Arrow finish?

[mellonhead]

You guys that use Min-Wax Polyacrylic finish for dipping, do you reduce it or use it full strength?

Toby

[Stumpkiller]

Full strength.  Shake well and then wipe on.  I use three light coats allowed to dry overnight between coats.

Also, you can use Sharpie permanent markers/pens under the MinWax but not the metallic pens - it removes/smears that.  So I crest, finish and then add the metallic highlights.

[stumpinkaiser]

Does any one dip with Min wax polyacrylic?

[jhk1]

I use a similar product (Benjamin Moore water-based polyurethane that says it can be used for floors.  My local Ace Hardware had a gallon of it left on closeout for under $10).  For dipping shafts, I cut it 50/50 with water.

[Jim Wright]

If you insist on dipping that's fine of course but the Min-Wax wipe on Poly (not water-based) can be applied with a piece of cotton and a pair of latex gloves. It does not have a strong odor and I can wipe on a coat AM then PM for a total of four. One nice thing is if you shoot into rough targets and the finish becomes worn at the point you can simply apply more Min-Wax, it blends in perfectly with the existing finish.

[Jim Wright]

Probably better than suggesting a 12 hour drying time between coats would be to suggest moving to  the next coat when the current one felt hard, slick and dry. If I was working in my carport with the humidity here in LA. instead of inside under a ceiling fan, I suspect I would check at 24 hours but still wait for that hard, dry feel before proceeding.

[The Ole' Bowhunter]

I use a small sable artists brush to brush on three coats of clear waterbased poly.  I lightly sand between each coat with 000 steel when dry.  This process seals my arrows against moisture and makes them quite waterproof.

[Tree Killer]

I dip the water base Poly full strength. 4 coats worth, with steel wool between the first and second coat.

[steadman]

Listen to Ron (tree killer)  
He makes a great arrow!!

[Slickhead]

Ive used it cut 50% with water
But I thing it was too thin, took too many coats.
Theres a utube video on it

[NY Yankee]

Moisture makes arrow shafts warp. WHY would you want to put a water based finish on your arrows??
Doesnt make sense to me. I use regular Poly, gloss, and get superb results. Just buff it a little if you want to dull the gloss shine.

[NY Yankee]

Oh ya, brush it on with a little foam brush. When U R done, just toss the brush. NO CLEANUP!

[mellonhead]

Well I just put the first coat on.  I made a dip tube out of PVC pipe and everything worked great.  We'll see how they turn out.

Toby

I tried the water base stuff, easy but not tough enough for my target.  I have gone to dipping in Watco, for about one hour. Drying time, two days in the sun, one day hanging in front of my corn burner.

[NorthernArcher]

I have soaked shafts in Watco Oil, dipped them in water-based Varathan, and rubbed them with wipe-on Poly.  All of these methods worked well for me, and I still use the Watco and Minwax for my arrows, depending on what I'm making them for.