Tru Oil to finish wood shafts?

[Ulysseys]

I have some spruce shafts I want to finish up, can anyone recommend Tru Oil or should I just stick with urethane?  Thanks!

[nek4me]

I have not used Tru-Oil on shafts but have used it to refinish bows and gunstocks although others have successfully used it for shafts. I find cutting it 50/50 with mineral spirits or paint thinner it is easier to work with as it lays down much smoother coats that don't need sanding or steel wool in between and the final coat is less glossy.  I use Minwax Wipe On Gloss Polyurethane for shafts since it costs less and also do the 50/50 cut for the same reasons.   

[SuperK]

I used to use it.  When Wally World stop stocking it I switched to wipe on poly (Minwax ,in the gold and black can).  The poly is cheaper, easier to find, and seems to work just as well.

[Orion]

Used to use all Bohning products, but the lacquer smell was getting to me.

Had some left over Tru-oil lying around so used it on the last dozen shafts I built.  Put on five hand rubbed coats, just a tiny bit at a time.  Came out beautifully.  Hard and clear.  Used a hardware store enamel to spray on a crown dip.  No trouble gluing feathers and everything seems to be holding up nicely.  Only shot the arrows in my plastic bag target so far.  Don't know if the stuff is susceptible to target burn. 

Nice thing about the tru-oil, you don't have to buy much of it, it has a pretty good shelf life and it's very easy to apply. I don't build as many woodies as I used to, but think I may continue to use it when I do. 

[M60gunner]

I’ve used it before as well. For me it’s like using wipe on poly. I had to buy the bigger bottles from a woodworker site. Manufacturer won’t ship to CA. I use it to finish Bamboo fly rods mostly.

[Ulysseys]

Thanks guys - I had a bottle lying around that I was going to use but a search returned that the stuff apparently goes bad after awhile so now I'm a bit cautious to ruin a set of arrows with it.  It looks and smells the same as when I opened it a few years ago but I'll probably just stick with poly.

[goingoldskool]

I've used it as well....I learned from a friend of mine that you should store it upside down after opening.  It helps keep it from crusting up and drying out.  Just take it slow and sand with 0000 steel wool. Works like a charm!

Good luck, shoot straight and God bless,

Rodd

[Eric Krewson]

I have used Tru-Oil on arrows for years because I always have some around from building guns. The local Walmart started carrying it again.

I wipe it on, 5 or 6 coats, don't sand between coats and get a perfect finish. I crest with water based acrylic paint from a craft store, and cover the cresting with a couple more coats of Tru-Oil to lock it in place.

The arrows come out really nice.

 

[Skinnybill]

Those arrows look great Eric.  I'm new to all this so hope this isn't a stupid question.  Does adding all those coats, add much more weight than other methods such as gasket laquer?   Thanks.

[Eric Krewson]

I never weighed an arrow before and after I put the finish on. I doubt if there will be much weight gain, because the coats are so thin, perhaps 5 grains at the most I would guess.

[Ari_Bonn]

There are 3 finishes I like best.  Saman for water based(really tough for water based)    Minwax fast drying poly(the grew round can  it doesn't target burn like the rectangle wipe on)    If I want to be able to find an arrow after a year or 2 in a swamp and shaft good to go 50/50  minwax spar urathane / mineral spirit.

I had tried them all pretty much.

That true north clear coat is also very nice and it dries quick since water based but it is damn expensive.   

[Mark R]

I use a couple coats of spar lightly sand between if needed and then a couple coats wipe on poly, I've used true oil on shafts and it works fine, but I mainly use it for my Bows,its easy, works great, no toxic fumes and no big clean up, heck  I put that sh-- on everything. 

[SuperK]

Hey Eric, you're right!  I was looking around in Wal Mart this PM and they are stocking Truoil again.  Might need to stock up on some, I'm about out of poly.  Thanks for the heads up.

[Mark R]

A small bottle of Tru Oil lasts a long time, I just leave the foil on under the cap and just prick it with a finish nail, then to store it I put the cap on and turn it upside down.

[Paul/KS]

The upside down storage trick works well.
I keep some around for stocks, knife handles and arrows.