Arrow finish compatibility

[JGray]

I just finished staining and sealing a dozen spruce shafts by wiping on 3 coats of Pro Fin.  This is my first time with Pro Fin - I've always dipped with lacquer in the past.  When dipping with lacquer, I will sometimes mask off and rattle can spray a crown with colored lacquer from the local Ace hardware store.

I attempted the same over the Pro Fin and after multiple light coats the lacquer is still eating through the Pro Fin and bleeding the stain out into the white crown.  I've used an entire 11 oz. can and still have poor coverage whereas this same technique over clear lacquer usually covers nicely with 2 coats.  I now have a mess to clean up and need to start over and am wondering if there are better choices for doing a crown over Pro Fin.

For those of you using Pro Fin, what are you using for a crown (dip or sprayed) that gives you good results?

Thanks in advance for your help,
Jerry

[Ray_G]

Jerry,

I called Bob about doing crowns and he doesn't stain or Pro Fin where the crown will be.  He leaves the crown area bare wood until he dips that area in crown paint, if I remember our conversation correctly.  

I just stained some shafts up to a pencil mark and used Pro Fin just past that mark, after the stain dried.  I have two coats of Pro Fin over the stain and last night tape off the line area and used Rustoleum white on the bare wood.  I will steel wool the white and give it a second coat.  Hopefully, it will be covered good enough.  Cresting and final Pro Fin to cover and it should be good.  

Others here use Pro Fin and may chime in.  If nothing else, give Bob a call.

[Phil Tuccillo]

Ray_G, I just taped off & stained an 8" crown on my arrows last night & planed on putting a coat of Pro Fin on tonight. Are you saying to brush the bare shaft seperate from the stained shaft or the stain may bleed onto the bare?