OK..So I'm gonna set a goal so i have one that's definitive.

I am going to add one inch to my arms....(I'm a newbie to all this)

What is a realistic time frame to set a goal for achieving this?
anyone got any routines/suggestions to get me there?

I added 1/2" in a month using creatine.

From my understanding as a newbie there is no need to directly work the biceps/arms...by getting stronger in the compound lifts such as deads /squats/ bench /rows..the arms will get bigger by themselves.

I added exactly 1" to my arms in 1 1/2 months by doing the big compound exercises with little to no direct arm work.

Main exercises used:

Squat
Deadlift
Bench
Chin ups
Pull ups
Bent over rows
Hang clean and press

I started a creatine regimen again, and I've put on a bit over 1/4" on my arms in a week.

If your split is something like this:

Monday: Chest/Back
Tuesday: Off
Wednesday: Legs
Thursday: Off
Friday: Arms/Shoulders
Saturday: Off
Sunday: Off

Try something like this "overtraining" program for about 2 weeks before going back to a normal split for several weeks:

Monday: Chest/Back
Tuesday: Off
Wednesday: Legs
Thursday: Off
Friday: Arms/Shoulders AM, 6 hours later, Arms PM
Saturday: Arms AM, Arms PM
Sunday: Off

These arm workouts should consist of about 1-2 exercises for biceps and 1-2 for triceps, and with each workout, try challenging yourself in a different way. For example:

Friday AM: (45m-1hr) Standing Military Press (however you like to train shoulders), Standing Barbell Curl 4x8, Skull Crushers 4x8

Friday PM: (30mins-1hr) Incline Dumbbell Curls 3x12, Isolation Curls light weight for 100 reps in as few sets, Triceps Pushdown 3x12, Diamond push ups 3x as many as you can do.

Saturday AM: (45m-1hr) Wide Grip Barbell Curls 5x5, Close grip chin ups 3x as many as you can, Close Grip Bench press 5x5, Triceps extensions light weight for 100 reps in as few sets.

Saturday PM: (30m, by this time you won't even want to lift anymore) Cable Curls 4x10, Weighted Triceps Dips 4x10. And anything else you want to add but it is likely this will be enough.

You will be sore and you will get a little weaker before you get a chance to fully recover but it may be worth it for you. After some proper rest and eating, your arms should be bigger and stronger than before, you just have to handle the mild depression and complete lack of desire to workout that comes with this kind of training style. :D

This is borrowed from:
http://www.t-nation.com/readTopic.do;jsessionid=67F1163433E55994B4126B75F5 CDC316.hydra?id=1600922

and Charles Poliquin's Training Mentality:
http://www.t-nation.com/readArticle.do?id=1633590

The sets, reps, and exercises don't matter in any order whatsoever. These are just the exercises as they came to mind just to give you an idea. You should build your own workout based on the exercises that are available but be sure to vary the reps across the spectrum and try things like the 100 reps in as few sets as fast as possible because it is likely something you don't do every day. A lot of varied stimulus packed into 2 days. Resume your normal workouts until the next 2 day arm annihilation and then TAKE A BREAK from this setup! Maybe allow a few rest days in a row but definitely cease the program at least for a period of several weeks.

Give it a try! This put a half inch on my arms that hasn't left me since and that was after 6 months of trying indirect arm work. My arm strength also increased significantly after this period of training. My arms don't grow from indirect work but it would be nice! Hope this helps or at least gives you ideas. Be sure to eat a lot more during this time and in general! You can't grow without rest or calories.

For a newbie i wouldn't recommend this. This is more for advanced lifters who plateau more often as this would certainly break your plateau it can also ruin everything you worked for if not done right.

Get bigger all over and the arms will come along for the ride.

Get bigger all over and the arms will come along for the ride.

Agreed truthfully chin ups and dips made my arms grew twice as fast then doing direct arm work itself. Not to mention you get a wider back as well as a better looking chest.

If you want your arms to get bigger - train your arms. No one can tell you how long it will take, since so much depends on intensity of training, nutrition and genetics.

When I started training three plus years ago my "guns" were a massive 12.75 inches (at 25% bodyfat). Great genetics there!

Compound movement training and generally getting bigger certainly helped (and constitute the bulk of my training), but my arms were still lagging. I tried this experiment and it worked for me given my specific individual variables:

I added direct arm work into each of my four weekly training sessions at the end of each session, mainly dumbell curls and dips. I know this goes against some of the training dogma you hear, but my arms are 16 inches now (at 10% bodyfat). I squat, deadlift, etc. and compound movements are my bread and buttter, but to bring my arms in line with the rest of my body, I simply had to work arms, hard.