refinishing wood arrows

[Mike Faith]

need help from those experienced in wood arrow making. I would like to refinish some douglas fir arrows, what process is best to remove sealant and  cresting, shafts are in good shape but finish is a bit rough. Any help is much appreciated.

[MEsquivel]

I'll start off by saying that I have never done this.
But I have a friend that swears that he puts his in a 3/4" pvc pipe with caps and acetone inside and just shakes it off.

[Orion]

Never tried the acetone treatment. I have used Zip strip, applied with a brush.  When the finish softens, I wipe it off with steel wool.  Usually more than one application is necessary, and it's quite messy.
I don't do it very often.

[M60gunner]

A messy undertaking for sure. I tried "Aircraft Stripper" from auto paint store. It works, no question. One small issue, the red paint got into the wood and left a faint like stain effect. Had to use red agian as a cap paint.
Not sure of it would work but I used a soy stripper to strip Fletch Laq paint off of alum shafts. It took a few more minutes and a couple apps in spots but it was more user friendly

[Yewbender]

Never refinished old woodies as mine don't make it to old age. It will be a messy P.I.T.A. What i would do is just use them as practice arrows and buy shafts and build a new set.

[Mike Faith]

Thank y'all, I think I will go with Yewbender and just make a fresh set for deer season and continue stumping with the rough ones...

[WESTBROOK]

Yup...not worth the effort IMO...I'll refletch and wipe on a fresh coat of poly if they last that long, but no make-overs.

[wooddamon1]

Did it once with an old set from the 60's, they came out nice, but never again.

Wise choice to build new.

[Jock Whisky]

I've done it by soaking the shafts in a tube filled with lacquer thinner. Didn't take very long at all. After about ten minutes I just wiped the old finish off. Do it in a well ventilated area.
They were old 1960's Ben Pearson cedars. I refinished them to look like they were originally and plan to hunt with them.

[Tim Finley]

I do it when ever I get tired of the way my arrow look or if they get beat up . I have stripped lots of arrows so I could taper the last 12 inches. I make a tray of aluminum foil pour in  about a half inch of acetone and soak them maybe 5 min. then wipe the shafts off with paper towels and steel wool then sand with 220 grit . They come out like new shafts and its not too messy of a job.

[dringge]

I don't refinish. I see the wear and scrapes and scars as badges of honorary service. I prefer the worn look.

[two4hooking]

I would Lightly sand them down and paint them full length.  I like the looks of painted ones anyway.

[tecum-tha]

I did it several times with POC and Maple when finish became flakey. I just scraped it off with a knife blade held at 90 degrees. I wouldn't trust chemical strippers as they may affect the lignin(natural wood glue) between the fibers. Remember, we demand a lot from super thin pieces of wood.

[mahantango]

I buy old arrows at antique shops and flea markets all the time. Zip Strip works great. Scrape when soft with a dull knife blade then Scotchbrite. Some of that old POC is the best.