Dipping Wood

[DaDVM]

Hello all,

I am a newbie to making wood arrows. I have a few questions about crown dipping. I am looking at doing a white crown dip with fletch-lac. Do I need to thin the paint down and would it be wise to use a gasket on my dip tube?

[LB_hntr]

its been a long time since I dipped with fletchlac (I use wraps now). But I have done thousands of woodies in fletch lac with just a dip tube and paint. no gasket and no thinning. Just tie a strip across and area so you can hang the shafts to the sting so they hang straight and off the ground. Dip shaft and hold over paint until done dripping, dip again of wanted, then hang with masking tape to string. the do next shaft.
That is how I used to do it anyway.

[Rick Perry]

I usually have to thin fletch-lac for dipping . You have to experiment with an old shaft. To thin and too much paint runs off requiring many coats to get good coverage . To thick and paint doesnt drip off evenly causing runs and sags .

 It is a good idea to begin with a base coat of white regardless of  your main color  ..... the white really makes colors pop .

[Orion]

I've been using fletchlac for a lot of years. Probably lost a lot of brain cells to the vapors over that time. Anyway, I've always found it necessary to thin the colors.  I use one part thinner to two parts color (white).  Two dips will do it. As Rick says, even if you're going to crown with another color, it will be brighter if you undercoat with white (one coat is usually sufficient). Good luck, and do it in a well ventilated area.

[meathead]

I always thin fletch lac.  I mix 50/50 and it usually takes 3 coats.