Why does my cresting suck so bad??

[OkKeith]

Toot,

You have recieved some good advice! Just stick with it and the knack will develop.

I might add a few things as well. Check to see which way the shaft is spinning. My experience shows that you can get a thinner line and better control if the shaft is spinning toward you. This means you would hold the brush UNDER the shaft to apply paint. Also make sure the shaft is well supported on the other side of where you are cresting. Like was mentioned before, it is tough to get a good line when most of the shaft is whipping around.

I use the Testors enamal paint as well. I spray on my cap dips with Testors spray enamal cans. One coat of flat white, then it only takes one coat of color (I like the "competition orange" because it matches my orange fletching). As another suggested, when I spray on my flat white, I choke up with the tape to leave the cresting area white.

I have had trouble mixing enamal and acrylic. They just don't work together for me. I have had some problems with mixing waterbased and oil or solvent based, but it seems some of these guys have worked that out (I took some notes for my own use).

I agree with the guys who think your motor may be spinning too fast. Also, hardware store dowels are cheaper than good arrow shafts for practicing on if ya want.

I am no artist by any means but have developed my skill to the point that I'm not embarresed to let buddies see my paint jobs. The deer (or other critters) don't care. Although cap dipping and cresting make arrows look good it can also be functional. Almost all the arrows I shoot now are cap dipped bright orange. I can see where my shot goes much easier. This boosts confidience in a good hit. I can also find the arrow on the ground easier after a miss or pass through. When I shoot 3-d rounds with buddies, everyone knows exactally which arrow is mine because of my personal color design.

And besides... its just real cool! Right?

Good Luck and like one of the others said, have fun. I have included a couple of pictures of some of my arrows I have done. Both woods and carbons. Not art, but at least functional.

OkKeith

 

[john fletch]

OK that looks like art to me!  Functional and beautiful.  When you can crest like that you have nothing to be ashamed of.

[NoCams]

okkeith,
nice arrows ! I am wanting to crown dip some yellow and crest them in black with yellow barred feathers and black nocks. I tend to use white cap dip, white nocks, and white feathers now so I can see my arrow in flight better. However, I have noticed when looking for lost arrows in the leaves or grass that Yellow shows up awful good.

I just went to the garage and checked my supplies. Please forgive my mistake, I am using Krylon Acrylic Latex Enamel, not Rustoleum. I am sure Rustoleum works fine too, but make sure it is a Acrylic Latex Enamel so you can thin with water. Key word here is Latex. I think others have used regular old latex paint and I am sure that would work, but the enamel is tougher. Sorry for the goof.    

nocams

[breid]

Thin the paint and make sure you have a GOOD soft brush.
My cresting on my wood arrows is never as good as my al. or carbons.  I can never get them very straight.
Remember, no matter how crappy it looks, with a little elbow grease and paint thinner, it can come off and you can start over.

[horatio1226]

I use acrylic paint. I never thin it out. I always put 2 coats on. The durability of the finish is in the clear coats. I go with acrylic poly. Dries really fast and is a durable finish.

The reason the paint is smearing because you are leaving the brush on the shaft for too long. As the shaft is spinning it is causing the paint that you applied when you first touched the shaft with the brush to dry. Air circulation is as important tp paint drying as heat is. If you slow down the rpm's the paint will dry slower. The paint is smearing and streaking because it is drying as you are applying it.

I am not the best crester out there, but I have been a professional painter for 25 years.

 
 
 
 

Sometimes less is more
 

I suggest that you go out and buy some brushes. Go to craft store and buy some medium priced brushes of all different sizes and shapes. Try them. A painter is only as good as his brushes, especially in fine finish work.

Good luck and have fun!