wood arrow paint/stain advice needed

[fujimo]

hiya
wanting to make some more elaborate arrows with cap dips, crests etc, done caps before that were brushed on, but when dipping i see that the tapers are cut/ground first then the entire area is dipped.
 so here are  my questions

1.i want to use water based paints/dips, cresting paints, stains, clear coats etc- what have you guys found works best?
products that are all compatible with each other.

 maybe something from a local hardware store- as opposed to shipping up over the line- with our dollars only being about .05c on the US dollar     :D  

2. what glues work best for the nocks, points and fletches with said finishes?

thanks all!

[Pat B]

On my last few sets of cedar arrows years ago I used only water based paints and sealers. I still have some of the arrows and other than my sloppy application the water based paints and sealers worked very well and are quite durable. Everything came from Wally World or ACE Hardware. I did use Duco cement for fletching but it is hard to come by these days.

[fujimo]

this came off the 3R site
"Duco Cement is the preferred fletching glue of many arrow builders for fletching wood arrows when sealing with other than Bohning Fletch-Lac Sealers. "
so that correlates with what you said there Pat- thanks!
i have always used the fletch tite platinum- guess i will be changing now    

[jhk1]

Yes, Duco is great for fletching wood arrows. Works great on polyurethane and lacquer finishes. I get it at ACE Hardware.

[Pat B]

When I used Duco it cost $0.97 a tube.
 Do a test to be sure it is compatible.

[Walt Francis]

The Mimwax water based acrylic has worked good for me sealing arrows.  

Pat, here in Montana Duco now runs $5 a tube, when you can find it.  

Anybody know of a source that sells Duco in bulk, maybe by the can?

[monterey]

It's $3.95 at my local Ace hardware.  Much cheaper than Fletch Tite.

Here is my process to date:

Use water or alcohol based stain if staining.  Use water based acrylics from hobby lobby on the crown or the entire shaft if desired.  All on bare wood.
 I used to seal with minwax water based poly first but have found the colors are much better when the acrylics are wiped firmly into the wood.  Usually one coat but sometimes two.  They ​get sanded with 320  followed by cresting if any.  then multiple coats of minwax water based poly wiped on with a light rub with fine steel wool between coats.

Then fletch with Duco.

An experiment with VHT finish worked out well and I may do more if the fletch stays tight.

These are finished with minwax water based poly.

(Photo bucket not cooperating.  Maybe later)

[Pat B]

Spray paint works well too for crowns. Just tape off what you don't want painted.

[Roy from Pa]

Walmart has duco pretty cheap.

[fujimo]

thanks all, !
 Monterey what is VHT?
did you crest on the bare wood with theacrylics- and get that done in one coat- or where you cresting over the crown?
i guess when you say that they are wiped firmly into the wood, do you mean with one of those rubber type gasgets on a dip tube

[monterey]

Fuj!!! You just haven't been visiting enough lately.    

Look for the hard bow finish topic.  It's fairly recent.  I would post the URL but doing this on the d**n phone doesn't work smoothly.

In the following picture those arrows were done like this:

The bare shafts we're sanded smooth with 320.

The area that is blue was masked off with 2" masking tape.

The black was wiped on one coat with a clean cotton cloth.  I wipe it hard to avoid build up.  The paint covers well and soaks into the wood.

Same thing with the red crown.

Then removed the tape and carefully wiped the blue into the bare spot.  Didn't have to get it perfect because I planned on doing the silver rings.

Let these dry overnight and sanded lightly with 320. The points where the masking tape joints are can need a little extra attention

I have a cresting machine but didn't bother to use it for the silver rings.  Just free handed (it shows).

Let these dry overnight and then sprayed with the VHT.  The instructions for use of the VHT are very specific.

   

[monterey]

vht

[fujimo]

Yup Monterey, certainly havent been around much at all, things have been a little different for me of late- alls good!
i still lurk and drop in from time to time- to see whats going on-  great place      

was looking on the hobby lobby site- lots of choices there- do you have a name of the one you used?

i will look for that thread now!
many thanks

[monterey]

I have a box full of them.  Mixed brands with no regard for interior exterior designation.  Once they are covered with poly or whatever it doesn't seem to matter. My grandkids make frequent use of them.

Other craft stores as well as Wal Mart Carry them too.

Glad things are well for you.  

[fujimo]

thank you