Spray Painting Aluminum shafts?

[Seeking Trad Deer]

I was really impressed how good the spray paint worked on the woodies I made a week or two ago.  I am getting my son some aluminum arrows for his compound and was wondering if anybody uses spray paint to dip/color the back of their aluminum arrows.  I sealed the spray paint on my woodies and didn't know if the paint on the aluminums would stick and not come off if it isn't sealed somehow.  Can anyone give me some advice on what to do for aluminum shafts?  :D

[J.W.]

I just tape them off and paint. I've not had any trouble with it flaking off. I don't seal it either. Just paint, let dry, and fletch.

[loco_cacahuate]

ive used the cheapo spray paint from wally world on alums and its worked great.

peanut

[ethan]

J.W., is there a specific brand or type of spray paint that you use?  I tried that once and the fletch tape seemed to not want to stick on a few of my shafts.  Thanks.

[Straitshot]

I have sprayed mine for years. I use good quality spray paint. I tape off a section paint at least two coats to get good coverage. Let it dry and dip once in clear waterbase polyurethane. Then do my cresting with acrylic paints. Let dry and dip two more times in the waterbase poly. Either fletch tite or fletching tape works great on the feathers. I have some I have shot over a year and they still look good.

[Seeking Trad Deer]

Thanks guys...I have poly crylic so perhaps I will apply a thin coat of that over the spray paint.  I'll try fletch tite platnum instead of ducco or the tape since you have had such good success with fletch tite.

[A.S.]

If you can find spray lacquer, I think it holds to aluminum better than say Krylon or other acrylics.

[Blackhawk]

Before spraying my alumminums, I use Bohning's Prep-Rite to help ensure better coverage and adherence.  Also, I like to use a white-colored base before applying the final color.  And I have never had a problem with flaking or feathers staying on (I use fletch tape.)

[Claypipe]

A.S. has it right.  When I shot aluminum arrows I cleaned them with acetone and sprayed them with lacquer spray paint.  You couldn't scrape that stuff off on purpose.  It stuck extremely well.  I even had a dozen that I took the fletching off to refletch and the paint looked like it was fresh.  Have a good day and keep 'em in the middle, TMG.

[Seeking Trad Deer]

Anybody know of any name brands in the stores that are laquer?  

I paint down about 1/3 of the shaft...what do you guys do as far as how far down you take the color.  Do you use measurements or just estimate it like I do?

[CutNShoot]

Use Benzer brand spray primer. Get it in any of the big handy man places. It's white in color then  use any color ya want. It will stay on.You can also get it by the gallon if you want to dip em.  It can be sanded but I just use white as is then fletch. (Prep the aluminum with vinegar by rubbing it on in the area you want to coat or dip. Let it set until it etches the aluminum finish and then clean it off with acetone and spray em up.

[Chris Surtees]

I use Lowes American Heritage spray paint. I do not think it is Laquer but I have never had a problem with it on wood, carbon, or aluminum. As long as you prep the shaft and use a white base you should be fine.

[Shakes.602]

I was thinking that Cleaning them with Acetone, like you do before Fletching might not hurt either. Maybe help the Paint to Stick.
 When I Spray the Woodies, I Mask the UnSprayed area like Masking a Car. Masking tape and some Printer Paper, works like a Charm!
  Good Luck and Have Fun!!

[CutNShoot]

10/4 on the acetone. Binzer,I spelled it wrong the first time, will stick on glass tile so aluminum is a cake walk. . The vinegar just sorta gives somethin to stick to. It is a white primer though. I like white and use as is so I can see where its going and went! Bad eyes anymore.  

[BlkDog]

I just picked up a can of white lacquer at the local Ace Hardware store.  I thought I would give this a try myself. I used to buy lacquer automotive paint at a local auto body shop for dipping arrows.  It was cheaper than fletch-lac at the time.  Might try an auto parts store for cans of spray lacquer...I have not thought to look lately.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Just be careful mixing lacquer base products with poly....same with fletching cements...some are not compatible....laqcuer and acetone or rubbing alcohol for cleaning...no problem....with poly i just rough up the surface with a scoth pad first and use wipe down the shafts with plain water prior to fletching...