Arrow gasket laquer

[Anaconda12]

I have always used the gasket laquer with never a problem but here recently the laquer on the arrows I have recently finished is peeling or lifting off the wood shaft!  Has this type of thing happened to anyone else?  Could it be that the laquer in the tank is old or am I missing something, like maybe the humidity was to high when it was applied?  Thanks for any help.

[Jeff Sample]

Yes it has happened to me. It is not the age of the GL. Most likely you have too much on the shaft. GL does not seal like other thinner finishes that penetrate the wood (GL does not penetrate at all - it dries too quickly). As your arrows expand/contract with changes in humidity, the GL will split and eventually peel. I switched to Daly's ProFin and MinWax polyurethane and have never had a problem since, even in SE Alaska. I would never use GL on valuable hunting arrows.

[LBR]

One reason I quit using GL years ago.  I use an epoxy finish now--not as fast, but 10 times more durable.

Chad

[aromakr]

Jeff is absolutely right on this. Gasket just lays on the surface of the shaft, if the finish gets scratched moisture will get under the finish and it will begin to peal.
Bob

[Anaconda12]

Thanks fellas I have been doing a little research and I think I am going to just use Watco Teak Oil on some and see how that does any suggestions with that?

[Roy from Pa]

I quit the GL also and went to exterior polyurethane. I dip the arrows in a dip tube without the rubber gasket on top. Hold the arrow over the tube for maybe 30 seconds for the polyurethane to run off, then hang to dry. Only problem is the much longer drying time with a coat of polyurethane. I let them dry for 3 days before fletching, if I try sooner I can make a depression in the finish with my thumb nail.