgot my knife mid-grind, had to tele to Lumby and back. Rookie mistake, but hey, we learn.
Short answer: What’s the one tool you can’t fletch without? The knife. Obvious, but skips happen.
Now, if you’re low level, don’t jump to onyx bolts. Build smart. Let’s talk progression.
Low Level Fletching Money Makers Levels 1 to 54
Starting out? Fletching feels like busywork, but it’s your foundation. In 2023, headless arrows were my bread and butter from 1 to 15. Cheap feathers and shafts, sell ’em quick. I remember my first account, scraping 50k profit in an hour just attaching ’em. Felt rich.
Headless Arrows The Easy Starter
Grab arrow shafts and feathers. Use feathers on shafts, make 15 at a time. XP’s meh, about 45k per hour, but profit? Around 60k gp/hr if prices hold. Levels 1 to 15 fly by in 10 minutes.
Why bother? It’s stackable, no bank trips mid-grind. I did this while questing once, paused for cutscenes. Perfect for multitaskers.
But is it worth it long term? Nah, move on quick.
Cutting Basic Bows for Small Gains
At level 10, cut willow shortbows. Logs are dirt cheap, unstrung sell for a sliver more. Profit hovers at 20k/hr, but XP ramps up. I grinded this to 30 on my main, alching the strung ones for extra magic XP.
List of early bows to try:
- Oak shortbows (level 15): Low cost, tiny profit.
- Willow longbows (level 40): Better margins, 30k/hr.
- Maple shortbows (level 50): Transition gold, 50k/hr.
Short para: Teak logs at 35? Skip ’em, losses.
Long story short, these build your muscle memory. By 54, you’re ready for the real money.
Ever wonder why noobs skip fletching? They think it’s boring. Trust me, once GP rolls in, it’s addictive.
Mid Game Gold Stringing Bows Levels 55 to 74
This is where 2023 fletching shone. Stringing maple longs at 55? Chef’s kiss. I banked 150k/hr easy, and that’s conservative. Markets were stable, logs dipped to 100gp each.
Maple Longbows The 2023 Staple
Requirements: 55 fletching, knife, bowstring. Buy unstrung maples, string ’em up. Each gives 58.2 XP, 1500 per hour possible.
Profit breakdown in a table:
Item | Materials Cost (per 1000) | Sell Price (per 1000) | Profit (gp/hr) | XP/hr |
---|---|---|---|---|
Maple Longbow | 162k (logs + string) | 300k | 138k | 139k |
Boom. I did 10 hours straight once, walked away with 1.4 mil. Felt like a boss.
Tips: Alch the strung ones if GE’s slow. Double dip on magic XP.
Question: Hate clicking? Use mobile, tap away.
Yew Longbows for Steady Cash
Level 70 unlocks yews. Slightly less profit, 120k/hr, but 40k more XP. In 2023, yew logs crashed post-update, made this a steal.
I switched here mid-grind, paired with agility laps. Multitasking win.
Long para time. See, yew longbows aren’t flashy, but they’re reliable. Back in summer 2023, I was prepping for Theatre of Blood, needed ranged levels. Stringing yews while running Seers’ course? Genius. Energy regen from agility, GP from fletch, and by end, I had 80 fletching plus 2 mil banked. No downtime, pure efficiency. If you’re like me, hating pure bank stands, this combo changes everything. Markets fluctuated, sure, yews hit 300gp low, but rebounds made it worthwhile. String, alch, repeat. That’s the rhythm that hooked me years ago.
Short answer: Best for irons? Yews, self-chop.
High Level Beast Modes Levels 75 Plus
Now we’re cooking. 2023’s meta? Bolts and darts. Onyx tips peaked at 5k each, but ruby stayed king for profit chasers.
Tipping Bolts Ruby and Diamond Domination
Level 75 for broad bolts, but rubies at 46? Wait, no, 55 for adamant base. Use ruby tips on adamant bolts. Click intensive, but 27k bolts/hr, 486k profit.
My experience: First time trying, wrists hurt after 30 mins. Switched to mobile, game changer. Netted 500k in an hour, sold instantly.
Table for high tips:
Bolt Type | Level | Materials (per 1000) | Profit (gp/hr) | XP/hr |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ruby Bolts | 46 | 2.8m (tips + bolts) | 486k | 225k |
Diamond Bolts | 65 | 4.2m | 350k | 250k |
Onyx Bolts | 73 | 10m+ | 1m+ (volatile) | 300k |
Onyx? Risky, but I flipped 5 mil investment into 8 mil once. High roller stuff.
Is it AFK? Nope. But pair with slayer tasks, zero time wasted.
Darts for Speed Demons
Level 10 starts, but dragon at 95? Insane XP, 1.2m/hr. Costly, 200m to 99, but if you’re rich, why not.
Short para: I skipped darts, too pricey. Bolts suit me.
Longer take. Darts changed my alt account grind in late 2023. Hit 95, feathers and tips flying. World record vibes, but realistic 6 hours to 99. Profit? Negative, but the cape glow? Priceless. Imagine: GE maxed, you’re tapping away on phone, levels ticking up. I multitasked with clue scrolls, solved one mid-make. Chaos, but rewarding. Prices stabilized end-year, tips dropped 20 percent. If you’re pure PvM, darts unlock blowpipe charges fast. Not for faint hearts, though. Capital needed scares most off.
Ever tried zero-time fletching? Game changer.
AFK and Multitasking Tricks from a Vet
AFK fletching? Bows all day. String maples while TV binges. I did 8 hours once, woke to 1 mil.
List of multitask pairs:
- Fletch + Agility: String during laps, energy boost.
- Bolts + Slayer: Tip while waiting spawns.
- Bows + Farming: Bank stand, check runs hourly.
In 2023, Varlamore update made vale totems viable, 200k XP/hr semi-AFK. I dipped in, loved the vibe.
Question: What’s your fave AFK spot? GE for me.
Personal bit: Broke after a bad Vorkath run, fletched yews AFK for a week. Saved my bank.
Ironman Twists on Fletching Profits
Irons, listen up. No GE? Chop everything. Teaks from 35, yews from 60. Alch strung for magic cash.
My iron hit 99 stringing self-cut magics. Slow, 50 hours, but 5 mil alch value.
Tips:
- Farm miscellania: Logs galore.
- Birdhouses: Feathers passive.
Short: Profitable? Yes, long haul.
Market Tips and 2023 Reflections
2023 prices? Rubies peaked July, dipped October. Track with GE tracker app. I lost 100k once buying high, lesson learned.
Strong advice: Test small batches. Buy 1k materials, fletch, sell. Math it out.
Wrapping up, fletching’s my chill money maker. From headless noob days to onyx stacks, it’s evolved. What’s your next grind? Hit 55, string maples, thank me later.