1st Time Arrow Build & Build Along.

[Wannabe1]

Well, here it goes. My first attempt at building wood arrows. Bare with me as it may take some time.      First we start with my modest work area, 1/2 Dozen Surewood shafts(from Surewood shaft company only 7.5 miles up the road) 70#-75# spine, Mini cut off saw from Harbor Freight and Accurate Taper Tool 11/32 from 3Riversarchery.
 
 
 
 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

good start so far.

[Wannabe1]

This morning I got up a little early. Using my saw, I cut the arrows to length and stained them with Minwax Water Based stain. I like a darker shaft so, I used Rosewood as my color stain. If you can notice, I did not stain the nock ends. Call me superstitious but, I want to ensure a good adhesion with my glue for the nocks. I have drill today so, we will let these set and dry and then begin the crown process.
 

[jcar315]

Nice!!!

Careful as arrow building is addictive!

Love the picture of the kids watching over you.

FYI: I found that with my saw (exact same as yours) the wood dulled up the blades pretty quick. I was surprised at this but changing the blades got it back on track. I was glad I got the extra pack of blades at the same time.

[snag]

Looking good. Hey, did you make the back quiver with the fleece on it? I like it! I like to do any straightening before I start. Then I'll check for straightness a few more times up until I dip them.

[Wannabe1]

Dave, I got that back quiver off the Quiver Classifieds about 4 years ago. I checked the shafts for straightness and couldn't find a bend in any of them. I am going to check again this evening after the stain has dried and before applying the crown and sealer.

[Chris Surtees]

Lookin' good!

[Wannabe1]

Thanks Chris. I'll be using your Bitzenburger to do the fletching on these arrows.

[snag]

Dang old Surewoods...not a bend in even one of them!!!    I like the dark stain myself. Especially on the doug fir. Looks great!

[Wannabe1]

Not one bend, I rolled 'em across my table top and there wasn't a wobble in any of them. Rourke really hooked me up with this batch of shafts. I'm already planning my next set with a different stain maybe and fletching.

[lpcjon2]

Looks great, I wish I had a room to do some of that kinda work.

[Bowspirit]

Dang...wish the first woodies I put together were Surewood firs. Would have saved a whole lot of time and effort...

[snag]

It is truly a joy to make arrows when you start with good shafts like Surewoods. Then when you are done you really have a great arrow...like Wannabe is going to have!  

[Wannabe1]

Well, got home tonight and did the cresting. Not as good as I hoped but, it is my first time!   :D  Hopefully, I'll shoot them through some game and they'll be red instead of white anyway.
 
 

[snag]

They're starting to look like arrows! Oh boy! Did you dip them or spray them?

[Wannabe1]

[Wannabe1]

I sprayed them with Rustoleum White Gloss. I think next time I am going to figure out some way to dip. Spraying didn't turn out very well.

Can you do a brush on crown and have it turn out decent?

Tonight I will work on a coat of sealer. Going to use a Verathane and see how that turns out.

[NoCams]

here is how we dip wannabe1.... Get you a 1 " or 1.5" piece of PVC about 12" long with a end cap glued on and fill with Krylon Acrylic enamel thinned way down with water, till it runs like water. Bought it at Walmart, cheap for a quart. Tape off a 10" cap with blue painters tape and dip two coats for good coverage. Stop about 1/4" short of the tape first coat then dip too the tape on second coat. This keeps you from forming a ridge with the paint. We crest the area where the cap dip meets the stain too to help cover the transition area. Hang on wire or clothesline with clothespins to drip dry. If your paint is thinned correctly it will run off the nock end like water. Now the good news.... cleanup is as easy as pouring the paint back in a can and rinse dip tube with water, DONE !

Hope this helps, I have got great help from my tradgang brothers and sisters on here.

nocams  

[Grey Taylor]

I use acrylic craft paints to do a brush-on crown. It works great for me.
I've had the best results doing the crown first and then staining the remainder of the shaft. If I stain the whole thing and then do the crown over the stain there can be coverage issues.

Guy

[Wannabe1]

Got the shafts sealed tonight. Here they are hanging to dry. Per Mr. Stouts instuctions, I put the cloth behind to enhance the the photo of the shafts.