First set of Wood Arrows- Pics

[Matabele]

Hi all,

Been busy this past week making up this set of arrows. They are Laminated Birch, tapered at the nock end to 5/16" and stained with a Teak dye we get here. It was a major learning curve and was a lot harder than I thought it would be...hence the reason for no close ups, they arnt the prettiest thats for sure  :D  

 

 

Couple of questions: I tried varnishing over the cresting on a couple but this made the cresting/capping run (yep had a few "interesting" things to say to myself right about then    ) and so I only varnished up to the cresting on the remainder...so what do you guys do to protect the cresting, anything?

Also I made up a really cool (I think anyway) cresting machine using my Dremel tool, but the arrows were no where near straight enough and they kept jumping and skipping out of the V block I was using to hold them. This after I had straightened each one prior to the intial sealing. To me they seem pretty straight with only a slight degree of wobble on the nock and point ends....I mean I wouldnt be able to tell where to compress the shafts to get them straighter. I ended up cresting each one by hand. So how straight is straight in wood shafts?

Any input appreciated,

Cheers!

[4runr]

 Very nice!

[Chris Surtees]

Nice looking arrows.

If you can get some water based spray poly that will work to protect your cap and crest.

As for straightening I have never been real good at sighting down the shaft so I roll my shafts, even taped ones, on a flat surface. From there I can tell where the high spots are and straighten them by hand. Most of the time I can get them to spin smoothly with no jumping or wobble. There are those shafts that for some reason are hard to work with and they become squirrel arrows. Something I like to do before I seal my shafts is to check and straighten, if needed, about 4 to 6 times over two days.

[tradtusker]

nice looking arrows mate! that yellow should stand out well.
iv always had the same prob as you when cresting them. you have to get them really strait to get them to crest accurately. i use spray on varnish to cover the cresting, few coats usually does it.

[Tim Fishell]

Looks like you did a fine job!!  Keep up the good work!!  

[JAG]

Nice arrows.  On my crests and crowns, after they dry for at least 24 hrs./48 hrs. I use a gasket lacqure, and dip the whole shaft.  I use several coats.  If I'll be hunting somewhere that the weather is gonna be bad, I'll seal the shafts with a slow drying fnish like polyurathane or varnish.  Most varnishes will eventually give a slight yellow tinge to the arrow.  Not bad, but just a bit.
Good luck.  Those arrows look great!

[Matabele]

Thanks for all the advice and compliments, its appreciated!

Out of curiosty what paints are you using? I used enamel spray paint for the capping and enamel paints for use on model cars/trains etc for the cresting. Im surprised my capping and cresting ran as it sounds like you guys also varnish over the capping.

[The Whittler]

Water base poly will keep your colors bright, while oil base will have a tint to it.

If you don't seal the crest/crown the paint will be tacky in hot weather.

[George Tsoukalas]

Very nice. I hope they shoot well for you. Jawge

[portugeejn]

Good job. I am partial to yellow on my arrows!  I use wipe on polyurethane or spray polyurethane on my arrows.  Like you I use model enamel for cresting, but have found like JAG it works better if you let them dry a day or two before you overcoat them.  2 coats of poly on shaft and let dry, then crown dip (or spray in my case), let dry, then crest, let dry for 24-48 hours, then one final coat of poly over everything.

To be honest with you, I only do this for my fancy arrows now.  My hunting-practice arrows are much simpler.  Stain, 3 coats of poly, yellow or white nock, 5" 3 feathers-2 yellow, one natural barred.  They shoot as well or better than the fancy ones.  I spend my extra time making sure they are good and straight.

Ron

[Matabele]

Aaaah thanks Ron and JAG, thats why my cresting ran I think! I tried varnishing straight after the cresting felt dry, maybe only 20 mins after I had applied it. I'll try waiting longer next time.

I hear you Ron, as these were my first set I was aiming for something special, but my hunting arrows will be a lot plainer...and hopefully straighter:)