Cresting messup... help

[Ari_Bonn]

So I made these...
     

The paint is true north(new to me only used testors enamel in the past). I used 6 hand rubbed coats of spar urathane 50/50 with paint thinner.  they have been drying for enough time but I am guessing the finish is incompatible with acrylic paint as I hear this stuff is supposed to be very durable top coat not needed. I can just strip all the paint off with my fingernail with no resistance.  I usually rub some waterbased finish over top to protect it but even that seems to take the paint off as I am doing it. I tried dipping in the same water based finish and shellac but it all seems to make the paint very soft and never hardens overtop.  Anyone think the true north clear coat might save me if I dip it or just not hold like the cresting paint?

[yearcher]

Really nice looking job. Sorry but I don’t know how to solve ur problem. But I’ve been making wood arrows for 50 years and only use bohning clear or blue clear to dip (two coats hang from opposite ends each coat) and crest with testors model paint. I always do a crown dip and use bohning lacquer for that too. No clear dip over the crested end. Hope this helps at least in the future.

[BAK]

Me either, though I tried true north products and did not like the results so got rid of them.

[Stumpkiller]

You are putting water based paint on top of polyurethane.  Enamel is oil based and sticks to polyu.  

Apparently water based will not.

I use Sharpie markers on top of polyu and the solid colors hold but the metallic markers wear off pretty easily.  So I just touch them up occasionally.

[Ari_Bonn]

Well I crown dipped em in unthinned spar urathane. Hopeing I get a thick enough finish that protects em.

Thinned test shaft I diped last night dried completely this morning think it just requires a thicker coat. fingers crossed

[Stumpkiller]

I got some weird effects dipping crested shafts.  The colors ran.

If you use one "brand", like all Bohning products, you'll likely be safe.  

I went for minimal cost and wipe on, stains rather than paints for shaft & crown, and markers for cresting.  I make up a year's worth in February and I was wasting too much lacquer between seasons.

[non-typical]

The deer won't care.

[Stumpkiller]

They deserve my best.  ;-)

[Ari_Bonn]

Deer may not but I sure do  :p

These are my fancy practice arrows  I just do plain jane for my hunting arrows.

Just an update, the dip is finally dry and its looking good. Thick enough to fully incase the cresting and looks like everything will be good to go fletch tomorrow  

[Sam McMichael]

I have only used Sharpies and have come out ok. I used oil base Sharpie over oil based finish. Like non-typical, I am not too worried about results just yet, as I am still a rank beginner at cresting. When I get better, though, this will matter a lot.

[Ari_Bonn]

Success everything turned out alright. Least I'll know for next time !

   

[Stumpkiller]

Looking good.  Glad you solved it.

Nothing better that using arrows you made up yourself.