How many coats?

[thp]

question for you arrow makers,

making up a set of arrows for the first time.  I've got the shafts stained and one coat of polyurethane finish on them.  How many coats of polyurethane should I put on the arrows?

[robtattoo]

I usually do 3 myself. I give a light sanding with 00000 wire wool, between the second & third coats. I get a beautifully smooth, glossy surface. Used to just do 2, but I found the varnish was wearing off the shaft after doing a round of 3ds. 3 seems to hold up far better.

[UK Bowman]

Personaly, and I am no expert, I always do 2 coats of poly if dipping or 3 if spraying sanding lightly in between. Then I either spray the back third ofr crest.

Adam

[eagle24]

I usually put 2 coats of Spar-Urethane on wood shafts.  I put the first coat on, knock it down with 0000 steel wool and put on a final coat.

[Tim Fishell]

I have heard as little as 1 coat and as many as 6 coats.  Paul Jalon of Elite Arrows uses 6 coats of Marine Grade Poly on all of his arrows.  I was floored when I first heard that but his arrows are the best I have ever seen.

[thp]

Hey thanks.

I'm brushing the stuff on.  What kind of spray do you use?  That sounds a lot easier!