Arrowsmith Crest Along ?

[NoCams]

Okay all you arrowsmiths out there.... How bout a crest along to help us newbies to arrow building ? I have built several dozen arrows and they look pretty good but want to know all the tips and tricks on cresting from the pros ? I need help in keeping my fine lines as thin as possible and also how to keep the lines all the same from arrow to arrow ?

nocams

[Jim Curlee]

NC;
First off, thin the cresting paint enough so it will not create a "gob" on the end of the fibres. The paint has to be thin enough to flow from the brush. When you look at the brush you should only see the fibres, not a thickening of the fibres.
Use good quality brushes, I like silver fox for water based paints, and sable for Testors.
Make up some sort of guide, to attach to your crestor.
I made one out of rod, and brazing rod.
I have a rod from side to side on my crestor, on that rod are bigger diameter rods, about a half inch in length, with a piece of brazing rod brazed to them, and sharpened to a point. They have a set screw in the back of the bigger rod combo. Then you just slide the bigger rod combo, up and down the side to side rod, and hold it in position with the set screw.
If some one would help me, with posting a pic, that would explain it alot better than my words can.
Make sure your arrows are straight.
Also use a good quality crestor, hard to get mint lines with a sewing machine motor.
Good light also helps.
I also like my crestor to rotate away from me, that way I can see what is happening as soon as I touch the brush to the shaft.
I also like to brace my hand, so I'm as steady as I can be.
Hope that helps
Jim

[Paul Mattson]

Here is the crester that I have been using for about a year now.  Notice the ruler, this works great for aligning all your pin strips.  

For cresting on Aluminum or carbon I use cresting paint from Whispering Winds.  It goes on smooth and is water clean up with not smell.

If you are making up Wood arrows the key is to have a straight shaft.  

 
 http://www.badgerarrow.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=21&products_id=118&zenid=4684802a6f109d71d1020d1e0492edaf


I have only recently started airbushing some crests on to arrows.  I have Arrow Specialtys crester that I use for this.

 

[M60gunner]

I have been using the Phillips Crester for number of years now. I try and use the same patteren over and over agian. Sounds dull but the more you do it one way the better you get. Good paints, thinned but not dripping, are important also. I use sable brushs mostly. I also trim my brushs of hair to get the size I want. I find that I need to be relaxed and willing to spend the time. Rushed work = poor quility.

[lpcjon2]

I am so ghetto with my cresting I gotta spend some money...LOL

[Jim Curlee]

I also use an Arrow-Specialties crestor.
Jim

[NoCams]

Good info guys, keep it coming. I do have my paint thinned good, learned that the hard way last year when it was straight out of the bottle. Globby cresting and even got the brush yanked out of my hand when I stayed on the shaft too long with thick paint, haha ! A few choice words came out too !

I may need to move up to a better cresting lathe such as the two mentioned here. I only have a Bohning Jr and just bought a new chuck for it hoping it will eliminate the runout I am getting from the cheap rubber grommet it had when i bought it. I can load a shaft in it three times and get three different runouts. I know the real key to fine neat lines is a shaft that runs TRUE. I do have good brushes, caught some $10 ones on sale for $5.

Okay guys, tell me the pros and cons of the Phillips crester versus the Arrow Specialties crester ? Where to buy ? I think this is all I need to get me close to the works of art I see posted on here by all you arrowsmiths.    

nocams

[snag]

I've got a Phillips listed in classifieds right now....  :rolleyes:  

I'm interested if you guys pick your colors first or do you start with an idea and just "wing it"?

[Grey Taylor]

I typically pick colors to cooincide with fletching, crown, and nock colors.

Guy

[Jim Curlee]

NC;
You can get that bohning to work, just replace the rubber grommets, used to be able to get them.
You can also just rotate the shaft a little in the chuck, and maybe get her to spin true. I would replace the rubber grommet.
Jim

[NoCams]

snag, I always have a color combo in mind before I start. Just finished a dozen with charcoal stain, love the way they turned out. First time with fletch tape too, awesome product !

Jim, yeah I saw the grommets in 3 Rivers but thought the chuck might work better. I have tried the rotating the shaft in the grommet and yeah it usually will finally run true enough.
Just frustrating and temptin to go ahead and try to crest a fine line only to find out the shaft was not running true enough, Ughhh !

nocams

[DesertDude]

Don't over do it.  Keep it simple and clean...

[sdpeb1]

I just finished my first set of woodies. Well let's just say after my cresting I had some really nice "primitive arrows"-lol. I used some spar varnish I had laying around and put a couple of coats on the shafts- great so far. Then I dipped them in some acrylic paint. Hmmm I didn't know they made water based acrylics so that got stripped off. I ended up taping them off and spray painting them- back on track, things are looking good. Well I thought the arrows were straight untill I chucked them in my variable speed drill and thought I could add some cresting. Ok drill a couple of holes in a block of wood and run the shafts through it to steady the arrow- better but even the slightist wobble just doesn't cut it I find out. Well heck do the best I can and call a lessoned learned and a new found respect for you guys that make those beautiful arrows.