I cut mine to length, taper both ends, stain/paint the way I want them then I take a small binder clip and grap the point taper and dip. Once all finish runs off and starts to just drip I hang them from a line of finish nails I have placed above a wallpaper paste tray to catch my drippings. For the next 2 dips, I use the binder clip on the nock taper and do the same way. In my dimented mind, allowing 2 dips with the nock up, you are getting more finish up front due to runoff which effectively gives you a little more weight up front, and a little more thickness up front to protect the shaft while target shooting.
I like having all m y tapers ground on the shafts before finishing due to the fact that everything is weather tight, and I don't accidently grind to far into my finish runing the look of the shaft.