For wood type, I would think any hardwood is better, pine can snap in two if you get frustrated and throw the atlatl down at the ground  . An inch diameter should be good, and atlatls are usually 1 to 2 feet long. Nail the knocking spike about an inch down from the one end. You might want to drill the hole for the nail first so the wood doesn't split or just bind the end.

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bwanasimba wrote on Jan 19^th, 2007 at 11:39am:

Awesome Resource! Thanks.

Yes, a good piece of bamboo will make a very nice dart.

I wouldn't be surprised if the pine suddenly fails during use. It dosn't take a whole lot to break a well-made at'latl (if you want a light design, of course), so it's quite possible that if there's a defect in the pine that it will break during even normal use.

How's it coming - which style are you thinking of?

Here is a picture of my atl atl...i think ive posted it before but here it is again.
Hope it works.
Unfortunately I live in the desert so i am limited (NONE) on what materials i can use for darts. I heard that the bamboo family make great darts but i am having to use wood that i bought to make the atlatl out of...they fly okay...but i think that a bamboo dart would fly better.
Good luck!