Cresting with Sharpies...

[J. Cook]

I still shoot carbons and aluminums - haven't crossed over to woods yet (although there is an odd tug each season to try them).  I love the look of custom cresting and really enjoy fletching arrows and seeing what I can come up with.  

I've always ordered various solid colors from Onestringer.com and then done my cresting with sharpies and a ruler.  If you take your time, it really makes a great looking crest.  The one issue is that over time the wear and tear on a shaft messes up, fades, or smears the cresting.  I ordered "clear" wraps this time and put those over the newly crested ones.  What a difference that makes - no more nicks, smears, or anything. Just a tip I thought I'd share if anyone does the same - I believe they call them a "double dogg."  

I bare shafted just to verify, and having 2 wraps did NOT change the spine.

[MEsquivel]

You can also spray or dip them in polycrilic.
Just make sure they're completely dry before you do.

[The Whittler]

Why not crest first then put the clear wrap over.

[wscruggs]

Originally posted by The Whittler:
Why not crest first then put the clear wrap over.

I think that is what he is saying he does.

[Barry Winner]

I, too, crest with sharpies then cover the crested area with a layer of clear packing tape.  Very inexpensive and it works great.

[Pat B]

Water based poly might not cause the Sharpie ink to run. Do a test first. I used water based poly on most of the dowel arrows I made over the years.

[The Whittler]

I thought he had a wrap and crested then put another wrap clear over that or am I reading it wrong.

[J. Cook]

Yes...put a base color wrap on, crest with sharpies, then use a clear wrap on top of that.  It protects the sharpie cresting which is easily smudged and damaged otherwise.

[highlow]

You're reading it correctly, Whittler. He even says TWO wraps don't change the spine. Can't see how it would be interpreted any differently.