Cresting tool

[Stone Knife]

Has anyone just chucked up an arrow in a drill to crest it? I have been thinking of something on those lines or a homemade tool.

[Deadsmple]

I think a drill might be too fast or maybe not I really don't know. I heard that some here use a sewing machine motor. Maybe one of them will chime in and give you info on how to do that. I would think it's not too hard to set up.

[Charlie Lamb]

I've used a drill (in the old days) and have a friend who still does. A variable speed works just fine.

[Marvin M.]

I use one for mine.  They work OK.  If you can get the wobble out you can do good work.  I'm still perfecting my process, but they're decent.

Here is a pic of my "crester" and the last arrows I did.  It's a poor picture, but you get the idea.

 

You can see my drill with my arrow holder (rubber tubing) and the arrow rest that the other end goes in.  Also, an example of my cresting job using this set-up.

[FOX SQUIRREL NUTS]

bought a sewing machine motor of a popular auction site for 15 bucks with foot pedal and added a rheostat and all said and done about 22 bucks.  works very well.

[Bowspirit]

I've used a drill before. My cresting's haven't come out that great, but that has nothing to do with the drill. That's my own fault; still getting the whole cresting thing down...

[SOS]

These were done with a drill and the bottom of a water bottle with a v-notch cut in them.  I actually spent money an bought a cresting chuck from a trad archery shop I visited and stick it in the drill.  Some drill chucks are not perfectly square and so sometimes if you play with them a little, you can get them to spin your arrow pretty well.  Keep rotating your arrow holder in the drill chuck and you can often find a sweet spot.  Also, for GoldTips, cut the head off a 1/4 inch bolt, pull the nock and slide the arrow on for a carbon cresting tool.  If you can find a foot switch to turn the drill on and off, that' s a real plus.  I used the one a bought to run my meat grinder.

Steve

 

[paleFace]

what i and few others have done is to put a switch between the drill and power and then using a variable speed drill get the speed you want and wire the trigger. then you can just click the switch on and off as needed. it will help a ton if you can get the drill mounted sturdy. i made a box and a V-block out of wood scraps.  worked pretty good, but i've since taken the plunge and bought a cresting machine .

[Jeff Davis]

Try using a cake mixer. I did and so have a few friends. 10 bucks at Wal-Mart. You'll just need to mount it to a board for stability. They are variable speed and have slower rpms than a drill. I just used a hack saw to cut off the mixer end. A little masking tape or duct tap to adjust for the shaft diameter and you are in business.

[elk ninja]

I have used a electronic screwdriver, much slower than a drill, usually cheaper too.  Mine was $10, black and decker, rechargeable.

[bowquiver]

I heard somewhere you could use a can opener.

[UKarcher]

I use a cheap variable speed drill. I put the socket drive attachment in the chuck with a short length of surgical tubing pushed over the end. The arrow pushes into the other end of the tubing and you can adjust the angle to get the shaft to spin true. The other end of the shaft sits in a piece of an old cresting jig.
Graham

[Chortdraw]

I riged one up using a old can opener and an old plastic arrow straightner. Slow and steady.