Arrow dipping help

[Ari]

I've started to paint my first batch of arrows but am having problems with the paint drying. I am using oil based paints but they seem to be to thick, I've tried thinning to the suggested ratio on the paint tin but after leaving to dry for over 2 days the paint still scrapes of with my finger nail.
What kind of ratio should I thin the paint to and does the paint need thinning every time I use it, because I had a few arrows turn out alright after thinning the paint but the next time I used it the paint was to thick again?

[COOCH]

I have always thinned the paint so that it ran off of the shaft fairly quickly and a bit on the thin side.It seems that several thin coats work better than fewer thick coats.I have had the paint peel off when applied to thick.

[Charlie Lamb]

Get some lacquer. For years I used lacquer from auto parts supplier. Dries within a half hour usually and compatible with every fletching glue out there... also available in every color in the rainbow.

[NoCams]

I like water base because the thinner is free...... H2O ! I buy quarts of Krylon Acrylic Enamel at Wally World cheap and thin the snot out of it with water till it runs back off my shafts like water. I usually cap dip the first coat with white no matter what final cap color I am using to make them brighter and more brilliant. 2-3 coats for my cap dip.

If you want to stay with oil base I would switch to the lacquer like Charlie suggested for the thin coats and quick dry time. Might want to get you a Eco dipper from 3 Rivers. I watched a guy demo it at Compton last year and it was pretty slick. JMHO

[Ari]

I have to stick with oil based paints because I'm using wipe on poly to seal the arrows, any idea what kind of ratio of paint to thinners I should use?

Thanks
Ari

[Charlie Lamb]

Lacquer will seal the shaft!!!

[Zradix]

Originally posted by Charlie Lamb:
Lacquer will seal the shaft!!!

yeppers