Wood Shaft Sealing System...

[Problem Child]

I use Polycrylic and the little foam brushes.I put a coat on and then let it dry about an hour and then use 600 grit sandpaper.I usually put on 4-5 coats.No mess and I can have finished shafts in less than 6 hours.

[Stone Knife]

I'm in the process of making a dozen arrows for my son. This is my first attempt from raw shafts. First i stained all but 7 inches after they dried i sealed the whole shaft with a water based poly using a foam brush then put a second coat on all but the 7 inches. Now i just finished two coats of white with a foam brush when that dries I'm going to crest them then seal the whole thin again, foam brushes seem to work and don't waste material.

[Forester]

DesertDude,

I do the same as you describe except that I use Helmsman Spar Urethane in the tube.  I usually apply 5 or six thin coats that way and allow to dry for a full day.  I have done this with maple, ash and a few POC.  Duco for the fletching.

Just pulled one out of the grass that had been under there for 7 weeks (yeah-I missed with a new bow), ash with very open grain, and it was ever so slightly bowed away from straight.  Maple and cedar would have stayed straight in my experience (not that I miss that much....).

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Originally posted by Shakes.602:
Poly is  WATER BASED  is it not? Maybe some water, but  PAINT THINNER??  Scares  ME!!!!          

No my friend...poly is NOT water based....altough they do make a latex urithane than is water base.....it's worthless for exterior use too.....  what's with all the dipping of arrows anyway???? rattle can them suckers with a spar varnish....about 3 coats and those arrows a good enough for the Oregon monsoons!  Kirk

[snag]

I use the Minwax Spar Urethane. I use to use the gasket. But I have found that just dipping them once and hanging them gives a perfect final coat in one step because of it's consistency. It is a very durable finish.

[snag]

That should be HELSMAN Spar Urethane....

[snag]

I forgot to mention that after I am done I will weigh the arrows. If they are off by 8 gr. you can steel wool the shafts and dip again. It will bring the weight up by 8 gr.  (No gasket-straight dip)