Cresting?

[VictoryHunter]

Anyone crest arrows without a cresting machine? While I would enjoy having one I simply cannot afford to buy one so I'm wondering if there are any alternatives to cresting arrows. Thanks, Tristan

[Bud B.]

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=125250

[MO Bow]

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=099344

That's a thread of my first set of arrows I made a few years ago.  My cresting set-up is on the first page.  Cordless drill, surgical tubing and some rollers.  I ended up not reasting the shaft on the rollers after the first dozen that I made because of some wobble.  Wobble was from the difference in elevation of the drill bit and the rollers.  Eventually, I was just holding one end of the shaft in my hand as it rotated and painted with the other.

[-snypershot317-]

shoot ive used duct tape and paint for mine...made the duct tape the color i wanted and painted the cresting on top of it...so i guess its a combo of cap wraps and cresting

[Alexander Traditional]

Here's one I did. I took a screw and ground one end down so it would fit into the collet on the dremmel. I took the nock out and just placed a insert in the nock end. The upright 2x4 is for support on the other end.
 

[RedStag5728]

I just roll them by hand in between two books and try to hold as steady as possible. Results aren't perfect but hey I can say they are 'hand crafted'      

 

[Stumpkiller]

I did these with leather dyes, spinning the shafts by finger (nock tapered end set in a "dimpled" wood block) and cresting with Sharpie markers, rubbing with MinWax poly finish and then using a Pilot metallic pen for the highlights.  

   

   

I do have a Woodchuck taper tool.  Put your money in the accuracy and cheap-out on the cosmetics.        

   

[Roadkill]

A junk store sewing machine for under $20 can put you in the groove.  The foot pedal rheostat can be set at your desired speed. Front groove made of styrofoam, plastic tubing to interface shaft and motor.
Not fancy or award winning but functions well

[VictoryHunter]

Great ideas, thanks guys.

[M60gunner]

My very first crester was two blocks of wood with V Notch cut in them. Turned the shaft by hand, worked ok but my not so straight woods had wavey lines. Your bringing back some of my "fun times" in archery, learning new skills with not a lot of money to spend. You know, those arrows shot just fine.